New Year is here! Welcome year 2010!
Who has NOT planned on losing weight (or at least getting healthier) this year. For the rest of us, read on if you want to know how to get skinny quicker by cutting out hidden calories and carbs to make dieting easier.
Did you know…that a fifth of our daily calories come from drinks? You can diet all you want and still be sabotaging your diet with the drink choices you make. Here is a guide on which drinks can slim, and which drinks are hidden fat boosters.
Helpful:
#1: Water. Drink two glasses of water before a meal helps to make you feel full more quickly. Drinking water helps your metabolism. Replace sodas with water and cut out hundreds of calories a day.
#2: Black coffee is better than juice or coffee as far as sugar, obviously. But did you know that black coffee is also rich in antioxidants? 3-4 cups a day can help improve concentration and mood which will help you avoid eating out of tiredness or depression. We hear there have been studies that black coffee can reduce some types of cancer and type 2 diabetes. Personally, I have to have a couple of spashes of milk, cinnamon, and a little splenda.
Which reminds me that designer coffee from our favorite coffee houses is something to avoid. Some of these “coffee treats” can add up to 580 calories…per cup! WOW! Save calories and money and skip the frappes and order a regular cup of house blend, then add the spices and skim milk provided at the condiment station.
#3 Green Tea: Try this for a change when you want a boost of caffeine. The plant based compounds that could help the body burn melt fat are called phytochemicals. Drink at least two cups per day, spacing apart a couple of hours.
#4 Vegetable Juice is better skinny choice for losing weight than fruit juice, (about half the calories). Drink vegetable juice that adds fiber. Better to make your own.
#5 Juice is better than soda, but has as many calories (and sugar) as sodas and sports drinks. It has more nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants, but better to look for 100% juice with no added sweeteners. Better to flavor water with a little juice for taste value and a few extra nutrients.
Smoothies were my favorite college drink in warm San Diego. I thought I was being really healthy. I learned that making it at home in my own blender helped me control the calories because I could add skim milk and fruit, and that’s it. No honey or ice-cream or other goodies that could add extra calories.
Speaking of milk…people used to believe that drinking mild helped you lose weight. Unfortunately that is not medically supported. However, calcium helps avoid an increase in fat cell production, and certainly a better choice for a between meal snack to help you feel full. Stick to low fat in all your calcium choices such as cheese, milk and yogurt.
The Skinny Drink Losers:
#1 Soda, soft drinks, pop, are the single biggest ource of calories in the American diet.
#2 Energy and Sport drinks. Ya, I know, you thought they were good for you, even though your extent of strenuous exercise is lugging groceries from the car. They have added minerals and vitamins, but you can get those same nutrients from food. Stick with water.
#3 Booze. Oh bummer, we like a cocktail now and again. Well, there is the key…once in awhile. If you are trying to get skinny fast. Drop the booze…completely. Now having wine coolers are not a substitute because they are made with soda. If you have to have one for a special social occation , then have a wine spritzer made with plain sparkling water, instead.
Shots have less calories than wine, but usually come mixed with soda, juice, cream, etc. Do you really want that 800 calorie fancy drink, or would you rather skip it and get in those skinnier jeans. Your choice. Just remember, that one round of shots leads to another, so you have defeated your purpose of drinking a shot over a glass of wine, if you just downed three shots.
#4 Beer. If you just have to have a beer, then have a lite beer. You will save 50 calories over a regular beer.
If you must have an alcoholic drink, then read the post about Cocktails-Slim Picks.
