Say "No" to Soda;

So you know, a 12-ounce can of soda contains 41 grams of sugar, 30 milligrams of sodium and 38 milligrams of caffeine. A bunch of milligrams? yes, also a bunch of side effects ... Well, according to the American Heart Association, “soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages are the No. 1 source of added sugars in the American diet.” You want to avoid these added sugars ( or extra calories ) which can help your with weight loss plan and reduce belly fat. Lately high-fructose corn syrup has replaced refined sugar as the main sweetener in some soft drinks and of course has been blamed as a potential contributor to the obesity epidemic.

A recent study revealed that people who drank a regular soda every day for six months saw considerable increase in liver fat, skeletal fat and cholesterol.

A “sugar rush ” is another effect of drinking soda. To match this rise in sugar, the body produces a spike in insulin, which is followed by glucose crash. The compensation is simple; needing more sugar, gaining weight and ultimately spending more money buying new cloths..... this one really hurts .

You'll be amazed by how much weight you drop by simply switching to water. If you like the carbonated drinks, sparkling mineral water will be a great replacement... .

Diet-Soda Belly?

Yes, Diet soda is calorie-free.. but, it won't necessarily help you lose weight.

It's not surprising that drinking all the sugar in sodas would cause weight gain, but what is surprising is that even diet soda will pack on the pounds: A study from the University of Texas found that those who drank diet soda had a 70 percent increase in waist circumference compared with those who didn't drink any soda. So drinking more than two diet sodas per day can in fact increase your waist line. Artificial sweeteners have more intense flavor than real sugar and tend to trigger insulin, which puts the body into fat storage mode and leads to weight gain. Other studies associate drinking diet soda to metabolic syndrome which is a syndrome you don't want to have., trust me ... .

And for you wild ones who like mix drinks.. using diet soda as a low-calorie cocktail mixer has the dangerous effect of getting you more drunk and faster than sugar-sweetened beverages. According to a research from Northern Kentucky University, those who consumed cocktails mixed with diet drinks had a higher breath alcohol concentration than those who drank alcohol blended with sugary beverages... I know, I hate these studies too … .

Bottom line, If you want to lose weight, lose the soda … if it's the fizziness you crave, try sparkling water .. you 'll get used to it, I promise … .