STOP DRINKING!!

I'm not referring to beer, or wine, or liquor either. Although alcohol is nothing more than empty calories and a lubricant for the "adventurous spirit", I'm talking about juice, and soda, and sugary, sweet, creamy drinks.

For a proper explanation, we need to go back in time...about 200,000 years. For 199,950 years humans drank water. That's it. As we evolved, our bodies developed systems for thirst and hunger. These systems are not mutually exclusive, but they are sufficiently sophisticated to prevent water consumption from interfering with food consumption. If we felt full after we drank water, we would suffer from a calorie deficiency. So, when we drink calories, our bodies don't respond the same as when we eat food. In short: After drinking high calorie beverages, we still feel hungry.

What does all this mean? Well, the next time you order a peppermint frappe with extra sugar, syrup, whip cream, chocolate cake, pepperoni, and a honey...you'll consumer roughly 1,000 calories. Guess what? These calories will leave you completely unsatisfied. You will remain hungry, you'll continue to eat, you'll continue to gain weight, you'll end up fat.

A study was recently released. Two groups. Each group was given the same 2,500 calorie, per day, diet. Group one was permitted to drink only water. Group two was permitted to drink anything they wanted. The results were as predictable as a Vince Vaughn romantic comedy. Those who could drink whatever they wanted consumed over 500 additional calories per day!

This is unfathomable...at that rate, the average person will gain 1 pound per week, every week. So at the end of 2009...you could very well be FIFTY POUNDS heavier!

So, the next time you pick a regular soda, sugary juice drink, calorie dense sports drink, or excessively sweetened coffees and teas, stop and ask yourself this "Self, would I look better or worse with an extra 50 pounds of blubber?". If the answer if "Heck yeah, I'd look great with pillow folds of flab!", then by all means drink up. But if you're answer is the more realistic, "You know, I'm carrying some extra weight already...what easy step can I take to slim down?", then drop the drink, and pick up water.

Just in case there are some of you out there who need help determining what is a sugary, "leading you down the path to blubber-town", drink...here is a list of drinks that won't add calories to your diet, and in turn won't add inches to your waist.

1. Water
2. Black Coffee
3. Regular Tea

What about artificial sweeteners, you may ask. Artificial sweeteners have a peculiar effect on the body. These little guys are like the David Copperfield's of the nutritional world...they get in your body and trick your body into thinking it's hungry; even when it's not. So these artificial sweeteners, they're bad...so bad. They don't help you, the make your life worse.

You don't need soda, or sugary drinks. They're nutritionally void. Make a good choice, drink water.

If all this information wasn't enough to convince you...try this: A grande, barista prepared beverage, is about $5. that $25 a week, which is $100 a month. (you see where I'm going with this?). $100 a month, is $1200 a year. What can you do with an EXTRA $1200 per year? $1200...it's a nice vacation, or a few car payments, or a new TV, or a new bed, or a nice investment in your own health.

Get up, get out, and get fit.

--BA
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