How bad is Soda when trying to lose weight? - Diet & Nutrition Message Board

Nikos · 06-06-2004, 11:00 PM

Why would soda be so bad? From a weight/fat loss standpoint, what’s the difference between drinking a COKE or a Glass of Orange Juice? I know Juice gives more nutrients and helps the heart, but is it any different than soda in terms of sugar, carbs, and calories. Isn’t that a factor in terms of fat and gaining weight?

Bottom line if I want to lose weight and fat and Im not concerned with the health benefits of OJ over Soda -- then is Soda really that bad to have once or twice a day?

Thanks

Laurie2 · 06-06-2004, 11:38 PM

Look at the serving size. A regular serving size of juice is an 8 ounce glass. A can of Coke is 12oz and both give you the same amount of empty sugar calories. You will get caffine from the cola drinks but you can get the same from tea or coffee without the attendent sugar....unless you add it.

From a weightloss standpoint...neither is good for you in this case if you want to cut the sugar from your diet as much as possible. Better to eat an orange for the fiber content as well as juice than just the latter alone. All that sugar gives you an energy spike/boost for about 30 minutes but then you get the sugar lows. Besides, like said, you dont need the "empty calories". Nor the added calories to your diet (Coke has about 160 calories per can)

If you are on a low carb diet.....a can has 44grams (from the sugar) Is it really worth it?

As for Coke. I soon learned to live without all that sugar and switched to diet instead. Most of the time, would just add some diet soda to my water for a "taste" rather than drink it outright.

Nikos · 06-06-2004, 11:55 PM

Being in college I eat very unhealthy.

I dont have time to cook too much, and Im a picky eater.

I have a fast metabolism, and I gained a slight gut that I really want gone by July.

Im starting to exercise more (I hadent been exercising for a while).

I basically want to cut the soda, fries, and extra food for now in hopes of losing fat. Before I would eat tons of fries, have a lot of soda and greasy foods.

Im trying to eat a little more healthy -- but my main concern is to LOSE FAT first and slowly adopt healthier eating habits.

For now I just want to eliminate soda for a while and fries. Maybe Ill have them once in a while, but not everyday like I used to.

What else do you reccomend for someone at school, who can't cook much?

Can I lose the gut by doing exercises on the stomach, running, playing basketball, and cutting down the calories, sugar, and fries?

Thanks

modert · 06-07-2004, 03:32 PM

Laurie is right on - you are best avoiding sodapop AND orange juice (and other high calorie drinks). Both will have you consuming too much sugar and too many calories without nutritional benefit. Another thing that will help you immensely is to drink water - TONS OF IT!!! A good formula to use 1/2 your body weight in ounces... for example is if you weigh 150, drink 75 ounces of water daily. If you weigh 200, drink 100 ounces of water daily. It seems like a lot, but it works, really. Another formula that works is 64 oz daily for a normal weight body - add 8-12 oz for every 25 lbs overweight.

Here is why... your liver's job is to metabolize fat. But when you don't consume enough fluids, your kidneys are working at maximum capacity and rely on the liver to help them do their job. When the liver is doing the kidney's job, it cannot efficiently metabolize fat. So if you drink lots of water, your kidneys and liver will be able to function at maximum efficiency which will help you metabloze fat and lose weight. And it really does need to be water to get the full benefit.

Laurie2 · 06-08-2004, 01:25 AM

"Can I lose the gut by doing execises on the stomach, running, playing basketball, and cutting down on calories, sugar and fries"

Any kind of intense/hard exercise that will burn calories better will help "cut the gut". Ab exercises will strengthen the stomach there but the body takes fat from all over to burn for energy. Not just one place.

Cutting polyunsaturated fats, "empty" calories and starchy carbs, like fries, will certainly help too. But "want losing fat first" and then trying to eat a healthier diet....does not quite work that way. You will lose fat by eating a healthier diet...period.

Calories are abit different. You do not want to cut down too far or else, your body's metabolism will slow down to go into "starvation mode". For myself, if I go below 1500....that's too low for me. 1800 is far better. This is something you will have to workout yourself to find a proper balance.

When you do start eating healthier, do not go by your scales (if you have any)...better to go by how your clothes feel for any body changes. Keep a journal of what you have been eating, protien/carbs/fats/calories. A good idea to include what exercise and how long. Go for 5-6 smaller meals stretched out about every three hours. This way you are not bunching up all your calories and keep your metabolism up longer. Rather like keeping a small fire hot with coals with woodchips at regular intervels rather starting a huge one, letting it go down and having to stoke it back up again after cooling.