You know the saying that you can’t out-exercise a bad diet? We tend to forget that it also refers to what you drink.
If, despite your best efforts at changing your food intake and increasing your exercise routine, you find yourself at a plateau where your fat loss efforts are concerned, it may be time to take a closer look at the beverages you choose to drink on a daily basis.
Did you know that a 12-oz can of soda can add up to 200 calories? Or that your nonfat Latte is harboring another 120 more? What about that “healthy” drink that is anything but: juice? One glass of apple juice can be up to 170 calories!
Full of sugar, some beverages can take a toll not only on your waistline, but also your overall health. Take for instance, both Orange Juice and Coke contain 10 teaspoons per 12 oz glass! No, you did not read that wrong. That’s A LOT of sugar! According to the American Heart Association, the maximum amount of added sugar you should eat a day is 9 teaspoons for men and 6 teaspoons for women. That Coke you just drank without another thought took up more than your daily allotment for the day! Yikes!
But, let’s go back to what these empty calories are doing to your body. Extra sugar is stored in your bloodstream as glucose, causing your pancreas to release additional insulin to clear out the extra stores, saving it as fat in your cells.
Sugar addiction is a real problem in the US, but I urge you to start training yourself to enjoy less sugary beverages. It’ll be very difficult at first and can cause you fatigue, irritability, and digestive upset as your body gets rid of the toxins in your bloodstream. But, this could be the solution you’ve been looking for to get off that plateau.
If water just doesn’t sound good to you, try infusing it with fruit – lime and lemons, strawberries or blueberries are a great way to start. It’ll add a little bit of flavor and help your transition to less sugary beverages to be a little easier for you.
Coach Blaine
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