Liquid Calories

It can be really easy to fall into the Liquid Calorie trap, especially when you are trying to lose weight or burn fat. When your exercising regularly and eating well, those refreshing drinks can’t really be that bad, can they?

Actually, they can!

Many drinks are actually calorie loaded and often packed with preservatives or chemicals which isn’t ideal when you are trying to be healthy.

Let’s look at some examples…

Fruit Juices

Fruit juices are a big contender on the liquid calorie list, but fruit is healthy right? Fresh fruit should be part of your diet because they contain essential nutrients that are beneficial for our health. However, juices are high in carbs (sugar) even if it has no “added sugars” the fruit itself is high in sugar. Always opt for fresh fruit juices and just be careful of sugar content. Vegetable juices are less calorie packed so a better alternative.  

Hot Drinks

Is your typical morning break a stop in the coffee shop for a vanilla latte or a hot chocolate? Unfortunately, they are still really high in calories – even a skinny hot chocolate has roughly 40g carbs! This will have a huge impact in relation to your weight loss goals. Instead of your daily indulgence, why not go for a weekly treat and opt for a healthier option (try without sugar or with skimmed milk). There are also plenty of hot drinks that are completely calorie free, such as green teas and herbal teas.

Alcohol

As tempting it is to reach for a nice glass of wine at the end of the day, it’s really important to highlight the extra calories you are drinking. A large glass of wine (250ml) with 13% ABV can add 230 calories to your daily intake, the equivalent of an ice cream or a chocolate bar!

If you are going out with friends and want to enjoy a drink without worrying about the amount of squat jumps it will take to burn off, opt for a clear spirit such as vodka, with soda water and fresh lime.

Diet Drinks

Diet fizzy drinks usually have high amounts of chemically enhanced sweeteners to ensure you get that sweet taste you crave. I personally like to avoid these as much as possible and recent studies have down that they can still be contributing to weight gain. With all of these drinks, it’s important to remember the key word “moderation”.

Lucie Colt 

@LucieColt