diet soda

Soda Breakup: How Quitting Coke And Other Sodas Can Help You Lose Weight, Be A Healthier, Happier Woman Over 50

Soda Breakup: How Quitting Coke And Other Sodas Can Help You Lose Weight, Be A Healthier, Happier Woman Over 50!

Quick question: Are you and soda inseparable? I used to not go anywhere without my Diet Pepsi. But did you know quitting coke and other sodas can help you lose weight?

It sure can and help you feel better also. It might be time for you to take a little fizz-free adventure because giving up soda can truly transform your health in ways you won’t believe!

First things first, soda – or “pop” as some of us say – could be that sneaky culprit expanding our waistlines while we’re not looking. Just a tiny serving of the fizzy stuff, like the popular Coca-Cola, has a hefty 140 calories and a jaw-dropping 39 grams of sugar.

To put that in perspective, a grown man should have around 37.5 grams of sugar PER DAY. Yep, one can of soda, and you’ve burst that sugar bubble. And those colossal-sized drinks? We won’t even go there!

But hold on to your hat, because not all “healthy” replacements are actually better. Those sporty drinks we chug down can sometimes be calorie and sugar landmines, threatening to undo all your treadmill triumphs.

Even innocent-looking fruit juices can turn the tables. They can actually pack more sugar than soda and often lack the precious fiber and nutrients that whole fruits bring to the table.

Oh, and don’t be fooled by those “added” sugars in fruit juice – they’re just as naughty!

And here’s the shocker: If you’re a calorie-conscious gal, try adding up the numbers. A daily Big Gulp-sized soda? That’s 600 calories a day, or a staggering 219,000 bonus calories per year! Yikes!

But, you might be wondering, what happens when you kick the soda habit? Well, it’s not just about shedding pounds. Here’s what’s on the menu:

🌙 You’ll sleep like a baby. 🩺 Your Type 2 Diabetes risk takes a nosedive. 🩰 You’ll have lower blood pressure and fewer jittery moments. 😁 Say cheese – you’ll have stronger teeth and happier gums!

And one more thing – don’t think diet drinks are your knight in shining armor. Sure, they’re lower on the calorie count, but guess what?

Your body doesn’t really see them any differently. In fact, the jury’s still out on the whole artificial sweetener deal. Why mess with the unknown chemicals, right?

So, how do you break the soda spell? Well, if you’re a full-fledged soda enthusiast, starting with diet sodas can ease the transition. But remember, your mission is to bid farewell to ALL sodas, regular or diet, as quickly as possible, and welcome the crisp, clear joy of water.

Not only will you feel amazing quitting coke and other sodas, but your wallet will be cheering you on too! So, here’s to a fizz-free and fabulous you! 🥤✨

What happens when you stop drinking soda? You lose weight.

What happens when you stop drinking soda? You lose weight.

Losing weight any time can be difficult. Add being over 50 and through menopause or a hysterectomy, and it becomes even trickier. But there may be one thing you can change immediately.  Think soda.

Let me ask you one question – are you a soda drinker? You might want to start there because simply removing sodas from your day is a small change that can make a big difference.

Soda, or pop as we call it in Ohio, can add inches to your waistline without you noticing if you drink them on a daily basis.  One serving of Coca Cola is 140 calories. Even scarier is there are 39 grams of sugar in that one serving. Putting it in perspective, an adult male should only have 37.5 grams of sugar PER DAY.  That one can of Coke puts an adult over their daily recommended limit.  Imagine how much sugar is in those super sized drinks!

Keep in mind that not all drinks whether they are labeled healthy or not are good replacements.  You might think a sports drink is a healthy replacement to soda when in fact it has the same or HIGHER calories and sugar. Drinking those “sports” drinks can undo all the hours at the gym.  (Read this next: Why is it so hard for women over 50 to lose weight?)

Juice is another high calorie drink that can cause the same problems soda does and actually may have even MORE sugar than soda. Yes fruit juice is made from fruit but it does not provide the same benefits to the body that eating a piece of fruit will.  Also be aware of the additives in fruit juice include fructose and other sugar replacements.

If weight  loss is one of your goals, take a moment and calculate the number of calories you are consuming when drinking sodas in a year. For example, if you drink a large soda like a Big Gulp daily, that is 50 ounces of soda which equals 600 calories a day or 219,000 calories per year (via Very Well Fit).  219,000 calories extra per year!

Now let’s look at the health benefits when you stop drinking that daily soda. The greatest benefit when you stop drinking soda? Weight loss but there are many others including:

  • Sleeping better.
  • Reducing the risk of Type 2 Diabetes.
  • Lowered blood pressure.
  • Decreased nervousness.
  • Stronger teeth and healthy gums.

Don’t replace those sugary sodas with diet drinks thinking that will be healthier. Yes you may be reducing the amount of sugar BUT the body does not recognize sugar replacements or sweeteners any different than sugar. Whether you are eating sugar sweetened foods or beverages or non-sugar sweetened foods or beverages, your appetite increases.  In addition, experts recommend that we do not use artificial sweeteners if possible as they contain chemicals and other ingredients our bodies are not used to processing.

So how do you eliminate soda from our diet?  If you consume large amounts of soda every day, it may be easier for you to INITIALLY switch to diet sodas BUT only temporarily.  Your goal should be to eliminate ALL sodas – regular or diet – as quickly as possible and replace with water.  Not only will you feel better, but your wallet will be happier too.

Have a wonderful week!

To your health,

Denise

p.s. I’ve been following a keto program for a few weeks now (end of August 2021) AND I’m down almost 8 pounds.  Pretty painless too because I feel full all the time.  It was the jumpstart I needed and just may be what you’re looking for also.  These program is customized for YOU.  I think that’s why it’s actually working this time.  You can get more info here: Custom Keto