Foods to stay away from/ minimize?

alpine1994

The only things I avoid are foods that are not that important to me but that will make it harder to meet my goals. It's going to be different things for different people. For some it's really important to have real butter. I'm just as happy with light margarine so that's what I use because the calories are lower. Some would tell you to cut out potatoes and gravy, and usually I don't have them just because they're so calorie dense but on Thanksgiving and Christmas I enjoy them and don't feel guilty, because it's important to me to have them.

I don't believe that any food is innately bad, it's all about context.

This is the way I approach it too. I try to stay away from pasta because there's so many calories in such a small amount and I'm always still hungry after, but I will definitely be eating my mom's lasagna on christmas eve, because like this poster said, it's important to me. Most other times it's not.

If bread and dairy have become "problem foods" for you, meaning you crave them all the time and they trigger you to eat/drink way more than 1 serving at a time, maybe cut them out for a little while. I was this way with donuts, so I reduced how often I ate them (used to be 2 per DAY! crazy) and now I haven't had one for months but I knew that if I wanted one, I could get one and be fine.

now_or_never12

Both dairy and bread would be something to avoid/minimize.

Also:
oils
refined grains
sugars
meats (especially processed)
salt
food chemicals

Dairy can be a great addition to a healthy diet. Yogurt is full of calcium, good bacteria and can contain a decent chunk of protein. Milk is a great addition as well for the calcium.

Bread is part of a healthy diet if it is eaten in moderation.

Oils can be a healthy addition. You NEED healthy fats in your diet. Olive oils, etc are a great additition to your diet in moderation.

Sugars aren't a huge issue unless there is a medical issue that requires someone to keep their sugars at a certain amount daily.

Meats ... How are meats not part of a healthy diet? Sure these days a lot of animals are pumped full of hormones to make them grow faster but meats can be a very healthy addition. Boneless, skinless chicken breast for example.... various fish.... turkey is a great addition as well. Unless you are one of the forms of vegetarians or a vegan there is no need to stay away from meats. Fatty cuts of meat should be eaten in moderation but things like chicken breast are great to include in your diet.

Salt is required in your diet. Your body needs sodium to function. Sure, added salt isn't the greatest so that's something to have in moderdation.

I don't see why you believe the best diet is one of only fruits and veggies. I choose not to eat any form of meat but it is still a great addition to any diet for people who choose to eat it.


To the OP, you don't need to cut anything out of your diet. Losing weight should be a lifestyle change and therefore you need to learn how to make the changes you need to lose weight without making it a diet. You can lose weight eating anything you want. The key is moderation and portion size. Some people find there are certain things they can't keep in the house without binging on them... if that is you don't keep those things in the house or make sure you only keep small portions of them around.

now_or_never12

Both dairy and bread would be something to avoid/minimize.

Also:
oils
refined grains
sugars
meats (especially processed)
salt
food chemicals

Or you could just try eating in moderation and only cutting out the things that do not fit in your calorie/macro goals.

That is an acceptable answer. By wanting to limit the amounts of these items, you are at least admitting to yourself that they are not healthy. The other guy said simply that they were "fine" which i don't agree with.

By limiting any of the above in a diet is not someone necessarily admitting they are not healthy to consume. You think the above are unhealthy to eat... the majority of people on this planet would disagree with you.

BlackStarDeceiver

Both dairy and bread would be something to avoid/minimize.

Also:
oils
refined grains
sugars
meats (especially processed)
salt
food chemicals

PetulantOne

calories in versus calories out. Moderation is the key. Stay within your calories, and IIFYM go for it. I would have quit a long time ago if I told myself there were certain things I could never eat again.

hedgiie

anything which comes in package and pre-cooked/prepared

sjohnny

Both dairy and bread would be something to avoid/minimize.

Also:
oils
refined grains
sugars
meats (especially processed)
salt
food chemicals

breads are fine
dairy is fine
oils are fine
Sugars are fine
meats are fine
salt is fine
food chemicals, I'll give you that one.

If you've made the decision to eat those things, fine, but don't suggest to someone else that they are perfectly ok to eat, because they are not. If you had a diet that was heavy on bread, dairy, oils, sugars, meats, and salt, you are a lot more likely to come down with one of the diseases that kills most people in this country. like heart disease.

You cannot escape the biological laws of cause and effect. If you eat that type of food, what happens to you will be the same thing that happens to everyone else who eats that food. I've known too many great people who died of heart disease to not take it seriously.

Yup. My grandmother is a great example. She put half and half on her breakfast cereal, used bacon grease to fry her eggs, butter on her white bread toast, turkey and roast beef on her white bread sandwiches, baked wonderful pies with white flour and white sugar, pan fried in oil her venison dusted in flour. She only lived to be 92 and smoked cigarettes for over 80 of those years. Pretty sure it was the grains, meat and sugar that took her from us so prematurely.

sjohnny

Do you track your calories? If you don't, you should. Track calories and stay where you need to be based on your energy expenditure, and you do NOT need to limit any foods or food groups to maintain or lose weight.

Eta: I sometimes drink over a quart of whole milk a day on my weight loss program.

This right here is it.

phinners

peanut butter and clotted cream for me

LoraF83

Both dairy and bread would be something to avoid/minimize.

Also:
oils
refined grains
sugars
meats (especially processed)
salt
food chemicals

Or you could just try eating in moderation and only cutting out the things that do not fit in your calorie/macro goals.

That is an acceptable answer. By wanting to limit the amounts of these items, you are at least admitting to yourself that they are not healthy. The other guy said simply that they were "fine" which i don't agree with.

By limiting any of the above in a diet is not someone necessarily admitting they are not healthy to consume. You think the above are unhealthy to eat... the majority of people on this planet would disagree with you.

Yeah, pretty sure I wasn't "admitting that they are not healthy" - my view of healthy is obviously much different than yours.

And I'm still waiting for the links to the research......

bpotts44

2 months ago I was 125 and now I'm 137, the holidays came around and I got really off track. Especially with all the sweets at work. One thing I have noticed though is that I drink milk all the time and lots of bread, should I try cutting them out more? I have really limited the sweets but with working out I feel like I should be losing more. Thanks in advance!

Some simple advice is no liquid calories (milk, juice, soda, etc), no sweets (1 time per week maybe), and limit your refined carbohydrates like bread, pasta, pastry, etc. At least you are catching it now.

sjohnny

Yeah, pretty sure I wasn't "admitting that they are not healthy" - my view of healthy is obviously much different than yours.

And I'm still waiting for the links to the research......

Keep waiting. He has to pull them out of his *kitten*.

sunsnstatheart

Both dairy and bread would be something to avoid/minimize.

Also:
oils
refined grains
sugars
meats (especially processed)
salt
food chemicals

Or you could just try eating in moderation and only cutting out the things that do not fit in your calorie/macro goals.

That is an acceptable answer. By wanting to limit the amounts of these items, you are at least admitting to yourself that they are not healthy. The other guy said simply that they were "fine" which i don't agree with.

By limiting any of the above in a diet is not someone necessarily admitting they are not healthy to consume. You think the above are unhealthy to eat... the majority of people on this planet would disagree with you.

Yeah, pretty sure I wasn't "admitting that they are not healthy" - my view of healthy is obviously much different than yours.

And I'm still waiting for the links to the research......

Shhhh! Listen, I can hear it now . . . Mercola is coming! The keeper of all that is holy and the savior of all mankind . . .

Now back to my ice cream.

now_or_never12

Yeah, pretty sure I wasn't "admitting that they are not healthy" - my view of healthy is obviously much different than yours.

And I'm still waiting for the links to the research......

Keep waiting. He has to pull them out of his *kitten*.

He is also very strongly vegan. WHile I do understand the vegan lifestyle and diet and have no issues with those who choose to follow that lifestyle due to their needs or beliefs, they shouldn't be pushing it on everyone else by saying a healthy diet only contains fruits and vegetables.

LoraF83

Yeah, pretty sure I wasn't "admitting that they are not healthy" - my view of healthy is obviously much different than yours.

And I'm still waiting for the links to the research......

Keep waiting. He has to pull them out of his *kitten*.

He is also very strongly vegan. WHile I do understand the vegan lifestyle and diet and have no issues with those who choose to follow that lifestyle due to their needs or beliefs, they shouldn't be pushing it on everyone else by saying a healthy diet only contains fruits and vegetables.

I know he is - I've seen his posts numerous times. I have absolutely no problem with people chosing to be vegetarian, vegan, paleo, etc. Everyone has the right to chose an intake style that suits their needs and beliefs.

I just want to know WHY he thinks all those foods are inherently bad - for everyone. I know he has no research, I'm just hoping that someone reading this will put 2 and 2 together and make a decision based on common sense, not sensationalism.

sjohnny

Yeah, pretty sure I wasn't "admitting that they are not healthy" - my view of healthy is obviously much different than yours.

And I'm still waiting for the links to the research......

Keep waiting. He has to pull them out of his *kitten*.

He is also very strongly vegan. WHile I do understand the vegan lifestyle and diet and have no issues with those who choose to follow that lifestyle due to their needs or beliefs, they shouldn't be pushing it on everyone else by saying a healthy diet only contains fruits and vegetables.

I know he is - I've seen his posts numerous times. I have absolutely no problem with people chosing to be vegetarian, vegan, paleo, etc. Everyone has the right to chose an intake style that suits their needs and beliefs.

I just want to know WHY he thinks all those foods are inherently bad - for everyone. I know he has no research, I'm just hoping that someone reading this will put 2 and 2 together and make a decision based on common sense, not sensationalism.

Y'all may have put it a little better than I did....... maybe.

LoraF83

Yeah, pretty sure I wasn't "admitting that they are not healthy" - my view of healthy is obviously much different than yours.

And I'm still waiting for the links to the research......

Keep waiting. He has to pull them out of his *kitten*.

He is also very strongly vegan. WHile I do understand the vegan lifestyle and diet and have no issues with those who choose to follow that lifestyle due to their needs or beliefs, they shouldn't be pushing it on everyone else by saying a healthy diet only contains fruits and vegetables.

I know he is - I've seen his posts numerous times. I have absolutely no problem with people chosing to be vegetarian, vegan, paleo, etc. Everyone has the right to chose an intake style that suits their needs and beliefs.

I just want to know WHY he thinks all those foods are inherently bad - for everyone. I know he has no research, I'm just hoping that someone reading this will put 2 and 2 together and make a decision based on common sense, not sensationalism.

Y'all may have put it a little better than I did....... maybe.

Oh no, I liked your summary of the situation too :laugh:

nikilis

cocaine?

ved8301

Stick to low fat or fat free dairy - I love skim milk and nonfat greek yogurt (tons of protein!).

Unless it's a special treat, I don't eat any grains that aren't whole grain. Basically stay away from refined white breads and cookies, cakes, etc.

Just be aware of what you're eating and how it helps (or doesn't help) your body and you'll be moving in the right direction.

MoreBean13

Stick to low fat or fat free dairy - I love skim milk and nonfat greek yogurt (tons of protein!).

Unless it's a special treat, I don't eat any grains that aren't whole grain. Basically stay away from refined white breads and cookies, cakes, etc.

Just be aware of what you're eating and how it helps (or doesn't help) your body and you'll be moving in the right direction.

Fat free dairy is gross and unnecessary unless you have some medical reason to limit fat or you can't make the calories fit. Which, by the way, you should make them fit because fat is good for you and extremely satiating- it makes it EASIER to stick to a lower calorie diet.

neanderthin

Yeah, pretty sure I wasn't "admitting that they are not healthy" - my view of healthy is obviously much different than yours.

And I'm still waiting for the links to the research......

Keep waiting. He has to pull them out of his *kitten*.

He is also very strongly vegan. WHile I do understand the vegan lifestyle and diet and have no issues with those who choose to follow that lifestyle due to their needs or beliefs, they shouldn't be pushing it on everyone else by saying a healthy diet only contains fruits and vegetables.

I know he is - I've seen his posts numerous times. I have absolutely no problem with people chosing to be vegetarian, vegan, paleo, etc. Everyone has the right to chose an intake style that suits their needs and beliefs.

I just want to know WHY he thinks all those foods are inherently bad - for everyone. I know he has no research, I'm just hoping that someone reading this will put 2 and 2 together and make a decision based on common sense, not sensationalism.

There's a difference believing in a lifestyle and another where confirmation bias rules your thoughts. For example to belief the vegan lifestyle sometimes people need to find fault in everything that isn't vegan, it helps convince themselves that their doing the right thing. It's easy to see this behavior because there's very little to no science to back up the claims, but trudges head first regardless, believing they know a secret that nobody else know. Then again their are vegans that understand science as well as the next person and won't embarrass themselves with the canned dogma associated with vegan and they simply understand it's just one of the choices in life. I find the paleo community similar in their convictions.