So, you’re doing everything right. You’re doing your cardio. You’re doing your strength training. You’re getting plenty of sleep. Plenty of water. But you’re still not seeing the results that you desire. Are you eating all the right foods? Sometimes the “diet” products that we use don’t always give us the results that they claim they will. Avoid the following, and increase your chances for lasting weight loss.

1) Fat Free Foods

Humans have a natural craving for fat. It is essential for the absorbtion of vitamins and a feeling of satiety. Too much fat, as it contains more than twice the number of calories per gram than protien or carbohydrates, results in us being overweight. So are fat free foods the answer?

Reduced fat or fat free foods usually contain a lot of sugar and are not very satisfying. This can lead some people to consume more of them in an attempt to quelch the natural craving for fat. You end up ingesting more calories than if you just ate normal versions of the same thing.

Avocados, salmon, nuts, and olive oil contain unsaturated fats that meet your dietary needs, and taste great. Try eating these, along with moderate portions of low-fat dairy, instead of eating fat-free foods. Not only will your heart love you, but you will enjoy them so much more.

2) Diet Soda

Research has shown that people who consume diet soda are more likely to be overweight than those who drink an occasional “regular” soda. Diet soda contains artificial sweeteners, which are thought to stimulate insulin production. This increases appetite.

Water is still the dieters best friend. Add lemon if you need flavor. Black and green teas are also good. But if you can’t give up the carbonated drinks altogether, at least limit your intake to just a few sodas each week.

3) “Diet” Junk Food

Diet junk food is still junk food, whether or not it’s labeled sugar-free, reduced calorie, or reduced fat. When you’re trying to lose weight, every calorie counts. This is not a good way to utilize your daily calorie allotment.

It’s better to pack a lot of nutrition into a low calorie count by loading up on high quality foods. An apple, for example, is a much better option than, say, a snack cake or diet cookies, and will give you a negative net calorie count. That’s right, negative!! Celery as well.

4) Diet Shakes

Many diet shakes are actually designed to be meal replacements, and, as such, are very high in calories. A few of these a day, and the calories really start to add up! Many are also very high in sugar, which is bad news for dieters, especially those watching their simple carb count.

Though weight loss shakes are convenient, and many are quite tasty, they also can be very expensive, especially if you drink several each day. A better use of funds would be to purchase more nutritious and satisfying solid food. Or fruits and vegetables to juice.

5) Caffeine

Caffeine has a reputation as being a good diet supplement. We usually ingest it in the form of coffee, which gives us energy and suppresses appetite. But coffee has a tendency to work against us is several ways, landing it on this list of potential hazards.

First of all, caffeine is a diuretic, which can cause dehydration if consumed in place of water. Secondly, coffee is often taken with cream and sugar, both a dieters no-no. And last, but not least, caffeine can cause an increase in cortisol production, which increases abdominal fat storage. All of this can be quite counterproductive to your goals.

6) Frozen Diet Dinners

Frozen dinners are convenient, and many taste great. The problem here is sodium content, and many of these dinners are loaded with it. The human body only needs 500 mg of sodium daily to function properly, and eating prepackaged diet foods can give you many times more than that daily. This can cause a myriad of issues, including bloating and high blood pressure.

If you must have the convenience of a pre-packaged meal, opt for a low sodium version. Or better yet, pack your own meal using a sandwich on whole grain bread, along with some raw vegetables on the side. This is a much healthier, and in many cases, a much tastier option.

Staying away from these 6 items will help you achieve your weight loss goals, and you will feel healthier in the process!

Author Bio: To see other helpful information, product reviews, and resources on weight loss, including how to reduce tummy fat and how to burn fat quickly, visit http://www.ThinAgainCoaches.com

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: lose weight,products to avoid,weight loss,diet,diet soda,diet junk food