Drinks.. waste of calories or not?

SnuggieMeeko
SnuggieMeeko Posts: 68 Member
edited September 28 in Food and Nutrition
This is something I debate with and figured I'd somewhat rant and see what others thought. When I have my calorie goal I tend to use the calories on food and not a calorie filled drinks. I personally see something like soda, ect as a "calorie waster". Don't get me wrong I love certain calorie filled drinks like ice tea, certain sodas, ect. But when being on a calorie limit I've basically changed over to water only. I rather use my calories on food instead of drinks.

What does anyone else think? Are you a food calorie person or a drink calorie person? :smile:
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Replies

  • Crystal817
    Crystal817 Posts: 2,021 Member
    Definitely a waste of calories imo. I would rather have real food then waste 150+ cals on a soda. But that's just me. :smile:
  • karilynn27
    karilynn27 Posts: 190 Member
    Definitely a waste of cals. I find that I can get the same thirst quenching drinks and they are satisfying, at a low cal option rather than drinking high cal drinks. They are empty calories anyway. They are terrible for you anyway.
  • prousis
    prousis Posts: 14
    I try to stick to calorie free drinks for the most part, because I agree that it is a waste of calories. However, on the weekend I do indulge in beer and wine and have still been able to continuously lose weight!
  • kwoj09
    kwoj09 Posts: 18 Member
    I don't like to waste my calories on drinks. The only drink I'm ok with using calories is milk.
  • merrillfoster
    merrillfoster Posts: 855 Member
    Soda=waste of cals. Delicious, delicious wine=best use of cals ever.
  • BigBoneSista
    BigBoneSista Posts: 2,389 Member
    I eat my calories, but I can see where some people would use juices to eat up calories if they have a lot of calories to consume and already felt full. You have some people on here that have to eat 2000 plus calories. I just couldn't do it with food alone if I was the one that had to eat that many calories.
  • poedunk65
    poedunk65 Posts: 1,336 Member
    i drink crystal ight iced tea which is a "free" drink at less than 5 cals.
  • DangerRanger
    DangerRanger Posts: 327 Member
    beer has calories, i like beer..
    soooo, i guess my choice is NOT a waste of calories :)
  • aa1440
    aa1440 Posts: 956 Member
    Of course it's a waste. The only things that I drink now (since starting this journey) is water, organic milk, and every once in a while juice.
  • sgv0918
    sgv0918 Posts: 851 Member
    I just passed up chocolate milk today when I realized it had as much calories in 8 oz as my granola bar does. I'll save that treat for after i work out to "eat" back the exercise calories.
  • aa1440
    aa1440 Posts: 956 Member
    I do like an occasional shot or two of vodka. Straight, no soda or juice.
  • Cartel
    Cartel Posts: 40
    A gallon of water only for me.
  • cgottel
    cgottel Posts: 22
    Since I started limiting my calories, I switched to water and hot tea in the morning. However, I love starbucks caramel machiatos and once in a while, I will indulge myself and waste the 190 calories on a grande nonfat. I will probably have a soda here or there at parties or whatever, but for the most part, water is it. I guess it depends on how strict you want to be and how much you want to limit yourself. I know that cutting out all other drinks besides water is not realistic for me so I just do the best I can.
  • calliope_music
    calliope_music Posts: 1,242 Member
    for me, it depends on my mood. if i'm out with friends, i budget in for a beer (or two, but usually one). however, in general, i'd rather eat my calories. i do drink juice and rarely drink non-diet soda (or diet soda, really). honestly, the things i drink the most include water, milk, juice, and coffee.

    in terms of mixed drinks, forget it. i'd rather have a beer (and it's usually cheaper!)
  • BeachGirl6871
    BeachGirl6871 Posts: 24 Member
    i'm totally addicted to diet pepsi w/lime... but it's calorie free - not great for me though. i'm trying to switch to fresh brewed tea w/out splenda. :huh:
  • MarieNevada
    MarieNevada Posts: 395 Member
    I meant to quote svg, sorry, hit the wrong button. lol

    You're actually better off drinking the milk after your workout. studies have shown that people who drink milk after a workout recover faster and build more muscle. It's much better for you than a granola bar which is chockful of sugar. Although I'd skip the chocolate milk because of the sugar, I definitely recommend some skim milk after a workout over a granola bar any time.
  • BeachGirl6871
    BeachGirl6871 Posts: 24 Member
    A gallon of water only for me.

    a gallon! wow!
  • nicoleransbottom
    nicoleransbottom Posts: 2
    WASTE! I love sprite zero tho and things like propel ZERO sometimes a nice treat is something like G2 because the whole 32 ounce bottle only has 80 calories! =) Hope this helps!
  • deadmittens
    deadmittens Posts: 536 Member
    Pop is a waste of calories. Most fruit juice is a waste too as they add way too much sugar. Someone told me you should toss anything with more than 5g of sugar.

    With that said...

    I drink a LOT of coffee (with creamer) and I personally don't even count it in my diary. I've been losing weight and haven't cut back on my coffee, and I haven't been counting it. It's my one legitimate cheat. It's a lifestyle change, not a diet... and I'm not getting rid of coffee any time soon. :)
  • funkyspunky871
    funkyspunky871 Posts: 1,675 Member
    Depends. Soda is a total waste of calories. Why not just have diet? Well, I like diet better than regular, so I guess maybe I'm a bit weird anyways. I wouldn't waste my calories on juice either. I do like an occasional frappacino from starbucks though. And, by occasional, I really do mean occasional. I go to starbucks maybe twice a year.

    And, of course, I have a bit of skim milk or almond milk with cereal... But, for some reason, milk used in cereal doesn't register as a drink at all. :)
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    I think most sugary drinks are a waste of calories, I would rather have real food for my calories or would rather eat fruit and get the extra nutrition and fibre instead of juice. (I started to write that I didn't drink these anyway before I started MFP but I've just remembered the regular trips to the local deli for juice, or flavoured waters that were adding lots of extra calories that I didn't even think about.)

    I do drink wine or cider a few times a week, but account for the calories. I tend to see wine as a treat now and will have a glass of wine with dinner if I have lots of cals left over. I do still have a regular Friday night cider, I've decided not to stop that, so just make sure I burn some extra calories on a Friday to fit that in!

    Cutting out juice and soft drinks has not been hard at all, but alcohol is harder because of the social aspect. My husband likes to have a beer or glass of wine each night and at first I felt like a party pooper saying "just water for me" every day. But, he's supportive of me eating healthy and losing weight and is used to it now, he will ask what I'm drinking with dinner and will often have a glass of water instead of a wine too, so it's probably doing him good too!
  • RoseCoreling
    RoseCoreling Posts: 55 Member
    IMO, it's a waste of calories..I would much rather eat some food!! ..but then again I did have a small frozen coke today though :tongue: ..but most days the only thing I have besides water is my morning cuppa joe!
  • chrisuy
    chrisuy Posts: 39 Member
    Total waste of calories if you ask me. But to each his own!
  • abalicious
    abalicious Posts: 361 Member
    I believe the same things as you do, OP! I definitely see drinks as a calorie waster, but I will drink something like nonfat milk almost every day, plus I will always have my orange juice :) other than that its mostly water or crystal light now a days
  • guppygirl322
    guppygirl322 Posts: 408 Member
    That depends on how hungry I am. Or if I feel like having a glass of wine. I certainly wouldn't waste my calories every day on a drink, but once in a while on an alcoholic beverage or frou frou coffee is okay with me.
  • withchaco
    withchaco Posts: 1,026 Member
    Depends on how much you enjoy those drinks, I guess. If you really prefer a cup of soda to some other form of a treat, then why not have soda as a treat? In moderation, of course.
  • sgv0918
    sgv0918 Posts: 851 Member
    I meant to quote svg, sorry, hit the wrong button. lol

    You're actually better off drinking the milk after your workout. studies have shown that people who drink milk after a workout recover faster and build more muscle. It's much better for you than a granola bar which is chockful of sugar. Although I'd skip the chocolate milk because of the sugar, I definitely recommend some skim milk after a workout over a granola bar any time.

    Oh I agree and know this. Coaches recommend that athletes drink chocolate milk for the added sugar and such as well (mind you thats high school) Lol. I just switched from 1% to skim and i'm learning to like it
  • SabrinaJL
    SabrinaJL Posts: 1,579 Member
    Depends on how much you enjoy those drinks, I guess. If you really prefer a cup of soda to some other form of a treat, then why not have soda as a treat? In moderation, of course.

    That. I'm definitely not gonna use my daily cals on a drink, but if I have extra exercise cals and I don't feel like eating, I may use it on a soda/lemonade/chocolate almond milk/whatever.
  • Luthorcrow
    Luthorcrow Posts: 193
    In general I agree, water is my drink of choice but my pre-workout meal of choice is a 2% latte and protein shake post with a piece of fruit. Solid food in the situation just would not be as speedy of a recovery.

    Best purchase you can make is a great home water filter. My Brita definitely makes the water out of the tap better than any bottled water.
  • PaddyWhite
    PaddyWhite Posts: 78 Member
    I'm really good and only drink water and tea all week long...then come the weekend and out comes the wine! Very bad calorie wise, but it is my treat at the end of a week of being good :)
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