10 Foods That Make You Gain Weight Like Crazy
No matter how many times a week you hit the gym, there are certain things in your pantry that can spell serious trouble for your weight-loss goals. You surely know to stay away from the processed junk food that may be lingering around your kitchen, but there are certain other foods you’re eating every day that could be contributing to constant weight gain. In fact, a few of the healthiest, most nutrient-dense foods are actually very high in fat. So if you’re snacking on these kind of foods all day long or eating them with every meal, you could start to see the numbers on the scale go up. Check out these foods that make you gain weight like there’s no tomorrow.
1. Red meat
If you’re the first person to reach for a hamburger at the barbecue, you might want to rethink that choice. In moderation, red meat has its benefits — you’ll get plenty of protein to fuel your gym workouts and you’ll feel more energized throughout the day — but it’s not always the best option. Calorie Secrets explains red meat can be a key factor in weight gain because it’s so high in saturated fats. Furthermore, research has shown eating meat, including red meat, can lead to an expanding waistline over time.
2. Sugary soda
Sugary sodas are so sinister because many people drink them without really thinking about it, and often more than one per day. FitDay says soda is even more dangerous than the occasional slice of cake or cookie because of the addictive addition of caffeine. Don’t think diet soda is OK either — you might not be getting the calories and sugar, but the artificial sweeteners can be horrible for your body.
3. White bread
Another staple food that most have lying around the house for the emergency peanut butter sandwich or two is white bread. If you incorporate white bread into your diet as a treat every now and again, then you’re not likely to see weight gain as a result. But if you are eating two or more servings of this processed food daily, don’t be surprised if you start packing on the pounds. WebMD explains eating two or more portions of white bread a day has been associated with weight gain. It’s not that surprising when you consider these loaves are made with refined flour that offers very little nutritional value. Do your body a favor and choose whole-grain bread instead.
4. Avocado
Men’s Fitness says an avocado has 10 grams of fiber and twice as much potassium as a banana, and it can even help lower cholesterol. That’s all great news, so how in the world are you gaining weight? It comes down to portion size. You should be careful with how many servings of avocado you’re eating if you’re watching your weight because one fruit contains a whopping 300 calories. While monounsaturated fat is considered healthy, it can still contribute to weight gain if you’re eating too much.
5. Alcohol
Red wine is not without its benefits, but when it comes to your weight, you’ll want to watch your alcohol intake. Daily Mail Online explains alcohol can be a major source of weight gain when people consume too much. Drinking moderately means women should only be consuming one standard drink per day, which is equivalent to a single glass of wine, a bottle of beer, or a shot of liquor. For men, two drinks per day is the standard.
Alcohol could also wreak havoc on your metabolism over time. Because your body can’t store alcohol, it gets metabolized right away. This means that those other fats and sugars that you’ve eaten are pushed to the wayside as your body processes the booze. Over time, this can have a major effect on your metabolism, which can result in weight gain.
6. Nuts
Touted as one of the best healthy snacks out there, you might have a jar of peanuts or a baggie of almonds with you at all times for when hunger strikes. Health explains nuts are high in omega-3 fatty acids and protein, but they’re also high in calories — a quarter-cup of almonds is 132 calories. Most of us could easily eat three or four servings without thinking twice, which can add 300 to 400 more calories into our diet each day. Measure out your serving before chowing down to avoid unwanted weight gain.
7. Dried fruit
It’s generally a good idea to pack a grab-and-go fruit or veggie so you can make healthy eating choices when you’re on the run, but you’ll need to be careful with dried fruit. SFGate explains it’s easy to go overboard with dried fruit because a serving is much less than you think, and the sugar content can be serious. A single serving would be the equivalent of eight apricots, three dates, or two tablespoons of cranberries, and this already can add up to about 100 calories. Don’t cut dried fruit out of your diet completely, but be mindful of your serving size.
8. Whole milk
You may have convinced yourself the calcium in your glass of whole milk each morning is reason enough to keep it in your diet, but too much of the full-fat stuff could cause the numbers on the scale to creep up. An 8-ounce glass of whole milk contains 149 calories and nearly 5 grams of saturated fat. This isn’t so bad if 8 ounces is all you’re having, but more than that is problematic.
If you’re looking to gain weigh tin the form of muscle, though, Livestrong suggests reaching for whole milk since it’s a complete protein.
9. Fresh juice
Juicing is the latest health craze, but a juice or two every day could lead to an expanding waist. JJ Virgin, a nutrition and fitness expert, tells Harper’s Bazaar eating an apple is a lot different than drinking fresh juice because the whole fruit offers fiber and phytonutrients that help slow the absorption of sugar. When you’re drinking the juice, you’re missing out on those nutrients. It’s not much better than having a sugar-sweetened beverage.
10. Granola
Most of us think granola is healthy, but most store-bought versions are loaded with sugar, fat, and calories. Even if you’ve chosen a granola that has tons of vitamins, minerals, and whole grains, the serving size may only be just ¼ cup. For this reason, Shape says you can overdo the portion size in a big way. If you’re adding milk into the equation, tack on another 100 calories or so. To save yourself some sugar and calories, try making your own granola.
Article Source: http://www.cheatsheet.com/health-fitness/foods-that-make-you-gain-weight-like-crazy.html/?a=viewall
Image Source: http://beta.diabetesdiet.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2010/08/waistline.jpg
VOCABULARY WORDS:
1. Sinister (adj.) ~ giving the impression that something harmful or evil is happening or will happen
2. Havoc (n.) ~ widespread destruction
3. Wayside (n.) ~ out of consideration
4. Go overboard (idiom) ~ to do too much to be extravagant
5. Craze (n.) ~ an enthusiasm for a particular activity or object that typically appears suddenly and achieves widespread but short-lived popularity
6. Granola (n.) ~ a kind of breakfast cereal consisting typically of rolled oats, brown sugar or honey, dried fruit, and nuts
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1. Are you conscious about gaining weight? Why is it a concern for you?
2. What kinds of food do you avoid eating? Give some examples and explain the reason?
3. How often do you drink alcoholic beverages? How much do you consume when you do?
