7 Foods You Should Avoid at All Costs

Unfortunately, there are dozens of foods that are so bad for you that they should be permanently eliminated from your diet.

In many cases, the key problem is that these foods contain ingredients that encourage your body to store fat and stop you from losing weight.

However, it is not always easy to spot these unhealthy foods just by looking at them, as clever advertising may be used to make the foods appear innocent.

By removing the following meals and snacks from your kitchen cupboards, you will maximize your chances of staying fit and healthy for as long as possible.

#1 Coleslaw

Looks can be deceiving when it comes to coleslaw. While it is often served right next to a healthy, green salad, coleslaw itself is anything but good for your body.
Although it provides you with carrot and cabbage, it contains a disproportionate amount of calories per serving, and it is full of fatty mayonnaise.
The average portion of coleslaw will provide you with at least 260 calories, and more than 20g of fat. Some popular brands of coleslaw are even worse.
For example, KFC’s coleslaw contains close to 26g of saturated fat, making it worse than a portion of fries.

#2 Frosting

If you love to bake, you are probably very familiar with the tubs of delicious frosting that you can buy from most major stores. While you may be aware that frosting is not exactly a health food, you probably don’t know just how bad it really is. In truth, it is so terrible for your body that you should avoid consuming even small amounts.

Frosting typically contains trans fats, which are hazardous food additives that undermine weight loss and promote a range of health problems.

They lower your cardiovascular health by increasing the level of LDL (i.e. ‘bad’) cholesterol in your body and decreasing your levels of HDL (i.e. ‘good’) cholesterol. In addition, they encourage your body to store fat, particularly around your abdomen.

There is also some evidence that regular consumption of trans fats is linked to an increased likelihood of developing type 2

Finally, the amount of sugar in frosting is enough to spike your blood sugar way past healthy limits, providing you with empty calories that make it difficult to lose weight or to maintain a healthy figure.
No matter how much you might enjoy the taste of frosting, the cons of consuming it clearly outweigh the pros.

#3 Packaged Sandwiches

When you want to eat a sandwich, it is always better to make it yourself, because the sad truth is that the bulk of packaged sandwiches lining the shelves in grocery stores have a surprisingly large amount of calories given their relatively small size.
Indeed, the average sandwich will contain over 400 calories, and many people think that a lunch should contain closer to 200 or 300 calories.
You are also likely to find that these sandwiches contain large amounts of fat and saturated fat, as most of them are stuffed full of mayonnaise or cheese.
Even the sandwiches that are advertised as lighter options for dieters may contain at least 50% of your recommended daily intake of fat.

#4 Tomato sauce for pasta or chili

When you are cooking a pasta dish or making a big pot of chili, it is easier to buy a large jar of tomato sauce from a store than it is to make your own at home in the kitchen.
However, these tomato sauces are often packed full of refined sugars, promoting weight gain and increasing your risk of developing diabetes at some point in your life.
Many people have no idea about this surprising sugar content, as it makes sense to assume that vegetables are the dominant ingredient in tomato sauces.

#5 Soy sauce 

Although soy sauce is a classic addition to Chinese meals and vegetable stir fry dishes, you need to think very carefully about whether you really want to put it in your body.
Unlike many of the foods mentioned above, soy sauce does have a low calorie content and it is a source of some healthy vitamins, so it can look utterly harmless at first glance.
However, just one spoonful contains around 900 milligrams of sodium, and so adding it your food is likely to cause water retention, leaving your abdomen feeling watery and uncomfortable.

#6 Multigrain products

It is natural to assume that multigrain breads, pastas and cereals are healthy, as it seems unlikely that they would contain refined grains (which are much less healthy than whole grains). However, the law regarding ingredient descriptions actually allows companies to label their products as ‘multigrain’ foods even when their primary ingredient is refined grains. Refined grains lack nutritional value, and they are strongly correlated with weight gain. When regularly consumed, refined grains also come with a staggering 141% increase in your likelihood of developing the connected disorders that characterize metabolic syndrome (i.e. heart disease and diabetes).
When looking for breads and pastas, your best bet is to choose wholegrain and wholemeal products every time. Multigrain products do not always choose to display their ratio of refined to unrefined grains in a prominent place on the label, so it is smart to err on the side of caution.

#7 Foods containing artificial sweeteners

Although dieters can see cakes, desserts and cookies that contain artificial sweeteners as a wonderful way to enjoy treats while losing weight, the bad news is that these sweeteners seem to cause serious health problems.
Although artificial sweeteners contain no calories, many of them (such as aspartame) seem to impair your body’s ability to detect whether your stomach is full, triggering overeating and stronger cravings that can thwart your attempts to lose weight.
Perhaps even more worryingly, people who consume the greatest amounts of artificial sweetener are two times more likely to suffer from impaired kidney function. This was discovered after scientists completed huge study that lasted over a decade, so the results are credible (though the precise mechanism of action remains mysterious).

To read the full article and for more health tips visit:
http://www.mydiet.com/7-foods-you-should-avoid-at-all-costs/7/

Various Methods to Fight Fat

It has been said that in the 20th century we are in the middle of an obesity epidemic. With the advent of the fast food industry, and readily made processed foods at our fingertips it probably is no surprise that this is the case. I recall watching a television documentary where some advice was passed down from a mother to her daughter stating this, quote, " if it is on the supermarket shelves today but could not be found in the early 1900's don't bother buying it" How many packaged and artificial foods would this take out of the picture today if we were to take this advice on board. In reality though, although our food items have changed considerably over the past century, the methods to fight fat have in many ways remained constant, founded upon timeless principles.

One of the greatest methods to fight fat has been and always will be the simple equation of burning more calories than you actually take in. If one is to create a deficit in this manner the body has no choice but to reach to new sources to gain the energy required for daily tasks, thus it will turn to the fat sources with which there is considerable excess in the case of an overweight individual. You have probably noticed children who can seem to eat anything they want, yet they never put any weight on. They are effectively utilizing and burning the food that they consume. However in the case of a sedentary person there is a lot less activity and usually many calories eaten that the body store's as fat. By looking closely at these equations and making some changes, an obese person can and will lose weight over time.

Methods to fight fat have predominately not shifted away from encouraging overweight individuals to move or exercise more, while eating less, or turning to food that is nutritious, filling, and not as calorie laden as many processed foods.Activities such as walking, swimming, and cycling are all excellent examples of tailored programs that could be used, and that will not subject the joints and ligaments of those participating in them to undue stress.

A sensible diet and eating plan that will not leave the person hungry and subject to eating binges will be high on the list of methods to fight fat. Plenty of vegetables, greens, varieties of fruits, nuts, fish, good sources of lean animal protein, chicken, turkey, salmon, and wholegrain breads should certainly be on the menu in moderate and appropriate portions. The great thing about many of these foods is that they are very low in calories, are filling, and unlike processed foods do not leave you hungry again after about half an hour. He or She that has been used to eating high calorie foods will take time to adjust to this method and pattern of eating. Nevertheless over time those foods that were once considered delicacies will fade away in comparison to this new healthy eating regime.

It has often been the testimony of those that have lost large amounts of weight, just how better they feel, accompanied with new energy and a zest for life that is unmatched by their former way of living. The human body also has the unique ability to repair, recover, and heal itself if these processes are put into action. Incorporate these methods to fight fat into your life if you need to, and discover the many benefits awaiting you.

You can find  the article on:
http://goarticles.com/article/Various-Methods-to-Fight-Fat/8150494/

More tips from real-life slimmers

Keep a photo diary

From Carrie Sorrell, 20, from Hertfordshire. Lost 28kg (four and a half stone).
"I asked my partner to take photographs of me in my underwear and kept a photo diary. It meant I could see what I really looked like underneath my clothes. I also recorded my measurements, targets and feelings. It was a great way to keep motivated as I saw the pounds and inches disappearing."

Track weight loss monthly, not weekly

From Wendy Jenks, 38, from Eastleigh, Hampshire. Lost 24kg (three stone 11lbs).
"One thing I was told stuck in my mind: it's a good idea to consider your weight loss over a month rather than getting disheartened after a disappointing week."

Find ways to walk

From Karen Baird, 31, from Shepshed, Leicestershire. Lost 25kg (over four stone).
"I used to hate the fact that I seemed to be constantly going up and down the stairs. Now I see it as a leg-toning exercise. I also walk a couple of miles a day with the children instead of always using the car. It's good for me, them and the environment."

Visualise the new you

From Karen Thompson, 28, from Bedford. Lost 32kg (five stone).
"I used to meditate and visualise the new, slimmer me. I would imagine myself wearing a brand new dress or a tight pair of jeans and feeling great. Not only did it relax me, but it really helped me stay focused."

Set small, achievable targets

From Sonia Nurse, 34, from Holmes Chapel, Cheshire. Lost 54kg (eight and a half stone).
"I know how soul-destroying it can be to think how far you've got to go, so my advice is to set little targets along the way, such as the next half-stone or dress size. That's what worked for me."

Get sponsored

From Amanda Richards, 35, from Sussex. Lost 19kg (three stone).
"I signed up to run a 5km race. I got loads of people to sponsor me and it was for a charity that meant a lot to me. I knew I had to get fit to run the race and I couldn't let everyone down, so I had the perfect reason to stay motivated."

You can find the article on: http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/loseweight/Pages/Stayingmotivated.aspx

A mum-of-three has shed a staggering 10 stone - by using her house as her own personal GYM

Gemma Howden, 28, shows off her amazing weight loss after improvising her own workout regime at home

 Gemma Howden, 28, tipped the scales at 19 stone, but didn't have time to exercise as she juggled looking after the kids, the school run, cooking meals and housework.

But instead of forking out for a pricey gym membership she'd never use, she improvised everyday tasks to burn calories - including running up and down the stairs holding tins of baked beans.

She would even sprint up and down her long hallway, vault the stair gate and perform sit-ups between TV ad breaks in the evening.

The home workouts and a strict diet have helped her slim down to an incredible 8st 13lbs and she now fits into a six eight to 10 dress.

Speaking about the regime she devised, the full-time mum said: "I decided that if I couldn't go to the gym, the gym could come to me.

"I improvised and used whatever I could get my hands on as equipment.

"Cans of beans from my kitchen cupboard became weights and I would dance around with them to music channels on the television.

"My hallway stretched from the front of the house to the back door and it was soon my running track. I would sprint along it like Jessica Ennis!"
She continued: "I would also hurdle over the stair gate before dashing up and down the stairs 20 times in a row.

"I began doing 20 star jumps a day but built up to 100 as my fitness levels improved and the flab fell off. If I was watching television I would do 15 sit ups at a time during the ad break too.

"It was the answer to all my problems as I could still look after the kids and do the chores I needed to."
As mum to Summer, six, Coley, four, and Vinnie, two, Gemma could barely spare a second for herself and rarely caught sight of her reflection in the mirror.

She said: "I had been in denial about my size. I never realised I had got so big, unfit and unhealthy. In my mind I thought I looked like a size 10.

"I had always been on the larger side. I was wearing a size 16 school uniform.
But it was when I fell pregnant that I really started piling on the pounds, as I made the most of eating for two. [And] when it came to losing the post baby weight, I tried every diet in the book.

"I would manage to shift a couple of stone and then gain it all again. Nothing seemed to work for me. My bubbly personality used to overshadow any niggles I had about my weight."

Gemma realised she needed to change when she flicked through the family album and noticed that there were no pictures of her with the children.

She said: "I didn't want to be collapsing in a heap huffing and puffing while trying to keep up with my kids or watching them from the side-lines.

"I was desperate to be able to run around and play with them."

But Gemma, from Lampeter, west Wales, hated the thought of eyes glued to her as she pounded the treadmill.
he said: "I couldn't think of anything worse than people staring at me as I worked up a sweat.

"I did try to stick to it but giant mirrors positioned on the walls in front of me while I was working out left me feeling even more self-conscious.

"And I needed to be at home to look after the children, so exercising at home made perfect sense.

"No one was watching me become a sweaty mess and it meant I could be flexible and fit in a session after putting them to bed."

As well as embarking on her new fitness regime, Gemma vowed to ditch the junk food.

She swapped greasy takeaways, bags of crisps and bars of chocolate for salad, fruit and veg. And after breaking her bad habits, she soon started to see results as the pounds slipped away.

In her first week alone she lost an amazing 9lbs and it gave her the motivation she needed to keep going.
She said: "I couldn't believe I had lost so much in such a short space of time. It was a real boost and helped me to keep at it.

"I dropped a dress size in my first month and people were starting to notice that I was shrinking.

"My little girl asked me: 'Mummy, where has your fat bum gone?'"

And now two years down the line and thanks to her 'stay-at-home mummy diet', Gemma weighs a healthy 8st 13lbs and has chucked out her tent-sized t-shirts and swapped them for tight-fitting dresses.

Gemma, who lives with partner John Shore, 33, a plumber, said: "When I tell people I lost 10 stone after turning my house into a boot camp they don't believe it, but it worked and it's true.

You can read the full article on: http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/i-weightlifted-tins-of-beans---stay-at-home-mum-shed-10-stone-after-transforming-home-into-personal-gym-114554715.html

My gastric band surgery

 Vicky's story

Office worker Vicky Finch, 66, had a gastric band fitted in February 2012, following years of failed dieting and increasing concern about her long-term health. She discusses her experiences here.

 "My weight had begun to creep up when I was 25 after having children, and in spite of numerous attempts to lose weight, I got heavier with each decade. By the time I reached my fifties, I was having to take medication to control my blood pressure and underactive thyroid.
"I've never been one for sport or exercise and have had a sedentary office job my whole life. While bringing up children and working full-time I developed bad eating habits. I ate too fast, had large portions, snacked on sugary treats and didn't sleep enough. I love cooking, but I'd become obsessed by food.

"At my heaviest, I weighed 17.5 stone (111kg) and as I'm 5ft 1in this gave me a BMI of 47. I began to have serious concerns about my health. I already had high blood pressure and kidney problems and had had two knee replacements. I knew I was at risk of stroke, heart disease and developing diabetes.

The road to weight loss surgery

"I visited the GP several times about my weight and was encouraged to lose weight through dieting before choosing weight loss surgery (also called bariatric surgery). I was also offered regular appointments with the nurse to weigh myself and discuss my diet.
"Eventually, I learnt about gastric band and gastric bypass surgery. A gastric band is where a band is fitted around the top of your stomach. This causes a feeling of fullness after eating a very small amount of food, and means that food must be eaten very slowly.

The gastric band procedure

"I was put on a liquid diet two weeks before the operation in order to shrink my liver and to get me used to being on a liquid diet afterwards. The operation went very smoothly. I stayed in hospital overnight, but I felt well enough to go home straight away. I was left with a port under the skin which is attached to an upper rib. This is so that saline can be injected into the gastric band through the port every six to eight weeks, until the right level of restriction is achieved.
"After eight months, I now have 10.5ml in my band out of a possible 14ml, and I'm really starting to feel the restriction. I thought the feeling of restriction would be immediate, but it has taken time."

Living with a gastric band

 "Before the operation, I thought, 'This gastric band is going to be the magic wand'. However, people need to be able to commit to making necessary changes following surgery. I didn't realise what big efforts I'd have to make to change the way I eat. For example, as well as eating more healthily, I always have to take small mouthfuls and chew slowly and thoroughly. To help me control my portion sizes I have to eat from a tea plate rather than a dinner plate, and spend no more than 20 minutes on each meal.
"It's not easy. If I'm hungry, I tend to fall back into bad habits of eating fast and not chewing properly. When this happens, I quickly become very uncomfortable and have to stop eating and wait until some food moves through the artificial neck in my stomach sac. Sometimes, if I have a bad reaction, I end up retching saliva, which is quite antisocial.
"Having a gastric band has made me more cautious towards food. Although I still get hungry, I know that if I don't take smaller mouthfuls I'll feel uncomfortable or be sick. I'm lucky, though – I can now eat almost anything, which not everyone who has a gastric band can. The only food I have to avoid is crusty bread, as I react badly to it.
"So far, my only regret has been that I couldn't lose the weight without the surgery. It was difficult telling family and friends about my decision at first. But since having my gastric band fitted, the weight is slowly but steadily coming off. I've lost two-and-a-half stone and dropped two dress sizes.
"After eight months I'm now 15 stone (BMI 39). My target weight is 9-9.5 stone (BMI 24). I'm trying to introduce more exercise, which will make me lose weight more quickly, and I look forward to a healthier, more fulfilled life, with less need for medication."

Vicky's advice to people considering a gastric band

"For anyone considering gastric band surgery, my advice is to read up about it and spend time thinking it through first. It's important to be realistic about what will happen after the surgery, to understand that you'll never be able to eat the same way as you did before, and to appreciate that the weight loss process takes time.
"You also have to do a lot of the hard work yourself. I think it's easy to be swayed by gastric band success stories in the media, which can hold people back from accepting what the realities of the surgery are. If you don't think you'll be able to make permanent, healthy changes to your diet, then it's probably not for you.
"Personally, the restriction of the band has actually made me feel more liberated in general. I now have control over food; it doesn't control me. And my husband has noticed that I'm slimmer and can move around better!"

 You can read the whole story on: http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/loseweight/Pages/My-gastric-band-weight-loss-surgery.aspx
 

Broadway Actor Kate Chapman Lost 100 Pounds For A 'Dream Role'

Name: Kate Chapman
Age: 43
Height: 5'4"
Before Weight: 225
After Weight: 125


How I Gained It: By my late 20s, my diet had deteriorated into an endless stream of fast-food meals, processed foods at home and dining out. I had also stopped exercising as more pounds piled on. From time to time I would diet, remove some weight temporarily and then regain the pounds I'd lost -- along with several of their friends and cousins. The pounds were just symptoms of a bigger problem, though. I didn't know how to properly take care of myself in order to “be well.”

Breaking Point: Even though I was heavier than I'd ever been, my acting career was thriving. Actually, the heavier I'd gotten, the more work I'd gotten, including five Broadway shows and the role of "Mrs. Claus" for The Radio City Christmas Spectacular. But I was increasingly more miserable each day. By the time I was 34, my joints hurt, I had five autoimmune diseases and I felt myself careening toward disaster. Around that time, my youngest stepson came for a visit. While attempting to play with him on the monkey bars, I had an "Ah ha!" moment. A voice deep inside of me said, "You can't care for him if you can't care for yourself." I'd like to say that voice took me through to where I am today, but I needed a proverbial “carrot” to get me there. Gratefully it came in the form of my dream role, Evita. A friend of mine who ran a theatre company offered me the role in a year's time -- if I lost enough weight.

How I Lost It: With a year deadline looming in front of me, I didn't want to repeat former mistakes and waste time. Dieting hadn't given me long-term success in the past, so this time I made small, gentle changes that I liked. If I found I didn't like a change, I stopped doing it and found another one I liked better. Also, I didn't make big changes, like ridding my cabinets of all processed food in one fell swoop. I stuck with gentle. First, I eliminated high fructose corn syrup from my diet. That one, small, gentle change helped me see the first 10 pounds melt away.
From there I made other small, gentle changes one or two at a time. When I was used to a change, and it felt like a normal part of my life, I would find another one to make. My changes weren't just about food, though. They began to encompass all aspects of health: exercise, social interaction, emotional wellbeing, creativity, home environment, etc. I read articles, listened to experts on TV and started to educate myself about my body -- and what it wanted. I began to work to be able to hear what my body needs, and to be able to provide it without medication or a doctor's care. I felt I had spent too much time in the past relying upon their care and advice, and not enough time learning about the body I kept asking them to “fix”.

After each gentle change took hold, I got thinner. I also got healthier. Up until my mid-thirties my life had been a story of one illness after another. When I set out to lose weight it never occurred to me that I would also gain health. I knew I would feel better, but I never thought I could be "well". I hadn't ever known what that was like, and I didn't think it would ever pertain to me. Surprise! All my diseases went away, I lost 100 pounds, I've now kept it off for over five years, and all from small, gentle changes.

A while back I went back to school to become a health coach. I wanted to support others in finding their own gentle paths to health. I know how much fun the journey can be when the approach is deliberately gentle, so now I get to see others find their own way to their own spectacular self-care. I feel amazing every day. I never imagined that being well could feel so amazing. I'm so grateful I now know!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/20/i-lost-weight-kate-chapman_n_3750040.html?utm_hp_ref=weight-loss

Justin and Lauren Shelton lost 500 pounds together

 Name: Justin and Lauren Shelton
Age: Justin: 27, Lauren: 26
Height: Justin: 6'0", Lauren: 5'5”
Before Weight: Justin: 592 pounds, Lauren: 341 pounds
 
 How I Gained It:
Justin: I started gaining weight after a sports injury toward the end of middle school that prevented me from staying active. From there, I just continued to gain until it snowballed out of control.
Lauren: I have always been such an emotional eater. I turned to food for comfort, whether it was happiness, sadness, anger, stress or excitement that I was feeling. However, I started gaining weight rapidly my freshman year of high school after going through some personal issues. Over the years it continued to pile on until I reached 341 pounds. Eventually, we just accepted that we were overweight and stopped caring.
Breaking Point: Both of us have undergone several different moments when we realized just how overweight we were and needed to change, but it took something drastic to really motivate us.
Justin: I had to visit the emergency room in December 2011. I was too heavy for the equipment needed to test whether or not I had a kidney infection. They just had to guess and gave me a high dosage of antibiotics before sending me home. That was the wakeup call that I needed. I knew from that point on that I was tired of being overweight and would rather die trying to get healthy than spend another moment being miserable with myself.
Lauren: His trip to the ER was a wakeup call for me as well, because I saw how embarrassed and miserable he really was with himself. That made me take a hard look at myself and realize that I needed to lose the weight just as much as -- or more than -- he did.
How I Lost It: In February 2012, we looked to a physician assistant named Lynn at a local medical center. She gave us some great guidelines to start with. That night we cleaned out our cupboards and started from scratch the next day at the store. We cut out salt, breads, grains, oils, sauces and high-fat meats. We began eating a high-protein diet with lean meats and a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. We only ate out on very rare occasions; I can count on two hands how often we have eaten out in two years!
We started small with exercise, but slowly started to increase it. Now we go to the gym, on average, six days a week and try to do something fun and active in the evenings and on our day off. Also, we knew we always had each other at our best and worst of times through this journey. It would have been so much harder without each other's support.
Our overall quality of life is better, and we can do so much more than we could before. We have learned to appreciate the little things that many people would never even think of: We can shop at normal clothing stores, buckle our seat belts on airplanes, sit in normal chairs and ride roller coasters. We are even trying activities that we were always too scared to do. Instead of our days being focused around where and what we are going to eat, we focus on how to stay active. It feels as though we have been given a second chance at life, one that we can look forward to each day and enjoy to the fullest! Although we are not quite finished, we feel happy with ourselves and what adventures may lie ahead of us!
After Weight: Justin: 245 pounds, Lauren: 164 pounds

Click on the link below to find out the full story of Justin and Lauren
See how Justin and Lauren lost 500 pounds

                                    
If loosing weight were easy then everybody would do that. I had chance to speak to a number of people who have succeeded and was trying to figure out what motivated them to do that, what made them change their "established" way of life, take a U-turn and never look back.I have decided to dedicate this page to an ordinary people like me to share their experience, tips, views and provide support and encouragement to those who have embarked (or considering embarking) on this life changing journey. I do believe it is much harder to do on your own.