Weight Loss + Drinks. What's The Link?

If you're trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy figure, keeping an eye on what you're eating and drinking is critical to seeing the results you're after.

So, what's the relationship between what you drink and the impact on your weight loss? 

The most critical part of the weight loss equation is calories!
Everyone has their own maintenance calorie requirement. That is, how much energy you need to consume to maintain your current body weight.

Factors that impact a persons calorie requirements include:

• Age: A growing teenage male needs more calories than an elderly female
• Muscle mass: The body needs more calories to grow and maintain muscle mass
• physical activity level: The more active you are, the more calories you burn
• Sex

In order to lose weight, we need to consume less calories than our body's maintenance requirements. This will result in the body having to use stored energy (usually fat) to fuel itself. This done consistently will result in weight loss over the following days, weeks and months

 

In order to gain weight, we do the opposite. Consuming more calories than our body needs to maintain itself will see the body store the excess energy usually in the form of fat and/or muscle if a consistent weight training program is adhered to.

 

So in theory, if you wanted to lose weight and your maintenance calorie requirement is the same as the average Australian adult (2,080 calories or 8700 kj), you could drink 7 x 600ml bottles of Coca Cola and still lose weight!

 

Let's do the sums…

7 x 258 calorie bottles of Coca Cola = 1,806 calories

2,080 calories - 1,806 calories = 274 calories less than the energy your body needs to maintain it's energy output.

Crazy right!

 

 

Based on this, you would (in theory!) lose weight. But there's obviously many problems with the all Coke diet! They include:

• You have no quality carbs, fats or proteins your body needs for proper functioning and wellbeing
• You get very few micro nutrients (think all your vitamins and minerals your body needs to function properly - Iron, Vitamin A,B,C etc the list is endless)
• You would get very hungry as you wouldn't be consuming any fibrous or low Gi foods that help keep you feeling fuller for longer.

So what is the right answer?!

Getting the majority of your calories from nutritious food sources such as vegetables, fruit, nuts, cereals, lean meats etc is a fantastic overall strategy for weight loss.

The less processed foods such as chips, chocolate bars and other unhealthy snacks, the better!

This usually means you'll be getting enough of the critical macro and micro nutrients your body needs for proper healthy functioning.

Drinking fewer of your calories means you'll have more calories saved up for mouth watering food. So what do you do when you want a delicious beverage?

Drinking naturally sweetened, low sugar and low calorie beverages instead of full sugar and calorie dense options is a great idea for helping weigh loss or maintenance!

This means you'll be able to enjoy the refreshment a traditional beverage brings without all the sugar, calories or nasties.

What's not to love?!

Hits Different has a range of fantastic naturally sweetened, low calorie drinks to choose from. Check em out!

Here's a few of my favourite healthy drinks that can help you on your weight loss journey:
Kréol Ginger Lime Antioxidant Infusion
+hemp Restore
PS Organic Ginger Beer

Please note that the above information is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease or illness. 

Cheers,

Dylan - Hits Different

Precision Nutrition L1 Certified in Exercise Nutrition