Are Energy Drinks the New Diet Drink?

by Liz Neporent (Subscribe to Liz Neporent's posts)
Sep 16th 2009 2:00PM

Categories: Diet & Weight Loss, Fit or Fiction

Liz Neporent is a diet and fitness expert and co-author of "The Fat-Free Truth." She regularly appears on national TV programs and is the president of Wellness 360, a New-York based wellness provider. You can also follow her on Twitter @lizzyfit.

Photo: zmtomako, Flickr

Will switching from soft drinks to energy drinks help me lose weight?

I know plenty of people who guzzle soft drinks and plenty of people who don't like drinking water. They are constantly looking for a tasty alternative to help them quench their thirst. So, are energy drinks the answer?

Perhaps. If you're a soda addict, each 8-ounce can you knock back without giving it a second thought will set you back about 100 to 120 empty calories. There is no calorie savings with some of the newer energy drinks, like Red Bull, plus they pack crazy amounts of caffeine and may not be great for your teeth. The same amount of the classic sugary energy drinks like Gatorade deliver just 50 calories. True, that's just half the damage of soda and may contain a few essential vitamins and minerals, but it's still a fairly significant slug of calories. Plus, who drinks just 8 ounces of anything, especially when you're parched? As a recent Columbia University study shows, most people easily chug their way through nearly 250 extra calories a day. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health also found that liquid calories had a stronger impact on weight loss than calories from solid foods.

Before you drink your way into an unexpected weight gain, read the label carefully. Even clear beverages and vitamin waters may carry an unexpected caloric punch. Use our food evaluator to estimate the nutritional worth of your next beverage. Diet soda is the obvious choice if you're weight-loss conscious, though many people fear the effect of carbonation on bone health and the effect of artificial sweeteners on their overall health. Some energy drinks, especially the diet versions, don't contain very many calories – although if that is the case, they really can't qualify as "energy drinks" because calories are where energy comes from.

My 2 cents: I recently gave up a raging Diet Coke addiction and learned to love good old H2O. I notice the difference in how I feel, and I am not as bloated. If water isn't your thing, try spiking it with a generous shot of lemon, lime or try watermelon slices, fresh mint or a slice of peach. Drinks that are equal parts fresh juice and water are easy on the waistline and can be delicious over lots of ice. Iced tea and coffee provide some antioxidant and anti-aging benefits, but be careful not to overdo the caffeine.

If you decide to give up soda, I recommend buying your own water bottle or drinking filtered water. Besides giving the environment a break, you can potentially save major bucks. ($1.50 a bottle x 2 x 365 = $1,095 a year!)

Now for your 2 cents: Would love to hear your tips for drinking more water and low-calorie drinks. If you share them with me on Twitter and you're the fifth person to tweet me today, I'll send you a copy of Tracey Mallett's 6 Minute Quick Blast Method-Total Body Calorie Blast. I chose it as one of the top video workouts of 2009 for Prevention Magazine.

Comments (4)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

u262f 9-16-2009 @ 3:44PM

During college, I drank nothing but soda, but these days, I mostly drink water. I switched to water from soda in very gradual stages, almost by accident, and I don't miss soda at all.

My first switch was from soda to juice. That was a taste decision at the time because Odwalla was free from work, and it had lots of delicious flavors to try out. However, the tech crash came along, and that meant no more free Odwalla, and buying it myself was getting expensive. As a money decision, I started adding water to my Odwalla to make it stretch. I started by using a 50/50 Odwalla/water mix, but then I found that my taste buds adjusted, and I gradually needed less and less Odwalla to make it taste good. Eventually, I decided I was drinking enough water that the little Brita pitcher wasn't sufficient, and I needed a really good five-stage water filter. It made a huge difference: even going through the Brita filter, tap water in our city has a nasty smell and taste to it. The improved taste in my water meant that I didn't really need Odwalla to cover up the nasty taste in the water. Laziness trumped sugar, so now I skip the Odwalla completely and just drink plain filtered water.

At places with the self-serve drink dispensers, I still use lemon whenever they have it, but if they don't, I still use a mix of mostly water plus a quick splash of whatever juice or tea they have available. If neither are available, sufficient ice can dampen the nasty taste in the municipal water supply. In finer restaurants, I tend to ask about their herb tea selection.

brodnax2008 9-16-2009 @ 7:50PM

I used to be a soda junkie big time. I would drink nothing but coke all day long from when I woke up in the morning until I went to bed. When I started my weight loss program I knew I had to limit my soda intake. I first changed to diet coke, then I found out how bad those were for you. I was left to water and I really don't like water very much at least not enough to have made it my only source of liquid everyday. I had gone with a friend to starbucks and I am not big on coffee so I got a iced black tea. OMG I had found my new drink, zero calories and flavor. I now only drink iced tea or water. I reached (and maintained) my weight loss goal over 2 1/2 years ago I found it very easy to take out the liquid calories and not miss them a bit.

Jenny 9-16-2009 @ 9:29PM

Well I just started the hcg diet. Heard of it?
I’m in the first stage of the hCG SlimXpress Tacoma Weight Loss program. Weighing in at 232 pounds was sobering. I can’t believe I let myself get to this point.

This first stage of the HCG Diet means I can eat without restriction. What an unbelievable idea. I started a rapid weight loss program but today I eat pancakes for breakfast, cheeseburger with fries for lunch and dinner with ice cream twice for snack and dessert. I think I’m in heaven. The calorie load has something to do with the hCG injections and fat.

However tomorrow reality hits. Ill be on a 1000-calorie restricted diet. This will require commitment and attention to my eating habits. Old patterns die hard. But I am motivated and hCG SlimXpress, Tacoma weight loss program with the rapid weight loss benefit using hCG injections is exactly what I need: rapid weight loss for motivation, and seeing a slimmer me will help re-program my old eating habits. Come back every day and I will keep you posted, Jenny.
http://jennylosingweight.blogspot.com
http://www.hcgslimagain.com/
http://www.hcgdrop.com/

Liz 9-21-2009 @ 3:37PM

I think energy drinks are a waste of calories and money. What works best for me with with weight loss is drinking water watching my portion size and walking.

Walking is the best exercise and overall toner! My stomach is tighter, my legs are more toned and I simply feel better. It does not require a gym membership, a trainer or fancy shmancy equipment. Be that as it may, I know I just can't stroll to work and /or walk lunchtime and then chow down on a burger and fries and expect to lose weight and have a flat tummy! You have to watch your portion size, eat less and burn more.

I am a full time working mom, and staying in shape is rough for me. What I do right now for exercise as I don't have the money/time to go to a gym is take a walk to work (or walk at lunch ir I am running late in the morning) and run on the weekends. I also eat a diet based on whole grains, veggies and lean protein. I wear smartsole exercise insoles http://www.smartsole.com . They are anti cellulite insoles that help you tone muscles, increase circulation and cause you to burn more calories with every step. So you are getting a work out and toning your legs and butt even when just running errands.

I read about them in Prevention mag in an article on exercise shoes and they are a fabulous way to get toned for those of us with crazy schedules. They listed the code jm10 to save 10% off.

I have lost 40 pounds over the last 3 years and though not skinny, I am now in shape and toned (and my butt is higher!) and can wear a size 8 jeans. Toned, healthy and fit with curves is the goal! I also save money on my commute by walking as well.