Does anyone has have a "No liquid calories" rule?

rockylucas
rockylucas Posts: 343 Member
edited October 1 in Food and Nutrition
I have been on MFP for a few months now and lost a good amount of weight, though I have an even longer history with morbid obesity (close to 500 lbs a few yrs ago) and one of the simplest steps I have made to any weight loss plan is that I would not "drink" any calories. To me, diet pop is just as satisfying as regular, real ice cream is more satisfying than a milk shake, real fruit is FAR more filling than fruit juice, and I would rather eat a couple candy bars than have a "Frappucino" any day of the week. To me, not drinking any of my calories allows me to eat that much more actual food, which in turn keeps me fuller and more energetic. There are some exceptions, such as skim milk in cereal, the occasional on-clearance protein shakes, etc, but to me one of the simplest steps ANYONE can take to remove excess calories in their diet is to remove the liquid calorie component. Does anyone else have this "rule" and how has it worked for them?

P.S. This rule also helps if you are an alcoholic, LOL :)
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Replies

  • EuroDriver
    EuroDriver Posts: 254
    lol yeah... i never really drank pop or anything like that.. just alot of juice... now i just stick to water&protein shakes.. everything else tastes like a can of sugar to me n its gross
  • bluebird321
    bluebird321 Posts: 733 Member
    A good rule that worked for me. I used to drink mass quantities of juice, smoothies and some soda.
  • scd78
    scd78 Posts: 77 Member
    I am the same way.
  • kportelli70
    kportelli70 Posts: 67
    I am a strictly water and skim milk girl. Once in a while (2 x a month at the most) I'll have a couple glasses of red wine. I have never been a pop or beer drinker. O wait....I do drink 1 cup of coffee each morning too. ;)
  • JennLifts
    JennLifts Posts: 1,913 Member
    I don't drink calories, unless it's protein.
  • etaven
    etaven Posts: 25
    I tend to do this, too. On occasion, as a treat, I'll drink something like juice or once in a while a soda. But I agree-- I found it the easiest thing to cut out of my diet.
  • Bridget28152723
    Bridget28152723 Posts: 372 Member
    I do, I drink water, coffee and Diet Tea or crystal light I think its a waste drinking something with calories and I dont like real sugar at all! My first choice is water my second is Diet Pepsi .
  • anthony438
    anthony438 Posts: 578 Member
    I wish, but I've got to have a milkshake from time to time.

    In fact, I'm thinking this might be the time, lol. :drinker:
  • kaitimae
    kaitimae Posts: 727 Member
    I try and do this but it never works for me, haha! I can absolutely avoid any kind of soda but diet. But when it comes to things from Starbucks or alcoholic drinks, I just can't ban them completely.

    I generally save Starbucks as a ONCE a week treat. This lets me look forward to it for days at a time, and I plan those calories into my day, even if I need to exercise more to earn them.

    Alcohol, I don't drink a lot of, but I'll allow myself a drink every once in a while. (Probably closer to 2 or 3 times a month.) Beer (GOOD beer) is just too delicious!
  • runslikeagirl
    runslikeagirl Posts: 140 Member
    I NEVER drink calories!! I've been this way for years. I love diet dr pepper and water!! I just think its wasting calories!!!!
  • glypta
    glypta Posts: 440 Member
    Definitely. I do put skimmed milk in tea/coffee but other than diet soda I don't drink calorific drinks (and I only include them coz they do have a few calories). Would much rather 'eat' calories than drink 'em!

    Oh. Ok, apart from alcohol. But it's a rarity, and when I do, as drink as 'cheaply' as I can with clear spririts and diet coke/soda.
  • skinnybearlyndsay
    skinnybearlyndsay Posts: 798 Member
    I'm a water kind of girl. The only "liquid calories" I drink are coffee with creamer. Iced tea does funy things to me and I can't stand the taste of soda anymore (which is odd, since that was all I used to drink).
  • carocarito
    carocarito Posts: 6
    I have been doing this for a long time, unsweetened iced tea, unsweetened black coffee, no soda, not even diet, once in a while a ginger ale, a glass of juice, wine, or some type of alcohol, but not even a weekly thing, because I see that as a splurge, like you said, I would much rather chew my calories, in the form or a cookie or a cupcake!!
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,024 Member
    Once a week I have a Bubble tea and Fruitista, but it's water and Diet Pepsi for me most of the time.
  • dls06
    dls06 Posts: 6,774 Member
    The only calories I drink is a cup of coffee in the morining with 1 tsp sugar. After that it's lemon water all day, every day.
  • shelbyfrootcake
    shelbyfrootcake Posts: 965 Member
    Hell no! Mostly I drink water and herbal tea (with no sweetener) but I'd make myself miserable if I couldn't partake of a Bloody Mary, glass or wine or bourbon and ginger from time to time!
  • rockylucas
    rockylucas Posts: 343 Member
    I am glad I am not crazy! :D So many of my friends who are also trying to lose weight and/or maintain a healthy lifestyle continue to drink regular soda, wine, starbucks, etc on a daily basis, and will do so at the expense of eating less. I guess if its a personal choice and u can work it into your own diet plan that's fine, it just seems so counterproductive. And Eurodriver I can relate, the couple of times that I have accidentally tasted whole milk and/or regular soda in the last few months, I found them simply disgusting at this point.
  • curliefrii
    curliefrii Posts: 56 Member
    Yeah, I'm not super legalistic about it, but in general the only liquid cals come from skim milk. It not only helps my waist line, but my wallet too. Haha. I'm sure happy hour is less "happy" though. ;- )
  • Kelly_Wilson1990
    Kelly_Wilson1990 Posts: 3,245 Member
    I never thought of it that way but I do not drink my calories either.
  • anthony438
    anthony438 Posts: 578 Member
    Hell no! Mostly I drink water and herbal tea (with no sweetener) but I'd make myself miserable if I couldn't partake of a Bloody Mary, glass or wine or bourbon and ginger from time to time!

    Oh great, now I want a bloody mary - how long until lunch, lol
  • TheKitsune6
    TheKitsune6 Posts: 5,798 Member
    The only calories I drink are beer! :drinker: Only about once a month or so though.
  • RajwaJ
    RajwaJ Posts: 191 Member
    It wasn't until I started logging calories that I realised how many calories were in these drinks. Now I am a water, black coffee, green tea kinda gal with the odd glass of Coke Zero. If I am having a night out with friends I will always offer to be the driver or if I drink alcohol I try to do a workout then stick to rum or gin with diet mixers.
  • Peep_chic
    Peep_chic Posts: 369 Member
    I've been doing this. It works for me too. I even replaced my skim milk for unsweetened vanilla almond milk
    which is 40 calories and no sugar. When I want it sweet I'll add splenda or stevia now and then. Any kind of Diet drink
    works well for me most of the time. Its a good rule...Where did it come from anyway?
  • melgillis
    melgillis Posts: 76 Member
    Absolutely! Only drink calories that offer nutritional value - otherwise you're just consuming empty calories. Only juice I drink is orange juice because it's so packed with nutrients.
  • nannyx6
    nannyx6 Posts: 72 Member
    Water all the way.Coffee in the morning with a little skim milk.Sugary drinks make me feel like I`m gonna be a diebetic lol.
  • 27strange
    27strange Posts: 837 Member
    I can't afford liquid calories, they are just too many empty calories. I need those calories for food!!! I drink 90-95% water. Might have a bit of orange juice or milk every once in awhile with breakfast. Might have a beer or 2 a week. I drink 10-12 cups of water a day. Soda, fruit juice, gatorade, etc is just too many calories.
  • wickedcricket
    wickedcricket Posts: 1,246 Member
    I don't think I'm an alcoholic but I do like a nice glass of wine now & then. Other than that, I have been able to give up most 'drink' calories. I miss my frappucinos but don't miss coke as much as I thought I would. I have a cappucino maker & can make my own fat free (skim milk foams best anyway) so I'm good. I'd much prefer a real orange over OJ but I do drink V8 sometimes (they're very low in cals, high sodium)
  • WarriorBabe
    WarriorBabe Posts: 2 Member
    I have wine 1-2 times a week, and otherwise it is mostly seltzer for me (I got a machine to make it at home, to reduce costs and garbage). It hasn't made a big difference because I didn't drink a lot of calories to begin with. My husband, a doctor who counsels on diet with kids, has them eliminate all or most juice as a first step.
  • ItsMeLori
    ItsMeLori Posts: 346
    I made that rule way back in the early 80's. Nothing but water sense then. I did drink my cup of coffee daily but am off that now too.
  • kyle4jem
    kyle4jem Posts: 1,400 Member
    The only calories I drink is alcohol and then only really at the weekends. Sure I drink about a meal's worth of calories then, but it's a huge part of my social life and for me it's non-negotiable.

    I haven't drunk full-fat sodas/drinks since Coca Cola introduced TAB and Diet Lilt. Thankfully now diet drinks are potable and Dr Pepper is my poison, although I'm trying to cut down because I feel the fizzy is synched in with my snacking habit.

    Black coffee in the morning and milk in my breakfast cereal 2-3 times a week.

    Not sure I could live on water alone :drinker:
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