What foods to avoid??

You don't have to avoid any food if you don't want to and just concentrate on getting a calorie deficit. Personally I'm in this for good and made the decision not just to lose weight but to change to a healthy lifestyle. I avoid meat (except for fish) I've cut down on added sugar and salt and am in the process of cutting out dairy. I also cut out alcohol for now too. This is just my personal choice, but you have to find what works for you and what you are happy with.
I've noticed a big difference in my energy levels, my fitness, my digestion, sleep and my mind. Also hormonaly too.

Ignore anyone who tells you you can't do it.
Answer this question: If you succeeded in losing 20 pounds in a bit over 6 weeks (3+ pounds a week), HOW would you have done it? I think the average person has a pretty good idea of how to lose weight. But to lose 3+ pounds a week you'll have to be relentless.

- Take my word for it: You will HAVE to exercise however you can, almost every day, to lose weight that fast.
- Focus on portions, and focus on meeting a calorie goal. There's too much testing your will power for you to also be selective about the foods you eat; so JUST focus on calories.
- Drink lots of water. You'll need to drink extra to rehydrate after all that exercise.
- NO cheat days. In fact, keep cheat meals to an absolute minimum. There is very little margin for error.
- Be satisfied with whatever you lose, even if you don't quite make it to 20 pounds. Most people want to be "seen" as having lost weight. And there's almost no difference, visually, between weighing 200 and 205.

Mycophilia wrote: »

Stop labeling food as either "good" or "bad" and instead look at any food as a source of calories and macros.

Agreed. You don't have to eat anything in particular or cut anything out, just eat less. That said though, there are definitely foods that offer more bang for their calorie buck. All those lists you find around the internet about the best foods for weight loss (take them with a grain of salt but...) they usually contain a lot of the same players: eggs, salmon, lean meats & poultry, beans, leafy greens. There's no magic recipe though.

I have a question and I'm not trying to provoke because I'm new to this, but when people say 200 calories of protein is the same as 200 calories of carbs and it won't affect your weight loss how you get those calories ..... But it takes more energy for you body to burn off protein than carbs. So your metabolism increases if you eat 200 calories of protein over 200 calories of carbs. So you would lose weight eating the protein..... Am I wrong here or misunderstanding ?

Don't have to avoid anything. But most likely need to significantly restrict foods that are calorie dense and nutritionally sparse to get adequate nutrients on a weight reduction diet.

Best of luck.

Spoiled/off foods, burned foods, foods covered in dirt/flies,foods that you're allergic or intolerant to, foods that don't taste good to you.

Weigh all your food and log it all.

BDonjon wrote: »

You will HAVE to exercise however you can, almost every day, to lose weight that fast.

No. A calorie deficit is for weight loss.. Many have lost weight without doing any.

afort001 wrote: »

I have a question and I'm not trying to provoke because I'm new to this, but when people say 200 calories of protein is the same as 200 calories of carbs and it won't affect your weight loss how you get those calories ..... But it takes more energy for you body to burn off protein than carbs. So your metabolism increases if you eat 200 calories of protein over 200 calories of carbs. So you would lose weight eating the protein..... Am I wrong here or misunderstanding ?

They would be wrong. Your metabolism is the sum of four things: Basal Metabolic rate, Thermic Effect of Food, Thermic Effect of Exercise and Non-exercise Activity Thermogenesis.

Pulling the percentages of how much of the energy is spent digesting the different macros from Wikipedia:

Carbohydrates: 5 to 15%
Protein: 20 to 35%
Fats: at most 5 to 15 %

So your metabolism would be higher if you replaced carbs with protein, but it would only make you lose fat if it also made your calorie intake exceed your calorie expenditure.

I would look at it more like to what add versus what to take away to get the most satiety from those precious calories. A good start might be to steer clear of fried foods and lean towards lean protein, fruits and veggies.

afort001 wrote: »

It seems I read burning protein 20% and burning carbs was like 9%

The only source I can find for this is Authority Nutrition, not the best source for nutrition information. How about this:

N Engl J Med. 2009 Feb 26;360(9):859-73. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0804748.
Comparison of weight-loss diets with different compositions of fat, protein, and carbohydrates.
Sacks FM1, Bray GA, Carey VJ, Smith SR, Ryan DH, Anton SD, McManus K, Champagne CM, Bishop LM, Laranjo N, Leboff MS, Rood JC, de Jonge L, Greenway FL, Loria CM, Obarzanek E, Williamson DA.
Author information
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
The possible advantage for weight loss of a diet that emphasizes protein, fat, or carbohydrates has not been established, and there are few studies that extend beyond 1 year.
METHODS:
We randomly assigned 811 overweight adults to one of four diets; the targeted percentages of energy derived from fat, protein, and carbohydrates in the four diets were 20, 15, and 65%; 20, 25, and 55%; 40, 15, and 45%; and 40, 25, and 35%. The diets consisted of similar foods and met guidelines for cardiovascular health. The participants were offered group and individual instructional sessions for 2 years. The primary outcome was the change in body weight after 2 years in two-by-two factorial comparisons of low fat versus high fat and average protein versus high protein and in the comparison of highest and lowest carbohydrate content.
RESULTS:
At 6 months, participants assigned to each diet had lost an average of 6 kg, which represented 7% of their initial weight; they began to regain weight after 12 months. By 2 years, weight loss remained similar in those who were assigned to a diet with 15% protein and those assigned to a diet with 25% protein (3.0 and 3.6 kg, respectively); in those assigned to a diet with 20% fat and those assigned to a diet with 40% fat (3.3 kg for both groups); and in those assigned to a diet with 65% carbohydrates and those assigned to a diet with 35% carbohydrates (2.9 and 3.4 kg, respectively) (P>0.20 for all comparisons). Among the 80% of participants who completed the trial, the average weight loss was 4 kg; 14 to 15% of the participants had a reduction of at least 10% of their initial body weight. Satiety, hunger, satisfaction with the diet, and attendance at group sessions were similar for all diets; attendance was strongly associated with weight loss (0.2 kg per session attended). The diets improved lipid-related risk factors and fasting insulin levels.
CONCLUSIONS:
Reduced-calorie diets result in clinically meaningful weight loss regardless of which macronutrients they emphasize. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00072995.)

Stale and rotten would come to mind.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

for me its any food that is less than 3 mouthfuls that equals the same calories as 15 mouthfuls of something equally as tasty,i hope that makes sense? . I like big portions.....so iv banned pastry, butter, deep fried and battered food, double cream, full fat hard cheese. Its easier to ban it completely than to be tortured with just a tiny bit.
Everyone is different, with some theyd rather have a little of what they love and can stop at a couple of spoonfuls......I cant!