Few things in life happen without a plan; weight loss is no exception!
Losing weight is definitely not an easy task. There are many things to consider when you’re planning to shed some pounds off your scale. Make sure to consult with a professional first, as extreme weight loss can drastically affect your health. Once you know your goal, get a diet and exercise plan to get you started. You will learn to start including new foods into your meal plans, as well as to getting rid of others.
Weight loss tip: snacking right
Snacking right tips are a trendy subject for one reason alone, most of us snack wrong. Even worse, many people just don’t snack. Snacks have had the worse reputation from ages. Surprise! Ages had it wrong… It’s important to include snacks into your diet, as it keeps your metabolism going and helps you control cravings.  So make sure to get healthy nutritional snacks and avoid the following list of no-nos. There are some that are very, very, very obvious. Those are not even on this list. We bring you the snacks to avoid that people may think are healthy…Â
6 not-so-healthy snacks you should avoid
Trail mix
Really? Yes! Eating store-bought trail mix usually incurs in additional sugar and salt. The processed chocolate adds unwanted calories. Instead, try doing your own at home: get your favorite dried fruit and unsalted nuts. This is a great snack that will provide you with excellent nutrients.
Pretzels
But they have no fat…Â Fat or no fat, ingesting too much salt will increase the levels of sodium in your body, leading to water retention. Water retention can lead to bloating and puffiness. Pretzels are loaded with salt. The healthy alternative is switching to unsalted nuts like pistachios that contain more protein and fiber. Pretzels don’t actually add any nutritional value. They are just poorly spent calories.
Diet Soda
Don’t be fooled by the label, you know better than that! Even though most people go for diet sodas when in a diet, this is one of the most detrimental things you can do to your body. Artificial sweeteners are well-known to be negative to our health. Instead, drink sparkling water or create your own flavored water by adding cucumbers and whole fruits and using natural sweeteners like stevia.
Bottled Smoothie
You probably caught on quickly; the keyword to avoid is bottled. Virtually anything bottled will have more sugar than you expect. Make sure to read bottle labels as sometimes the calorie count is per serving, which is not the whole bottle. Make your own smoothies instead. This way you’ll know what you’re having and exactly how much to drink.
Granola
Not kidding. Even though granola is quickly associated to be a healthy snack, it is packed with sugar and fat calories. A half cup of granola with skim milk can have up to 360 calories. Instead, have whole oats or instant oats and add fruit or your favorite nuts to it. Again, make it at home and avoid the packaged stuff when possible.
100-calorie snack packs
Unhealthy in a snack pack. Yes, the whole 100 calories of it. Most of these products that are promoted as healthy just add more sugar and carbs into your body. Even though they might have only 100 calories, they usually don’t fill you up, so you end up eating two or more. Instead, switch for roasted pumpkin seeds or other nutritious natural snack that will have fewer calories and more of the good stuff.
Snacking is crucial to boosting your metabolism and keep your cravings under control. Learn how to make some healthy snacks to get ready to workout and for after an intense cardio dance class. Read more essential health tips for women.
