Many people go through their day consuming a large number of beverages without realizing that they are drinking a lot of calories in the process. If you check out the number of calories that are found in many beverages, you would realize that a great deal of us consume a huge portion of our suggested caloric intake each day in delicious fluids that don't do the body any good. However, it doesn't have to be this way. There are lots of ways to make sure you aren't drinking your calories.
Step 1
Skip the soda. It is really best if you skip or limit your amount of soda. There is nothing healthy about soda, even diet soda. A regular soda has about 100 calories in an 8 ounce serving and those of us that are used to downing 20 ouncers consume about 250 calories in a single bottle of soda. Diet sodas come in calorie-free versions, which are much better options if you have to have soda.
Step 2
Check your coffee and tea. Depending on your coffee habit, you may consume as many as 300 calories in a morning cup of joe. To check this out, evaluate what you put into your brewed coffee and figure out which fancy espresso drinks you are consuming.
You can lower calorie counts in regular coffee by limiting the amount of sugar or going with a calorie-free sweetener. You can also go with low-fat or skim milk instead of whole milk, cream, creamer, or half and half. The same can be said of your tea. Buy unsweetened varieties and then add your own sweeteners so you know you are getting the calories you wish to consume.
When it comes to your espresso drinks such as the cappuccino, latte, or mocha, there are lower fat options as well. Avoid the mocha, because it is the one with the most fat and calories due to the chocolate, milk, and customary whipped cream topping. If you have to have it, go without the whipped cream and make sure the milk is skim or low-fat. For lattes and cappuccinos go with sugar-free flavor syrups or skip the syrup. If you want it sweet, add a zero-calorie sweetener instead of the syrup. Ask for low-fat or skim milk.
Step 3
Only drink 100% juice. Many of us consume juice instead of fruits or veggies. However, juice isn't the same as having a piece of fruit or vegetable. Instead it has fewer nutrients and in many cases more sugars. When you drink juice, make sure it is 100% juice and doesn't have added sugar or sweeteners.
Step 4
Watch your 'water'. In today's world, we are replacing water with sports drinks, vitamin waters, flavored waters and other fancy water-like drinks. Many people don't realize that there are a surprising number of calories found in such drinks. Make sure you are drinking low-calorie fancy waters and not adding a huge number of calories to your drinking diet.
Step 5
Lower the fat in your milk. Milk may be a wonderful thing and full of a number of great vitamins and nutrients. Plus it tastes good and makes for a great refreshing drink. However, if you are still drinking whole milk or 2% milk, it is tie that you go for low-fat or fat-free. Both of these options have way fewer calories and a lowered fat content, which is good for most people older than two years of age.
Step 6
Be careful with adult drinks. They don't call it a beer belly for anything. The truth is that alcoholic drinks contain a lot of calories. Limit them to lower your calorie count. Look for lighter options (light beer really does have fewer calories, and there are some that still taste fantastic). Don't consume alcoholic drinks regularly, but instead save them for special occasions and only drink a small amount at a time. This way you are not throwing a few extra hundred calories into your drinks.
Step 7
Drink lots of water. Drinking plain old water is a great way to make sure you aren't consuming excess calories in your drinks. Water is calorie-free and good for the body. Plus if you are managing your water needs well, you won't feel overly thirsty and resort to unhealthy alternatives. If you need more than just boring water has to offer, add a squirt of real lime or lemon juice. This will give it a bit of flavor without adding extra calories. Plus some studies show that there may be health advantages to having a small amount of lemon juice each day.
If you are like many people, you may find that you are drinking hundreds of calories each day, if not more than that. If you had a mocha on your way to work this morning, you consumed about 300 calories. If you topped that off with a 20 ounce soda before lunch, you added an additional 250 calories to your day. If you had a 32 ounce soda with lunch, that's another 400 calories. Finish the afternoon with a vitamin water or a juice and you have another 200 calories. If you are topping it all off with a beer for dinner then you are looking at about 1350 calories in fluids for the day. For some, that pattern may seem extreme, but for others this doesn't even cover all that they drink in a day. You can limit the number of calories that you have each and every day without much difficulty.
