Give Up Soda, Lose Weight
America's huge appetite for soda leads to some nasty consequences, with two of the most undesirable being:- the billions of plastic soda bottles and plastic-lined soda cans heading straight for the landfill
- our ever-expanding wastelines
So let's imagine a "what if"...
How much weight would Americans lose if they gave up soda?
Let's start with the stats:
- Americans consumed 10.26 billion cases of carbonated beverages in 2005 (69.8% of 14.7 billion cases of beverages sold) , according to the American Beverage Association.
- A case is defined as 192 ounces by the American Beverage association.
- The approximate population in the United States is about 300 million people (this estimate is based on 2006 data so it may be a bit high).
- Of all soda consumed, 29.6 percent of soda consumption was diet in 2005.
- There are 146 calories in a 12 ounce can of coke, which I'll use as a measure for the number of calories in the average can of soda.
- To lose one pound, you need to create a 3,500 calorie deficit.
- There are zero calories in water.
- 10.26 billion cases/300 million people = 34.2 cases/person in 2005
- 34.2 cases * 192 ounces = 6,566 ounces of soda/person
- 6,566 ounces of soda * .296 of diet = 1,944 ounces of diet soda per yer
- 6,566 ounces total - 1944 ounces diet = 4,622 ounces of regular soda
- 4,622 ounces of regular soda / 12 months = 385 ounces of regular soda per month
- 385 ounces of regular soda / 12 ounces per can = 32 cans of regular soda per month
- 32 cans of regular soda * 146 calories per can = 4,672 calories from soda per month
- 4,672 calories from soda/3,500 calories (the deficit required to lose a pound) = 1.3
That if we collectively gave up pop and replaced it with water, which has zero calories and creates zero waste, the average American would lose 1.3 pounds a month, or 15.6 pounds each year.
In other words, America would lose 4.7 billion pounds of fat each year.
Comments
I don't think I'll give up soda entirely but I rarely have it and we never buy it to stock the fridge anymore.
N.
http://www.badhuman.wordpress.com
http://bluecollarcrunch.blogspot.com/2008/03/my-health-planets-health-two-birds-with.html
Oh, and obviously, the average weight loss would be higher if I factored the fact that some people don't drink soda...
The amount of weight you will lose obviously depends on how many cans of coke you drink in a month. If you drink one can per day and give up soda completely, you should lose between 15 to 16 pounds in a year (although I'm sure this can vary based on other factors like body size and metabolism). If drink two cans per day, you may lose up to 31 pounds in a year.
Note: I'm not a nutritionist or doctor, but based on the math, this should work.
Or maybe I should use three words: Super Big Gulp.
The volumes on gas station drinks is insane. Absolutely insane.
Actually, that brings me to an idea I've been thinking about lately. One of these huge gas station companies should start a chain of stations that sells healthier foods. Ya know, granola and fruit and has a salad bar and all that kind of stuff. They could even sell lots of froofy upscale foods, too, that probably have good margins. I mean, all gas stations are the same, so wouldn't a company do well if they differentiated themselves somehow? Seriously, I would force my friends to drive 20 extra miles to go to a gas station with healthy food...
I have also started to pick up my work out routine again...not that I necessarily need to loose weight (6'2" 175), but just to feel more in shape. I'm sure if I could manage to cut out the soda and replace it with water it would help speed up the process.
Take it easy, and I will be back to keep reading more!
Rob
Has anyone read The Omnivore's Dilemma? Soda/high fructose corn syrup/corn is terrible!
I work at a honeybee research lab and we're investigating HMF (hydromethylfurfural which is produced from fructose) as a possible toxin to the bees. It's showing up in the high fructose corn syrup that's being fed to the bees and killing them. They're saying it's possibly a carcinogen, and we drink that!!
Water! Water! Water! To find out how much water to consume per day, take your weight and divide by 2. This total is the ounces per day to consume. So... for a 160 pound individual, the total ounces of water required is 80 ounces. If you are currently drinking 4 - 20 ounce bottles of soft drinks now...drink 4 - 20 ounce bottles of water instead! 80 ounces doesn't seem like such a high figure now does it!
Cathy
Buy-U-Gifts - read how to supplement your fruit and vegetable intake of the required 9 servings per day to stay even healthier!
But if you think about how much more energy must be required to shift all that weight around too! I have often wondered why airlines don't charge people on weight and worry less about luggage!
The extra gas needed to move people around in their cars, the extra food required to feed the 'heavy' people. And ofcourse, the energy required to deliver all that fizz to the stores and vending machines! - I could go on!
it's been since may 08
I can fit into my high school clothes again!