Getting Over a Weight Loss Plateau on a Low Carb Diet: Foods that Have Hidden Carbohydrates

When following a low carb diet most people know the basics to stay away from sugary and starchy foods like pasta, bread, pastries, and chips because they contain too many carbohydrates. What some people don't realize is that some of the foods that they think are fitting in perfect with their low carb diet may just be hiding some hidden carbohydrates that are making them hit a weight loss plateau.

If you are following a low carb diet and have hit a weight loss plateau and you know that you still have more weight to loss, here are some foods that have hidden carbohydrates that may be sabotaging your weight loss efforts.

Deli Meats and Other Processed Meats

When it comes to a low carb diet most people assume that all meat is acceptable on the diet, but one should really look at the individual product to see how many carbs are in it. With some deli meats such as ham and corned beef, often times there are sugars added to the meat for flavor. These sugars can drive the carbohydrate count up in the meat without you even realizing it.

Other meats to look out for are things like hot dogs, sausages, and bacon. Check bacon to make sure that it doesn't have brown sugar or other is cured with sugar. Some hot dogs and sausages may have starchy fillers added that drive up the carb count in the meat. Often times it is the low fat or diet versions of hot dogs and sausages that contain the starchy fillers.

Cheese

For some reason people who follow a low carb diet assume that cheese doesn't have any carbohydrates in it, but that is not true. Although most types of cheeses have very few carbs in them, when consumed in large amounts those carbs can add up. Processed cheeses contain more carbohydrates than natural ones. If you find that you are suffering a weight loss plateau on a low carb diet you should definitely look at your cheese intake per day and try to cut back if you notice you are having too many servings.

Also, when on a low carb diet be aware that most light or low fat versions of cheese often have more carbohydrates in them. When on this type of diet it is a better choice to choose the full fat versions instead of the light ones.

Condiments and Seasonings

Although it is recommended that you take advantage of condiments and seasonings on a low carb diet, you must also be aware that most of them will have some carbs in them. For example, some people assume that they can have all the mayonnaise or mustard they want, but most mayonnaise and mustard will have at least half a gram of carbohydrates per teaspoon. Honey and sweet mustard varieties may have more than 2 grams of carbs per serving.

Spices such as cumin, garlic, curry powder, and ginger also have carbohydrates that you may have not even thought about. Fresh herbs as well as dried herbs like oregano, basil, parsley, and mint also have carbs in them as well. Although most of these herbs and spices are very low in carbohydrates you must count them in your daily total count. It may surprise you how much these add up and that may be the cause of your weight loss plateau.

When following a low carb diet it can be easy to become lackadaisical and forget to count some carbohydrates like the ones mentioned above, but this can often lead to the dreaded weight loss plateau you may be experiencing. To jumpstart your weight loss once again be sure that you are reading the ingredient list and labels to see just how many net carbs you are eating and be sure to add up every single gram. You may just be surprised at how many hidden carbohydrates you were consuming but then you can adjust your diet and start losing weight once again.