[custom_adv] DIET SODA Athletes see each meal as an opportunity to refuel: How much protein can I fit into this meal? How can I add more good fats? It’s what drives performance. Nutritionally void foods like artificial sweeteners have no place in their diet. [custom_adv] CANNED SOUP Canned soup might be convenient, but most of the time it's no healthier for you than other highly processed snacks. The long shelf life should tip you off. “Some soups are so processed and high in sodium that it trumps any health benefits. [custom_adv] SUGARY CEREAL Artificial sugar is a definite no, but chowing down on too much of the real thing is just as bad. While active guys can afford to take in more calories than the average man, it doesn’t mean they’re scarfing down sugary foods on the reg. [custom_adv] WHITE BREAD “White pastas, rice, and breads are OK, [but not ideal] because they're stripped of their nutrients and fiber,” says Jim White. Refined white flour is made from stripping the fiber, wheat germ, and essential B vitamins from the wheat kernel—what’s left is a highly processed food product. [custom_adv] MICROWAVE POPCORN Whether from the concession stand or popped in the microwave, this movie staple has no place in a fit man's diet. Saturated with unhealthy fats, unearthly levels of sodium, and in some cases, laced with chemicals, popcorn does not fuel an athlete's body for a strenuous training session, nor does it encourage recovery after a long workout. [custom_adv] GRANOLA Before you roll your eyes, listen up. Granola might seem healthy, with fibrous oats as the base, but it’s not exactly all it’s cracked up to be. [custom_adv] ALCOHOL Maintaining a superior level of fitness comes down to consuming everything in moderation—especially alcohol. What serious athlete do you know shotguns beers or throws back shots on a regular basis? Alcohol inhibits your physical fitness in a number of ways. Too much booze slows muscle recovery, impairs motor skills, and decreases strength and sprint performance. [custom_adv] SPORTS DRINKS Unless you're doing a really long, rigorous workout, chugging a sports drinks isn't necessary. Electrolyte-enhanced beverages usually contain up to up to 34 grams of sugar, so an athlete is better off drinking water and refueling with other foods and beverages. [custom_adv] FLAVORED YOGURT Flavored yogurt cups are portable and tasty, but they host an avalanche of sugar—especially ones with fruit at the bottom or granola add-ins. This will prevent you from achieving a lean, shredded physique and spike your blood sugar, upping your odds of binging on food and experiencing an energy crash. [custom_adv] PASTA Carbs aren’t the enemy all the time, but you really want to stock up on the best sources like quinoa, black rice, even whole-wheat pasta, because white pasta is stripped of its fiber and bran. You want unrefined foods, because more of its nutrients are preserved. And for an athlete, you want calories from foods that deliver the biggest nutritional bang for their buck. [custom_adv] FRUIT JUICE Fruit juice is deceiving. It’s got fruit, and you know that has essential vitamins and minerals, but it also has a boatload of sugar. What’s more, it lacks the component in fruit—the skin and fibrous flesh—that holds majority of its nutrition. [custom_adv] PACKED DELI MEAT If you’re making lunch from home, kudos to you, you’re saving money and calories. But not if you’re go-to is a hoagie crammed with provolone, pepper jack, ham, salami, turkey, and any other number of add-ons like bacon and condiments. [custom_adv] PRETZELS Pretzels seem wholesome. But they lack healthy fiber and fat so you can plow through half a bag and still be hungry after. Just 10 hard, twisty pretzels have 250 calories and lots of salt. Forgo the empty calories and snack on wholesome, nutrient-dense fruits and veggies instead. [custom_adv] FROZEN YOGURT Frozen yogurts are a healthier alternative to ice cream. Most are fat free, but high in sugar, so always in moderation. While most frozen yogurt is nonfat or very low in fat the calories still add up. Most nonfat "original" or "plain" (typically the lowest-calorie flavor at most frozen yogurt shops) is about 30-35 calories per ounce with about 20g of sugar—meaning that a large 16-ounce cup weighs in at 380 calories and 76g of sugar before adding any toppings.
