Does drinking pop contribute to my waistline (tummy) size?

Question

I work out, I'm in decent shape. Everyday I do 30 sit ups, 20 push ups, run 1/2 mile at 4 mph, (apx 7.5 minutes of running/jogging) and then lift weights. Also, I work at Cingular Wireless and spend 8 hours a day in front of the computer, so I am wondering if I cut out the pop and replace it with water or tea, or something non-carbinated, would it help me get rid of a couple inches of my waist line that I don't like. thanks.

Answer 1

Yes, definitely. Most people think it's the sugar and the calories in soda that causes one to gain weight/fat, and that exercise and a high metabolism will keep it off. What many do not know is that the sodium in soda is very high, and sodium causes one to retain water. Water weight is a big factor in trying to lose unwanted body fat, and it usually is carried in the midsection, around the waist and belly. I myself lost 2-3 inches off my waist when I cut soda out of my diet. I didn't quit cold turkey, but what I did was stop the refills at restaurants, and started drinking more juice and water at home. I have heard other people with similar stories, and it seems like a no-brain er once you know the facts about the high sodium content. There is a misconception that diet sodas have less sodium, which does not hold true. Even Sierra Mist Free, billed as one of the healthiest sodas on the market today has 25mg of sodium per 8oz serving, exactly the same as regular Sierra Mist. Coke zero contains 28mg sodium per 8 oz serving, the same as most other variates of coke. Diet Pepsi with lime contains 25 mg sodium per 8 oz serving. Even Tab cola, which claims on it's website to be very low in sodium, has 28 mg sodium per 8 oz serving. What's important to remember is that very few soda drinkers stop at 8 oz, cans come in 12 oz and many vending machines now only carry plastic bottles, which come in 16, 20, 24, and 34 (1 liter) oz sizes. A single two liter contains 8 servings, though at one time I could drink that in a day. 8 ounces seems like a joke when you stop to think that gas stations and fast food restaurants use 32, 44, even 64 oz sizes for their fountain drinks.
The best advice I can give, for the consumption of soda as well as most other things, is moderation.

Answer 2

You don't say how much pop your drinking. If it's a lot,I'd say yes water would be your best choice. Not only will you not be getting the extra calories, but water is best for hydrating your body and for flushing out the impurities. You need to put back the water you are loosing, it's good for you muscles and your entire system.

Another thing to do is vary how you work out. Like one day do your legs (weights) that same day you also do your cardio, running/jogging or even biking. Then the next day do your arms (weights) and again do the cardio work out running/jogging or biking, what every you want.

The reason for doing it this way is that it give your body a chance to heal the worked out areas between work outs. Legs get some what of a rest and start to heal. Next day arms get some what of a chance to rest and to also start to heal.

This helps your muscles not to get use to being worked every day, so that when you do work out your legs/arm on the rotating basis, you will feel the burn. That means that your muscles won't be just use to the same old routine, and that means that your muscles will build faster. The more muscle you have the more fat you burn. Don't forget to drink plenty of water during your work out.

I hope I've answered you questions. It sounds as though your all ready off to a great start with all you do. Good luck to you, you'll get where you want to be in no time at all.

Answer 3

Water is the best thing you can drink for weight loss.

Diet pop (soda) still contains sodium, caffeine, chemicals that require digestion and your body just doesn't need more junk standing in it's way. Sodium (salt) makes you retain water, don't need that, caffeine elevates blood pressure by constricting blood vessels (not good). These aren't going to kill you or even make you sick but it's just best to treat your body right. It's the only one you've got.

And regular pop is worse because you are adding about a half cup of sugar in every can.

"SPORT" drinks, unless you are working out HARD when you drink them, instant calories. I was working in San Antonio TX one summer and the company started putting out Gatorade coolers to fight dehydration. In 30 days everyone that drank the Gatorade ( I'm talking 2+ quarts a day) gained at least 5 pounds I put on 10.

If you want flavor try green tea, health experts swear by it.

Answer 4

Caffiene doesn't make your waistline bigger, it increases thermogenesis and therefore speeds the metabolic rate up. It could possibly be the carbonated water that may make you feel bloated, but there's really no evidence to support that. The chemicals in Diet Coke that make it differ from Coke are Acesulfame and Aspartame. These two substances aren't exactly good for you, they're what scientists are now calling "you said 'could we?', but you didn't say 'should we?'", like in Jurassic Park (that long line Jeff Goldblum says). Scientists predict these substances to change the human body by vast amounts in the future, much as McDonalds did before people knew how bad it was.

Answer 5

Yes! Cutting out soda will help you lose anywhere from 5-10 pounds a year! Water has no calories (instead of the hundreds that come in a bottle of pop) and tea is full of antioxidants that are good for you. Even if you switch to diet soda, it is nowhere near as healthy for you as water. (another thing to consider - if you switch to tea, dont go with the sugar-loaded kind, drink it unsweetend or sweetened with splenda)

Answer 6

OF course it would help. But you must switch away from carbonated beverages completely. They greatly contribute to osteoporosis in later life.

Avoid anything with artificial sweeteners as well. That stuff is toxic in far too many ways.

And there's absolutely no reason to not drink water instead or herbal teas instead. Limit caffeinated beverages (coffee, tea, cocoa) to no more than 1 per day, and for that one, you must drink 2 glasses of water, one to replace the water in the drink and the other to replace the extra water that you lose through the diuretic effects of caffeine.

Answer 7

Yes. Consider tea. Green tea becomes good with time.

I haven't had any soda of any kind for a long time. I used to like them but not any more. I tried one a couple of months ago and could not drink it. One I remember thinking it tasted good now tastes foul. Guess it was foul all along.

Also check the glycemic index of any sweetener you use in anything. All of them cause some increase in short term insulin production and effectively increase hunger and therefore work against weight loss and loss of tummy inches.

Answer 8

Offcourse that would help. When you take first 2 sips of your pop, your body gets a sugar rush, that helps to keep you up and alert. Every sip that you take after that is just stored as fat on your body. You are basically drinking pop and then working out to get rid of the fat that was stored on your body from the pop.

Answer 9

Definitely. Soda has caused many waists lines to expand. If you have to drink it, go for ones like Sprite 0 or Sierra Mist Free that have no calories. Its best to cut it out all together though. You'll notice the difference immediately.

Answer 10

Yes, sodas and alcoholic beverages can both pile on the pounds.

Try making an infused water - cut up a cucumber and a cantalope and put in a pitcher filled with water. Let sit overnight and strain the fruit out. Its delicious and zero calories.