Be Careful What You Drink
We are a nation of "supersizers" and often don't pay attention to the calories we're drinking. For most people, when we're home, we have "normal" size glasses, and pay attention to the serving size we're drinking (or at least most of the time!). Studies show that we ALL drink what's put in front of us. If a small serving is provided, we drink that... If a large one is there, we usually drink the whole thing (or much more than if we were just offered a small size). Bottom line: whatever size we're given is "one serving".And, restaurants - whether chains, or fast-food types - lure us with amazing looking drinks in very cool glasses (sometimes we get to keep them as a souvenir! - or buy them in the "gift shop"). Most restaurants offer free refills, and we can always "supersize" for just pennies.
We all accept that eating away from home can add more calories. But most of us don't think about the calories from our drinks - which add up quickly. We also, biologically, don't compensate for these calories when we eat. Translation? We basically add on all the liquid calories to what we're eating.
While no drinks are "off limits", paying attention to the servings and what's in these drinks is a definite plus for your waistline. Check out my Today Show segment for some easy solutions to this problem.
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What I do is I always make sure I have a tall glass of water, whether or not I order a drink. That way I quench my thirst with the water, and treat the drink like it's part of the meal.
A study from the University of North Carolina found that we consume 450 calories a day from beverages, nearly twice as many as 30 years ago. This increase amounts to an extra 23 pounds a year that we're forced to work offâor carry around with us.
And it's not just soda that's stretching our waistlineâit's coffee drinks, cocktails, even smoothies that are doing much of the damage.
The good news is that liquid calories are the easiest calories to cut from your diet, as long as you know where they're coming from. "Eat This Not That" is a comprehensive guide to what to eat at home, from the supermarket, even at a fast-food counter: http://www.buzzillions.com/dz_802473_eat_this_not_that_reviews
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There is also a lot of sugar in all of those drinks which is horrible for your body. Drinking water is always better. Treat your self to a small 12 oz or even an 8 oz soda as part of the meal. I often drink a small soda with dinner almost as dessert. In moderation anything is okay, but I think we have forgotten how to moderate.
I wish there were healthier options for drinks when I go out to eat. Tap water at restaurants often tastes horrible. At home I have bottled water usually mixed with those On-the-Go packets. I can't find anything to drink when I'm out especially since I avoid caffeine except for my morning tea. That leaves Sprite! For dinner I'll order a glass of wine but after that what options are there?
Hello Madelyn-
I'm a fan of your blog and I'm writing to let you know some recent news about our site, Trusera. Trusera is a online network for health of "friends who've been there," it's a place for people with health stories to help others by telling them. It was started by a Lyme disease survivor and an Amazon veteran, Keith Schorsch. I think your readers would be interested in learning more about the communities on Trusera and information they're sharing regarding the role healthy eating and diet plays in so many facets of oneâs life.
Today, we're going public for the first time with the announcement of our Open Beta. You can read about it on our blog (http://blog.trusera.com/trusera/2008/03/trusera-announc.html) but we'd appreciate the opportunity to share more about what we are doing at Trusera with you personally.
Please let me know if you're available to connect with Keith, give your input, and to hear more about our plans. We'd love to hear more from you.
Kim Malek
Trusera
kim@trusera.com
For KT, I always ask for lemon with my water, and then add a packet or two of Splenda to it, and stir. It tastes like a really light, delicious lemonade! Oh, also, when I'm at a bar, I order a virgin bloody mary, and count it as a vegetable serving.
Up until recently, I rarely took into consideration the calories from what I was drinking (soda and alcohol). I've cut out the soda and cut down on the alcohol and it has definitely made a difference. I love food --- thus, getting my calories from food instead of drinks is so much more satisfying for me. I love reading your health journal.
Explain the differences in calories for beers. Are the clear beer lagers less caloric than the dark beers? And are most red wines of the same calorie count?
I gave up soda and started drinking what I thought was healthy soda in the form or Steaz organic carbonated green tea.
I thought that green tea would negate the organic evaporated cane juice. I'm borderline diabetic, since I always look for sugar and had no idea that these healthy sodas are just as loaded with sugar as coke and sprite.
The moral to the story is Just because a drink is organic or has a so called healthy ingredient in it, if it has bubbles and sugar than it is another junk food soda. the only difference is that it more expensive. Drink water. Drink real tea and not anther marketing gimmick . Be healthy.
I DRINK ALOT OF WATER AND I STILL GAIN WEIGHT. NOW MY DOCTOR HAVE ME DRINKING SLIM-FAST. TO TRY AND LOSS WEIGHT. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH WANTING TO EAT LATE AND GO TO BED. I CAN GO ALL DAY WITH OUT EATING. BUT I LIKE TO DRINK SODA. BUT SINCE I HAVE BEEN ON THE SLIM-FAST I HAVEN'T HAD A SODA. I NEED HELP.
Iced green tea is delicious. It comes decaffinated and many brands carry flavored versions. It is full of antioxidants - and big bonus - it has no calories. Drink all you want and know it is benefiting your health and waistline.
I order non sweetened iced teas when I'm at a restaurant and add Splenda to it. Or just get water with lemon or a diet coke. When at a bar, mix with diet coke or club soda.
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I've been an iced tea drinker (no sugar, no lemon) since high school when I found out from a waiter that you could get unlimited refills of iced tea versus having to pay for soda. Now that soda is unlimited, I still drink iced tea because anything else is too sweet.
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Are diet drinks not healthy? What is a daily acceptable amount of diet coke?
I had a person tell me that she gave up diet soda and has lost 10 pounds! Even though the soda was sugar free, there must be something in the sweetener. Anybody have any info on this?
my big problem is drink lots of Pepsi. I am not eating much. I don't eat sweet things but still my weight is 70 kg i know its too much for my age how to loose my weight in 3 months please tell me as fast as possible for this........
Dear Madelyn,
At 28 I was 99 kilos with a height of 5.8. Plagued with multiple health problems such as migraine & jaundice I was emotionally down & almost out & heavy medication was not helping my cause. Suddenly one day like a messiah I woke up to an empowered morning & decided to dump my pills, drop weight & become healthy by treading the path of nature.
My cause was also helped by some like minded people. In 15 months time i dropped 20 kilos & looked transformed, empowered & bubbling with best of health. With the help of yoga & exercises I over came my difficulties but it made a great dent in my wealth as I cudnt concentrate on my business.
Now after one year of marriage at 32 my priorities have changed to need of wealth & martial adjustments. I have put on 15 kilos. But fortunately I am still containing my no pills line and doing my other better techniques that had stood with me(but no exercise). Now my wife is carrying & my needs have taken a back seat. Im in a dilemma & need ur help.
Regards
Nimish
I would like to know if there are any tricks to just lost a fat stomach? I have gained weight all over but would like to keep it on except for the stomach. Are there certain things to do to bring it down without losing the rest of my weight? Any help would be greatfully appreciated. Thanks in advance.
