P90X

Back in June when I got a phone call from the Corrections Department for a new job I knew I would be going to the doctor for a stress test, and getting blood work done and such. After all the tests and background checks and such I got the job. Now I went from a sit at the computer for 8 1/2 hours a day job. To up on my feet walking around for 8 hours. I weighed in at 184 pounds, and as of 15 minutes ago I weigh 168.2 pounds. All of this has happened with no trips to the gym. Just walking 1-3 miles per day. I say 1-3 miles a day because some days I am in the tower and run the computers that open up different areas of the jail for other officers. But one thing that I don’t do anymore is drink soda!

I now drink water. Not just plain old water. I buy the Crystal Light Singles and the Sugar Free Hawaiin Punch. To go from 41 grams of sugar in 1 can of Pepsi to 0 grams of sugar in the Hawaiian Punch doesn’t sound like much. But when you drink say 4 cans a day which for some people is actually low. That right there is 164 grams of sugar alone. Not counting the 150 calories per can of Pepsi. Sure there is the Diet Pepsi or the Coke Zero or whatever but I don’t like the flavor not to mention aspartame. Yes I can tell the difference as most people can, although some find theres no taste difference.

Anyways.that 150 Calories in 1 can of Pepsi compared to my bottle of Poland Spring water with a Hawaiian Punch Sugar Free Packet weight in at 10 calories. Now I take with me 3 bottles a day to work. Sometimes I will just drink the water some days they will all have a flavor packet. You get the idea. But say I mix a packet in all 3 and refill a bottle and add a packet. That’s only 40 calories and still zero grams of sugar. Compared to 600 calories and 164 grams of sugar.

600 calories! Are you kidding me? Average daily calorie is 2,000 as if you didn’t already know that. But that’s basically one third of your calorie intake for the entire day from liquid. You are still going to need food to give you the proper vitamins minerals and everything else your body needs. You will not get this from soda. Now don’t get me wrong when I’m home from work I will drink a soda with a certain dinner plate. Some things don’t go well with water. But I try to limit myself to two sodas a week.

Here is the shattering numbers. Today is my 72nd day at my job. At my old job I would easily drink 4 soda’s a day. For laughs lets knock that down to 3 per day. 3 ( per day ) x 150 ( calories ) = 450 Calories per day x 72 ( days ) = 32,400 calories I haven’t consumed from soda alone! That right there is 16 days worth of calories!

Not eye opening enough? Fine lets break the sugar down. 41 grams per can of Pepsi 3 times a day is 123 grams of sugar per day x 72 days = 8,856 grams of sugar. Doesn’t sound like much you say. Well lets do the conversion as per onlineconversion.com which says 8,856 grams equals 19.524137939 pounds!!!! 19 1/2 pounds are you kidding me?! 184 before I started the job + no soda* + walking 1-3 miles per day = 16 pound weight loss.

The walking 1-3 miles a day you probably say is hard to do. But its not at all. I spent a few bucks on one of those pedometers where it counts the steps and how far a distance you walked as well as how many calories you burned in the process. It’s not really that hard. Soon as you put your pants on in the morning put this in your pocket and you are good to go.

Eliminate soda ( limit yourself to 2 cans per week at the most ) keep track of how much you walk and you will see the pounds fall off with very minimal effort.

*no soda = limited to 2 per week at the most.


I wrote this article almost 2 years ago and had it posted on another site of mine. Thought it would be better fit posted here.