PPW3 Habit 6: Don’t Drink Your Calories

This is the easy one – right?

Not so fast! In fact more than anything else this one gets the most questions, feedback and frankly, grief! 🙂

And while I understand (no cream in my coffee?) the truth remains that the easiest way to get calories into our system and processed fast is to drink them.

That’s why a liquid protein shake is my recovery drink of choice. It goes down quick, it starts to metabolize quick, and it gets the glycogen and protein into the muscle where it is needed – AFTER training.

This is actually the exception that proves the rule.

Because the very same reason we want “fast” nutrition after training is why we don’t want it the rest of the time.

The calories and sugar just adds up way too fast.

Here’s just a couple examples:

12 oz can of Coke:  140 calories, 39 grams sugar.

DD Small Coffee, cream and sugar: 120 calories, 17 grams sugar (and who drinks a small?)

Starbucks Grande Cafe Mocha: 260 calories, 42 grams carbohydrate (sugar not specified)

1 Cup Apple Juice: 114 calories, 24 grams sugar

1 Cup Skim Milk: 80 calories, 12 grams sugar

12 oz. Budweiser: 145 calories, 11 grams carbohydrate, 12.8 grams alcohol

5 oz. Red Wine: 106 calories, 2.5 grams carbohydrate, 13.7 grams alcohol

A couple of beers or glasses of wine a night really adds up.

Even “healthy” choices like milk and juice add to the glycemic load and the calories add up.

More importantly you are replacing the stuff that is better for you to drink, water and tea for example, with things that are not as good for you.

So if your nutrition is spot on and you want cream in your coffee, that’s your choice.

Just think about if there might be a better one.

Questions? Let’s here them below.