First Step to Getting Lean- Stop Drinking Calories

Spring is around the corner.  Believe me, it is.  And if you want to look good in your shorts or that summer dress or be able to finally have fun at that pool party, then listen up.  If you want to finally have a tummy you can be proud of, then you can’t wait until March to start thinking about what you can and should do to get in shape.  Unfortunately, after the Holiday get-togethers, the Super Bowl Parties, and the Valentine’s Day Chocolates, it’ll take some time to get rid of that spare tire you found.  If you start exercising and eating healthy when the sun starts coming out, then you’ll be getting in decent shape, uh, right about the time football season starts again, when it’s time to start bundling up again.  So, take my advice.  Start thinking about and planning for it now.  And start working on it soon.  As soon as you can.

Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to really kick-start your healthier lifestyle.  And the first step should be eliminating or significantly reducing the number of calories you drink.  If you’re like most Americans, it’ll make a HUGE difference.  Juice with your breakfast.  Coffee on the way to work.  A soda with your lunch.  And a beer or two when you get home.  Sound familiar?  While you can undoubtedly argue the necessity for these (“coffee gets me going in the morning,” “orange juice is healthy,” “I need a beer or two to unwind after a hard day at work”), they are removing any chance you have of looking as good as you can- even if you do work out.

I know from experience that this can make a huge difference.  But if you don’t believe me, plenty of support on the topic exists out there.  A google search on “Stop Drinking Calories” produces several articles.  In my experience, it was also easier than I thought.  I suggest taking a baby step approach, making small improvements instead of trying to institute dramatic change in your life.  My first step was to stop drinking coffee every morning.  I went from every day to four days per week.  I also stopped drinking anything but water with my breakfast and lunch.  This, too, started in baby steps, initially only adhering to this rule Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Finally, instead of drinking regular soda or juice with my dinner, I switched to Pepsi One or G2 (low-calorie Gatorade).  While it might seem like a small change, these things add up.  The average American drinks about 1/5 of his calories.  If you stop being ‘average’, you’re tummy will be very thankful.