It's not only ice cream and cookies you need to avoid. Stahl said to ditch sugar-sweetened beverages such as soda, fruit juice, and sweetened iced tea as well. Aside from sugar (particularly high-fructose corn syrup) affecting insulin levels and increasing visceral fat, Stahl said that since your brain doesn't process liquid calories the same way it does solid ones, you won't feel as full, so you'll end up reaching for more food. Soda is linked to weight gain and a 60 percent increased risk of obesity. Giving up soda and juices is one of simplest things you can do to effectively target your belly fat.
Registered dietitian Sheri Kasper agrees, and said in a previous interview, "At least if you're indulging in a piece of cake, you need to chew and will feel more satisfied and less likely to overeat later." Soda offers zero nutrition, doesn't fill us up, doesn't require chewing, and "is usually consumed in addition to our normal diets and occasional treats." So sip on unsweetened herbal tea instead or go for water or sparkling water with fresh fruit slices.
Making these diet changes to eliminate trans fat, cut down on refined carbs and sugary foods, and ditch sugar-sweetened drinks may be hard at first. But once you make it a habit and you start seeing results in how your body feels, it'll inspire you to stick with it.