Many people overlook hidden calories in liquid form when on a weight loss program. Pop is one of the main culprits, but there are many other excessive forms of liquid calories.

Tim Horton’s sells an ice cream shake that contains over 2000 calories and 68 grams of saturated fat! While this falls into the “dessert” category, it is a dramatic example of calories in a liquid form.

Salad dressings are another source of significant hidden calories. Their ingredients are usually unknown when dining out, unless explicitly asked for, as is the case with restaurants like McDonald’s.

If you are not counting liquid calories, you are ignoring a potentially significant source of your daily caloric intake. Not paying attention to liquid calories could have a significantly negative impact on your weight loss efforts.

Our bodies don’t seem to detect, or process, calories in liquid form like they do in solid foods. So, you may be consuming calories in liquid form that are substantial, at the same time you are eating solid food, greatly increasing your caloric intake in a single meal. Drinking liquid calories won’t make you feel any more full, but they will fill out your waistline!

Some other surprising numbers:

• The average 12 ounce serving of soda (can) contains about 150 calories
• A large 16 ounce blended coffee drink has over 700 calories (with whipped cream) and over 25 grams of fat
• A glass of wine or beer has from 100 to 150 calories and mixed drinks 300 calories (eating while drinking can easily double your caloric intake)
• Fruit juices can be a hidden source of calories and many are artificially sweetened

When embarking on a weight loss plan, it’s best to cut out calorie rich liquid calories entirely. Water is the best choice, as it has zero calories and is a natural choice for the body. Water has the added benefits of being a hunger suppressant, and it also helps the body flush impurities and improve organ function.

Low-calorie liquid drink alternatives:

• Water, alone or with some added lemon or lime slices, or a small amount of non-sweetened juice for taste, like cranberry, orange, etc.
• Have a herbal or green tea
• Use a natural low-calorie sweetener like Stevia for your coffee, tea, to flavour your water-based drinks

Remember 3,500 calories = 1 pound, so if you cut out one can of regular pop a day, you will lose over a pound a month.