I’ve recently started writing an e-book on how an average person can lose weight with a few simple truths: eat less, exercise more. This is the first post in a series of blog posts that are being written as the e-book progresses. These simple truths are how I lost nearly 100 pounds.
According to the National Soft Drink Association, the biggest consumer of sodas in the United States is a twelve to twenty-nine year old man. He consumes an average of almost 160 gallons of soda per year.
One hundred sixty gallons is over 20,000 ounces, nearly five cans of soda per day. By drinking this much soda, it could cause weight gain of around five pounds per year. An average person needs to lose 500 calories per day, or 3500 calories a week to lose one pound. Sodas or high calorie drinks could be an important factor in your diet that determines whether you are losing weight or gaining weight.
By eliminating four sodas such as Coca Cola or even just a few high calorie drinks, its enough to lose one pound per week. One pound per week doesn’t seem like much but was part of my initial strategy that helped me lose almost 100 pounds in nine months.
High calorie drinks are an easy reason we gain weight unknowingly. Fortunately, by eliminating consumption of soda or high calorie drinks, it’s one of the easiest ways to lose weight.
The calories for some common high calorie drinks:
Coca Cola (12oz): 140 Calories
Cherry Coke (12oz): 150 Calories
Sprite (12oz): 139 Calories
Starbucks Coffee Frappuccino (16oz): 240 Calories
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte with Whip (16oz): 410 Calories
Gatorade (20oz): 122 Calories
Snapple Lemon Tea (16oz): 200 Calories
Personally I dislike substituting these with so called “diet” drinks. The artificial sweeteners and additives can be just as harmful for your health and slow down your metabolism.
Water, black coffee, tea and milk are all healthy and recommended alternatives.
