Quick Weight Loss Course Lesson 2

Of course it is important to have a top notch workout plan to help lose those pounds, but I am a firm believer that nutrition plays a bigger part of weight loss.

Unfortunately, you are always being pulled by today's marketing ploys. There are always "healthy" choices on the shelves but how would you feel to find out that these really aren't so great and could actually be hurting your weight loss goals?

Here is one point...

Water Versus Sport Drinks And When You Need Which

It is the job of advertising to turn a not so great thing and make it seem as if it is the best option for you. That is the case of sports drinks. Who hasn't seen the Gatorade commercials with the athletes running as hard as they can on the treadmill and then replenish with a sports drink afterward?

Of course, you are going to think that grabbing for a sports drink post workout is the best option. If Eli And Payton Manning enjoy them, then why not? Well, I am not going to say that sports drinks are completely bad for you, they do have a few perks we will cover in a minute but when it comes down to hydration stick to water.

For most workouts sports drinks aren't necessary and they are downright bad for your fitness goals. Packed with calories and sugar they can harm your success.

If you ever check out the back of a drink, you will notice that the serving size is 8 fluid ounces, but I don't think I have ever seen a bottle for only one serving. They are normally 16 oz or more. And sure if you open it up then you are going to drink it down.

What does this mean for you?

Most drinks have at least 50 calories per serving and 15g of sugar. That means in one bottle you can potentially down over 100 calories and 30 g of sugar. Liquid calories are not your friend, unless of course in a smoothie.

The bad thing about sugar is that it raises your blood sugar levels, which increases your insulin, which advocates fat storage. You just worked out for goodness sake; you don't want to store fat!

Plus, we all forget to count liquid calories and lets face it, they add up. This is why water is key. You get what you body really needs (straight hydration) for nothing. Drinking lots of water helps cleanse the body and even helps to keep the metabolism up and running smoothly. Do you think the sports drink does that… no way.

Let's be fair… Why sport drinks can be helpful.

All the above information goes for the average workout, or under 60 minutes. When it comes to long intense activity sports drinks really are beneficial.

It is pretty safe to say that if you are working out for long periods of time then you are sweating and breathing a lot. This means that your body has lost electrolytes and needs to be replenished.

Electrolytes are charged atoms (ions) that keep your organs, cells and fluid content maintained and healthy. Some examples include sodium, potassium, and chloride. When you sweat you are losing these guys and they need to be replenished. Workouts under 1 hour don't typically need replenishment just because the loss is not significant enough. Water does the job of hydrating and a post workout snack takes care of loss electrolytes.

But when you hit that hour mark your body is starving. Sports drinks are sports drinks because they contain these electrolytes to get your body back to a healthy baseline. Once again though, remember that the serving was only 8 oz? Well, that's all you need.

A tip for keeping the drink healthy is to dilute it with water. Only use ½ of the bottle and fill the rest with cold water. You get the electrolytes but not all the sugar and calories.

Another idea is Smartwater. I love this stuff. It is just water (you find it next to Aquafina and all those guys) but it has been infused with electrolytes. You can't tell but you get all the benefits of water and electrolytes and NONE of the unwanted sugar or calories.

What it comes down to is intensity and time. But what is important to know is that water should be on hand no matter how long the workout is. Hydration is key and even after you down a sports drink finish of the hydration with some water. Remember to drink 16 oz of water 1 hour before working out and when you are finished.

Hydration can lead to major problems and it is so easy to avoid. Just keep a bottle with you all the time. I keep a 1 liter bottle with me that I continuously fill throughout the day.

Next up in your course is to find the 3 Surefire Secrets to tone and tighten that Will Delivers Results...

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