According to an article on the NBC News website, drinking a single can of soda a day can increase your weight by 15 lbs. in a year. If you're trying to lose weight, giving up liquid calories could significantly increase your chances of success. If the idea of drinking only water is unappealing, however, your next best choice is to opt for diet drinks that can provide some flavor while actually helping with your weight loss efforts.
Diet Shakes
Diet shakes are usually sold in cans, ready to drink. Popular brand names such as Slim-Fast, Atkins Advantage and Ensure Lite are diet shakes that are meant to replace your regular meals. For example, you should substitute two of your daily meals with a Slim-Fast shake in order to lose weight. Most shake brands recommend a sensible dinner of lean protein, whole grains and vegetables to end the day. Many diet shakes are actually very high in sugar, so when possible look for a low-carb alternative. According to the website Health, the Slim-Fast shake called Optima contains 30 percent less sugar than the original product, making it a better choice for those trying to lose weight.
Meal-Replacement Shakes
Also known as protein shakes or meal shakes, these are sold in the form of powders that you have to mix at home. Despite their name, meal-replacement shakes are not meant to be a substitute for your regular solid meals but an addition to them. Meal-replacement shakes tend to be high in protein and nutrients, and low in fat and carbohydrates, according to the website Women's Fitness. Shakes containing whey protein are a good choice because your body easily assimilates whey protein. You can drink these shakes after a workout or as a midafternoon or midmorning snack to help conquer hunger and cravings. A sensible diet of lean proteins, vegetables and whole grains is a good addition to the shakes when trying to lose weight.
Diet Drinks and Mixes
For those who are tired of drinking plain water, a number of diet drinks exist on the market. Once you get past diet sodas and flavored seltzer water, your next options are either bottled or powdered diet drinks. Some claim to help you lose weight, while others simply provide you with an option so you can put some calorie-free flavor back into your life. For example, the company Nature's Best sells a series of zero-carb, high-protein drinks that come in a variety of flavors, including grape, mango and punch. The drinks contain 160 calories and can be used as a source of energy. Other drinks, such as BSN Endorush, contain no calories and instead are meant to provide energy to dieters.
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