Which common foods wreak havoc on your waistline?

Q: I have no trouble going to the gym and getting a great workout, but eating the right foods has always been difficult for me, mostly because I’m confused about which foods to avoid. I’d really like to drop a few more inches off my waistline, so could you give me a short list of foods not to eat that will help me reach my goal?

A: If you’re wondering why you can spend so much time exercising and still not have the tight waistline you’re looking for, it might be because what you’re putting in your mouth outweighs the hard work you’re doing in the gym. To fix the problem, start by eliminating these five foods, and you will be surprised at how quickly you’ll notice the results.

White Breads
White breads, bagels, muffins, wraps and other similar products are perfect examples of how Americans process nutritious whole grains and turn them into fast foods that will spike your insulin levels, causing you to gain fat. To make these products, food manufacturers remove the fiber and the most nutritional parts of the grain and grind what’s left over into white enriched flour. Stay away from these foods, and substitute them with better choices made with 100 percent whole wheat or other grains.

Creamy sauces
One of the quickest ways to ruin healthy meals is to add creamy sauces, because they contain tons of calories and are guaranteed to stick to your ribs. Creamy sauces are made from a combination of unhealthy ingredients such as white enriched flour, cheese, lard, butter and other things you should avoid if you want a lean body.

Sugary cereals
Eating the average cereal is like taking a bowl of wheat, adding some milk and throwing a candy bar on top, because most brands add loads of sugar to make their product taste better than the competition. That’s why you must choose wisely from products made from whole grains, nuts, seeds and other natural ingredients. They should contain less than 6 grams of sugar per serving.

Granola bars
I know what you’re thinking, “What could possibly be wrong with something made of oats, nuts, honey and seeds? Well, let’s not forget these healthy ingredients are cemented together like concrete with loads of sugar, hydrogenated oils and sodium, making them a less-than-desirable healthy food choice that should be avoided if you ever want to reach your potential.

Sodas
The average soda contains roughly 40 grams of sugar per can and is quite possibly one of the largest causes of obesity in America today. How much is 40 grams?To make it simple all you have to do is add 10 tablespoons of sugar to 12 ounces of water and you have a drink with the same nutritional value. If you’re chugging 2-3 of these babies a day, you have a recipe for rapid weight gain as well as a host of long-term health problems.

So if you’re really serious about losing inches off your waistline, stay away from these button-busting foods, and you’ll be well on your way to achieving your goal.