YOU MAYBE SHOCKED TO FIND OUT THE AMOUNT OF CALORIES YOU DRINK...

I wrote this back earlier in the year when I was sitting in Starbucks. I noticed the number of school children in and the drinks they were purchasing, some looked more like deserts than drinks. It got me thinking about the calorie content in those drinks and how those extra calories are effecting peoples waistline (and potentially health). It is common to hear from people that they don't understand why they are gaining weight as they don't eat much, A part of the problem could be calories they consume through drinks (people are also notoriously bad at estimating their calorie intake and expenditure).

Look into some of the calorie content of some drinks at Starbucks, there is more calories in those drinks than some fast foods!.............

• Signature hot chocolate is 537 cals-  more calories than 1 Big Mac 491 cals.

• Mocha Frappuccino with whipped cream 437 cals, Caramel Frappuccino 455 cals or Café Mocha 417 cals.......................... more calories than Half a 12" Magherita Pizza at around 297 cals or Medium McDonalds French Fries 330 cals.


• Caramel Macchiato has between 261-376 calories....................Has more than a mars bar 230 cals or cheese burger from burger king 320 cals. You can get a cut of  nice sirloin steak for around 214 cals!


•  A Grande whole milk cappuccino 136cals...........Has around the same calories as a 330ml can of coke 139cals.

 I like Starbucks and spend a lot of time there between clients. I find it a good place to chill out with a drink and nice friendly staff and I am not having a go at them (or Café Nero, Costa etc.).

The point of this post is to raise awareness of the calories in some of these drinks and there are good lower calorie alternatives. I find many people can get caught out with the sheer amount of calories they can consume through drinks alone.

Alcohol Intake.......

One of the major stumbling blocks many people have that stops them achieving their goals is their weekend alcohol intake.

All the week of healthy eating habits can come undone with weekend binges.

Lets not beat about the bush here, If you are having a few drinks too many or going out and getting smashed most weekends, followed by alcohol-induced overeating, then it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that results that you want are not coming, they plateau or weight gain occurs.

Now I am not saying you have to live like a priest or nun and never drink-  not at all.

Most of us like a drink now and again (that is a Myfitness pal screen shot from a couple of years back. I felt horrendous the next day by the way!) That was 16000 cals in alcohol alone.
My daily calorie target was around 1800 at the time, I nearly hit that with alcohol alone!

 In the big scheme of things having a couple of drinks or the occasional blow out is not going to make too much of a dent in your diet. Going out getting hammered once or twice a week probably will.

If you are looking to lose weight/improve your body composition, don't sabotage your own progress.

Trying to eat well all week then going out on benders at the weekend, then scratching your head and wondering why you are not losing weight.

Some tips.....

- Try reducing your alcohol intake or swap drinks for less calorific ones (doesn't mean you drink more of them though!!)

- Make better bad choices at the weekends regarding food and alcohol

- Keep an eye on the serving size

- Try slowing down the pace of your drinking. Alternate a glass of water with each alcoholic drink

- Prevent mindless munching

- Pre plan post drink meal

- Finding other activities to do at the weekend rather than getting wasted

- Avoid peer pressure, eg volunteer to be designated driver.

Don't sabotage your own progress. Trying to eat well all week then going out on benders at the weekend, then scratching your head and wondering why you are not losing weight

If you are not making the progress you want maybe look into how your weekends are and be honest with yourself about your calorie intake at the weekends.

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The amount of calories being consumed through drinks can catch a lot of people out. If you are looking to lose weight or improve body composition it can be one of the easiest things to look at and change.

Jamie Miller- Personal Trainer
UK FITNESS PERSONAL TRAINING
ABERDEEN

Fitness, Nutrition & Personal Training