8 Drinks To Lose Weight


1. Green Tea

Weight Loss Drinks

Green tea is often associated with health, and for good reason.

Not only is it packed with beneficial antioxidants and other powerful nutrients, it’s also one of the most effective drinks for weight loss.

Drinking green tea has been shown to decrease body weight and body fat in several studies. 

A review of 14 studies found that people who drank high-concentration green tea for 12 weeks lost an average of 0.44 to 7.7 pounds (0.2 to 3.5 kg) more than those who did not drink green tea (1Trusted Source).

It should be noted that this benefit is linked to green tea preparations that contain high amounts of catechins, antioxidants that may increase fat burning and boost metabolism (2Trusted Source).

Matcha is a type of green tea that contains a higher amount of catechins than loose leaf green tea, which makes it a good choice for weight loss (3Trusted Source).

One study found that women who consumed 3 grams of matcha per day experienced greater fat burning during exercise compared to women who did not drink matcha (4Trusted Source).

Plus, green tea contains caffeine, which can help promote weight loss by boosting energy levels and improving performance while exercising (5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source).

What’s more, people who drink green tea tend to have lower blood pressure and a lower risk of developing diseases such as heart disease, certain cancers and diabetes (6Trusted Source).

SUMMARYDrinking green tea may help you lose weight by boosting metabolism and encouraging fat loss.

2. Coffee

Coffee is used by people around the world to boost energy levels and lift mood.

This is because coffee contains caffeine, a substance that acts as a stimulant in the body and may benefit weight loss.

Coffee can reduce energy intake and boost metabolism, which may help you lose weight.

One study in 33 overweight adults found that those who drank coffee containing 6 mg of caffeine per kilogram of body weight consumed significantly fewer overall calories than those who drank less caffeine or no caffeine at all (7Trusted Source).

Caffeine intake has also been shown to increase metabolism and promote fat burning in several other studies (8Trusted Source, 9Trusted Source).

Coffee drinkers may have an easier time maintaining their weight loss over time, as well. 

A study in over 2,600 people found that those who were successful in maintaining weight loss over time drank significantly more caffeinated beverages than a control group (5Trusted Source).

SUMMARYCaffeinated beverages like coffee may stimulate weight loss by increasing metabolism, decreasing calorie intake and stimulating fat burning.

3. Black Tea

Like green tea, black tea contains compounds that may stimulate weight loss.

Black tea is a type of tea that has undergone more oxidation (exposure to air) than other types of teas, resulting in a stronger flavor and darker color. 

Black tea is high in polyphenols, including a group of polyphenolic compounds called flavonoids. Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants that may help reduce body weight. 

Studies have shown that the polyphenols found in black tea promote weight loss by reducing calorie intake, stimulating fat breakdown and boosting the growth of friendly gut bacteria (9Trusted Source, 10Trusted Source).

A study in 111 people demonstrated that those who drank 3 cups of black tea daily for three months lost more weight and had greater reductions in waist circumference compared to a control group (11Trusted Source).

Another study in 2,734 women found that those with higher intakes of flavonoid-rich foods and beverages like black tea had significantly lower body fat and belly fat than women who consumed less dietary flavonoids (12Trusted Source).

SUMMARYBlack tea contains polyphenols, antioxidants that have been shown to reduce body weight. Studies show that drinking black tea may help reduce body fat and encourage weight loss.powered by Rubicon Project

4. Water

Increasing your water intake is one of the simplest ways to improve overall health.

Drinking more water may also benefit your waistline by keeping you full in between meals and increasing the number of calories you burn.

Research suggests that having water before meals can set you up for success when trying to cut back on calories and lose weight.

A study in 48 overweight adults found that those who drank 500 ml (17 ounces) of water before meals while following a low-calorie diet lost 44% more weight over 12 weeks than those who did not drink water before meals (13Trusted Source).

Drinking cold water increases resting energy expenditure, which is the number of calories you burn while resting. 

For example, a study in 21 overweight children showed that resting energy expenditure was increased by up to 25% for 40 minutes after drinking 10 ml of cold water per kilogram of body weight (14Trusted Source).

SUMMARYDrinking more water can help burn calories and decrease intake at meals, which can result in weight loss.

5. Apple Cider Vinegar Drinks

Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid, a compound that may stimulate weight loss by decreasing insulin levels, improving metabolism, suppressing appetite and burning fat (15Trusted Source, 16Trusted Source).

Animal studies have shown that acetic acid can prevent weight gain and decrease fat accumulation in the belly and liver (15Trusted Source).

Although research is limited, there is some evidence that vinegar is effective in promoting weight loss in humans. 

A study in 144 obese adults demonstrated that drinking a daily beverage containing 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of vinegar per day resulted in significant reductions in body weight, waist circumference and belly fat compared to a placebo group (17Trusted Source).

Apple cider vinegar slows stomach emptying, which helps keep you fuller for a longer period of time and may reduce overeating (18Trusted Source).

However, it should be noted that drinking acidic beverages like apple cider vinegar can erode teeth, which is why it should be consumed sparingly and always followed by rinsing with water (19Trusted Source).

SUMMARYAlthough more research is needed on the risks and benefits of apple cider vinegar, consuming a small amount per day may encourage weight loss.

6. Ginger Tea

Ginger is popularly used as a spice to add flavor to dishes and as an herbal remedy to treat a number of conditions such as nausea, colds and arthritis (20Trusted Source).

Human and animal studies have also shown this flavorful root to have a beneficial effect on weight loss.

A study found that rats fed a high-fat diet supplemented with 5% ginger powder for four weeks had significant reductions in body weight and significant improvements in HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels compared to rats fed a high-fat diet without ginger (21Trusted Source).

Although this study used a concentrated ginger powder, a study in humans found that ginger tea also helps reduce appetite and increase calorie expenditure.

One study in 10 overweight men found that when they drank 2 grams of ginger powder dissolved in hot water with breakfast, they experienced increased fullness and decreased hunger compared to days when no ginger tea was consumed.

Plus, the study showed that the ginger tea increased the thermic effect of food (the number of calories needed to digest and absorb food) by 43 calories (22Trusted Source).

Although that isn’t a huge number of calories, this suggests that — when combined with its satiating properties — ginger tea could be an effective way to enhance weight loss.

SUMMARYHuman and animal studies indicate that ginger can promote fullness, decrease appetite and increase metabolism, which is helpful when trying to lose weight.

7. High-Protein Drinks

Beverages that are high in protein can curb hunger, decrease appetite and promote fullness, which is important when trying to shed excess pounds.

There are countless protein powdersavailable to consumers that make preparing a quick, healthy snack or meal a breeze.

Protein increases levels of hunger-reducing hormones like GLP-1 while decreasing ghrelin, a hormone that drives appetite (23Trusted Source).

A study in 90 overweight adults found that those who consumed 56 grams of whey protein daily for 23 weeks lost 5 pounds (2.3 kg) more fat than a control group who consumed no whey protein but the same number of calories (24Trusted Source).

Whey, pea and hemp protein powders are just a few varieties that can add a satisfying protein boost to shakes and smoothies that may help you drop pounds.

SUMMARYProtein drinks decrease appetite and increase fullness. Protein powders can be easily added to any beverage for a quick and satisfying snack or meal.

8. Vegetable Juice

Although fruit juice has been linked to weight gain, drinking vegetable juice may have the opposite effect (25Trusted Source). 

In one study, adults who drank 16 ounces of low-sodium vegetable juice while following a low-calorie diet lost significantly more weight than those who did not.

Plus, the vegetable juice group significantly increased their vegetable consumption and significantly decreased their carb intake, two factors that are important for weight loss (26Trusted Source).

Consuming whole vegetables whenever possible is the best choice for health due to the high amount of fiber that is lost in the juicing process.

However, consuming a low-calorie vegetable juice can increase your vegetable intake and may even help you lose weight.

SUMMARYAlthough whole vegetables make the best choice, drinking vegetable juice may encourage weight loss when incorporated into a healthy diet.

My Own Saying

MwsR ❤️

Let It Find Me(WAIT), by MwsR

Wound around my happiness is a reminder of things

Times when I cried, times when I could not sing

Happiness is a faint thing most days

I have longed for it all my life

When will I remember and not be sad

Will my life ever have a period of glad

My heart aches so

I should had known…

Nothing good can exist without an experience of sadness

A period of loss and some of gladness

It is intertwined to co-exist

Something in my younger days I definitely missed

I was trying to survive

Now I must still but also thrive

If my happiness wasn’t bound by people letting me down

I would not know how to keep from being drowned

Maybe I would of sank under all the endless pressures

Perhaps I would of left and wrote that last letter

Who knows,

These are my woes.

My search for happiness will not go in vain

I will prevail and continue still

Then, if happiness comes only for a moment, for a brief second

Let it find me, let it wrap around my memories and heart

I want to feel it, have it

DIY~ Father’s Day Idea

DIY Pillows Made from Daddy’s Shirts


Want a little insight into what my husband signed up for when he said “I do”?  I’ve had a box squirreled away in the bottom of the closet for the past three years.  Every time my husband has announced that he’s going to sort through his clothes and get rid of old items, I’d hover over him like a ravenous vulture circling a horse carcass.   I would wait on baited breath for an old button-down shirt to hit the “give away” pile, swoop in, nab the shirt with my sharpened craft talons, and hastily slink off to the box in the bottom of my closet.  I hope your mental image of me doing this involved drooling and a hunchback. 

So what, pray tell, could possibly evoke such strange behavior?  I had the idea (yes, three years ago) to make a quilt for the duckling out of his dad’s shirts.  Aw, that’s so sweet, except for two details – I don’t know how to quilt, and I don’t own a sewing machine.  Holding onto the hope that those two facts would shift in my favor one day meant holding onto a musty box of discarded J. Crew shirts for 1,095 days and counting. 

With no change in sight, I decided to curb my hoarding habits and do something with my secret stash of shirts before a family of squirrels decided to make a home in my closet.  Enter my new DIY project…daddy inspired throw pillows for the duckling’s room.

Supplies for Shirts
– clean, ironed button down shirts (one per pillow)
pillow forms or old pillows you want to cover
– sewing machine or handheld stitcher (I used a handheld stitcher)
– scissors
– fabric pen (optional)
– pins

The links above and in the supplies list for the felt accessories link to our Amazon page where you can purchase the craft supplies we use in this and other projects.  We offer this so that you can “one stop shop” for your supplies, and there’s no additional charge to you.  All of these items are also readily available at your local craft store. 

Instructions for Shirts

As a disclaimer, I’m not a seamstress, so I just “winged” it with a handheld stitcher.  Real sewing avids will probably shutter in horror as I describe how I made my pillow shams, but for those of you who are in the same boat as me, hopefully, it will be helpful to see that as far as it relates to this project, the sewing part isn’t an exact science.


1. Start with a clean, ironed shirt.  If you hate ironing like me, you can skip the sleeves because you’re just going to cut them off anyways.  (Feel free to wear these like She-Ra cuffs.  You know I did.)

60K+Save

2. Here’s my Eastbound & Down inspired sleeveless button-down.  I feel like I’m back in Virginia.

60K+Save

3. Turn your shirt inside out (this is important hence the bold + italics for all you skimmers/photo instructions only people) and place your pillow form/insert inside your shirt.  Finagle the pillow until you have it in the position you want.  If you’ll be using the pockets, like I did, be sure they are positioned in a place that makes you happy on the pillow.

60K+Save
 Time for our pins!

60K+Save
4. Pull together the bottoms of the shirt tight and pin into place beginning at the center (where the buttons are) and working your way out.  The good thing about using patterned shirts is that you can use the pattern as a rough guide as you pin. 


5. Trim the excess fabric leaving at least an inch margin from your pins.

60K+Save
6. (Before we start stitching…if you are indeed using a sewing machine, now would probably be the time to repeat steps 4 and 5 on the other three sides and remove the pillow.  Sew away!) For the handi-stitcher folk out there, this is where the “not an exact science” part comes into play.  Keeping everything as is, I just started running the stitcher as close as possible to the pins, removing the pins as I went along.  Once you get to the end, follow your stitcher’s directions on how to secure the seam so it doesn’t unravel.

60K+Save
7. Once you finish the first side, pick up your shirt and give the pillow a little shake, encouraging it to nestle down against your new seam before moving to the opposite side to begin pinning.

60K+Save
Like my striped pajama pants?

8. Repeat steps 4 through 6 on the other three sides, starting with the opposite side (the collar), then moving to the sides under the arms. 

Also, I probably should’ve mentioned this earlier, but I also made a variation that includes the collar.  It’s not as cute, but my thought was that as the duckling gets older, this would be more of a “play pillow”, encouraging him to button and unbutton, add a bow tie or even pop the collar as he sees fit.  Here’s a picture for reference if you’re interested in making a similar one. 

60K+Save
9. Back to our collarless pillows – now that you’ve done all four sides, trim any excess fabric.

60K+Save
10. Unbutton your shirt.  The one on the table, that is.

60K+Save
11. Remove the pillow insert and turn your shirt right-side out.

60K+Save
 12. Put the shirt back on the pillow and button.

60K+Save
You’re done (unless you’re adding felt pocket accessories like mine, in which case the instructions and a few more pictures are below) !

Here are a hefty bunch of pictures of the finished project.

60K+Save




    Amazing Creature!

    Yeti Crab



    Also known as the Kiwaidae, this crab is a type of marine decapod living at deep-sea hydrothermal vents and cold seeps. The animals are commonly referred to as “yeti crabs” because of their claws and legs, which are white and appear to be furry like the mythical yeti

      7 Day Diabetic Meal Plan

      Day 1

      Breakfast (294 calories, 41 g carbohydrates)

      • 1/2 cup oats cooked in 1/2 cup each 2% milk and water
      • 1 medium plum, chopped
      • 4 walnut halves, chopped
      Top oats with plum and walnuts.

      A.M. Snack (96 calories, 18 g carbohydrates)

      • 3/4 cup blueberries
      • 1/4 nonfat plain Greek yogurt
      Top blueberries with yogurt.

      Lunch (319 calories, 37 g carbohydrates)

      Turkey & Apple Cheddar Melt
      • 2 slices whole-wheat bread
      • 2 tsp. whole-grain mustard, divided
      • 1/2 medium apple, sliced
      • 2 oz. low-sodium deli turkey
      • 2 Tbsp. shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
      • 1 cup mixed greens
      Top one slice of bread with 1 tsp. mustard, apple, turkey and 1 Tbsp. cheese. Top the other slice of bread with the remaining 1 tsp. mustard and 1 Tbsp.cheese. Toast sandwich halves face-up in a toaster oven until the cheese begins to melt and bubble. Add the mixed greens to the sandwich just before serving.

      *Look for a deli turkey with less than 150 mg sodium per 1-ounce serving.

      P.M. Snack (58 calories, 16 g carbohydrates)

      • 1/2 medium apple, sliced
      • 1/2 tsp. honey
      • Pinch of cinnamon
      Drizzle the apple slices with honey and sprinkle with cinnamon.

      Dinner (417 calories, 54 g carbohydrates)

      • 2 1/2 cups Vegetable Weight-Loss Soup
      • 1 serving Rosemary-Goat Cheese Toast

      Make Ahead Tip: Save 1 3/4 cups soup for lunch on Day 2, and another 2 cups for lunch on Day 6.

      Daily Total: 1,185 calories, 60 g protein, 166 g carbohydrates, 29 g fiber, 66 g sugar, 35 g fat, 9 g saturated fat, 1,539 mg sodium

      Day 2

      Breakfast (297 calories, 33 g carbohydrates)

      • 1 serving Everything Bagel Avocado Toast
      • 1/2 cup blueberries
      • 25 pistachios

      A.M. Snack (52 calories, 13 g carbohydrates)

      • 10 cherries

      Lunch (314 calories, 47 g carbohydrates)

      • 1 3/4 cups Vegetable Weight-Loss Soup
      • 2 slices whole-wheat baguette (cut ¼ inch thick)

      P.M. Snack (95 calories, 25 g carbohydrates)

      Cinnamon Apples
      • 1 medium apple, sliced
      • Cinnamon to taste
      Sprinkle apple slices with cinnamon.

      Dinner (420 calories, 48 g carbohydrates)

      • 2 1/2 cups Lentil & Roasted Vegetable Salad with Green Goddess Dressing
      • 1 serving Frozen Chocolate-Banana Bites, to enjoy after dinner

      Make-Ahead Tip: Cook an extra 1/2 cup of lentils to have for lunch on Day 3.

      Daily Total: 1,179 calories, 39 g protein, 166 g carbohydrates, 35 g fiber, 65 g sugar, 47 g fat, 9 g saturated fat, 1,425 mg sodium

      Day 3

      Breakfast (289 calories, 27 g carbohydrates)

      • 1 serving Yogurt with Blueberries & Honey
      • 1 tsp. ground flaxseed
      • 6 walnut halves, chopped or whole
      Add flaxseed to yogurt for an added boost of fiber and omega-3s. Top with chopped walnuts, or leave the walnuts whole to have on the side.

      A.M. Snack (30 calories, 8 g carbohydrates)

      • 1 medium plum

      Lunch (347 calories, 48 g carbohydrates)

      • 3 1/2 cups Mixed Greens with Lentils & Sliced Apple

      P.M. Snack (62 calories, 15 g carbohydrates)

      • 1 medium orange

      Dinner (490 calories, 52 g carbohydrates)

      • 1 1/3 cups Chicken Sausage & Peppers
      • 1/2 cup cooked brown rice
      • 1/2 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
      • 1/2 tsp. no-salt-added Italian seasoning
      • Salt to taste
      Season rice with oil, Italian seasoning and salt. Serve chicken, sausage & peppers over the rice.

      • 1 1/2 cups mixed greens
      • 1/4 cup shredded carrot
      • 1/4 cup sliced cucumbers
      • 1 Tbsp. Garlic-Oregano Vinaigrette, or a premade Italian salad dressing*
      Combine greens, carrot, cucumber and vinaigrette.

      *When buying premade salad dressings, look for one made without added sugars. And, choose one made with olive oil or canola oil.

      Make Ahead Tip: Cook an extra 1/2 cup of brown rice to have for dinner on Day 7. You can substitute brown rice for the farro in the dinner recipe for Day 4. If you choose to do so, cook an extra 2 cups of rice tonight to save yourself time tomorrow.

      Daily Total: 1,218 calories, 63 g protein, 151 g carbohydrates, 31 g fiber, 75 g sugar, 45 g fat, 9 g saturated fat, 830 mg sodium

      Day 4

      Breakfast (295 calories, 42 g carbohydrates)

      • 1/2 cup oats cooked in 1/2 cup each 2% milk and water
      • 1 tsp. ground flaxseed
      • 1 medium plum, chopped
      • 3 walnut halves, chopped
      Mix oatmeal and flaxseed; top with plum and walnuts.

      A.M. Snack (52 calories, 13 g carbohydrates)

      • 10 cherries

      Lunch (350 calories, 46 g carbohydrates)

      • 1 serving Veggie & Hummus Sandwich
      • 3 dried apricots

      P.M. Snack (62 calories, 15 g carbohydrates)

      • 1 medium orange

      Dinner (450 calories, 41 g carbohydrates)

      • 1 serving Lemon-Herb Salmon with Caponata & Farro*

      *Don’t have farro? You can substitute another whole grain you have on hand, like brown rice.

      Daily Total: 1,209 calories, 61 g protein, 158 g carbohydrates, 32 g fiber, 61 g sugar, 43 g fat, 8 g saturated fat, 1,032 mg sodium

      Day 5

      Breakfast (276 calories, 44 g carbohydrates)

      • 1 serving Everything Bagel Avocado Toast
      • 20 cherries

      A.M. Snack (51 calories, 13 g carbohydrates)

      • 6 dried apricots

      Lunch (350 calories, 41 g carbohydrates)

      Turkey & Pear Pita Melt
      • 1/2 large whole-wheat pita round (save the other half for lunch on Day 7)
      • 3 1/2 oz. low-sodium deli turkey
      • 1/2 medium pear, sliced
      • 2 Tbsp. shredded Cheddar cheese
      • 1 cup mixed greens
      Stuff pita pocket with turkey, pear and cheese. Toast in a toaster oven until the cheese starts to melt. Add greens to the pita just before eating.

      • 1 medium plum

      P.M. Snack (52 calories, 14 g carbohydrates)

      Cinnamon Pears
      • 1/2 medium pear, sliced
      • Cinnamon to taste
      Sprinkle pear slices with cinnamon.

      Dinner (448 calories, 38 g carbohydrates)

      • 1 serving Spaghetti Squash & Meatballs
      • 1 slice whole-wheat baguette (cut 1/4 inch thick), toasted
      • 1/2 Tbsp. goat cheese
      • 1/4 tsp. fresh chopped rosemary
      Toast baguette and top with cheese and rosemary.

      Daily Total: 1,176 calories, 64 g protein, 151 g carbohydrates, 29 g fiber, 74 g sugar, 37 g fat, 9 g saturated fat, 1,738 mg sodium

      Day 6

      Breakfast (291 calories, 28 g carbohydrates)

      • 1 serving Yogurt with Blueberries & Honey
      • 2 tsp. ground flaxseed
      • 5 walnut halves, chopped
      Mix yogurt and flaxseed. Serve topped with walnuts.

      A.M. Snack (72 calories, 18 g carbohydrates)

      • 14 cherries

      Lunch (337 calories, 42 g carbohydrates)

      • 2 1/2 cups Vegetable Weight-Loss Soup

      P.M. Snack (62 calories, 15 g carbohydrates)

      • 1 medium orange

      Dinner (422 calories, 53 g carbohydrates)

      • 1 serving Apple-Glazed Chicken with Spinach
      • 1/2 cup Steamed Butternut Squash
      • 2 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
      • 1/2 tsp. fresh thyme or 1/8 tsp. dried
      • Salt and pepper to taste
      Toss squash with oil and thyme. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

      Daily Total: 1,184 calories, 78 g protein, 156 g carbohydrates, 27 g total fiber, 88 g sugar, 34 g fat, 5 g saturated fat, 1,541 mg sodium

      Day 7

      Make Ahead Tip: Tonight’s dinner is a slow-cooker recipe. Make sure you start it early enough in the day that it will be ready in time for dinner.

      Breakfast (300 calories, 40 g carbohydrates)

      • 2 Blueberry-Pecan Pancakes
      • 3 Tbsp. blueberries, fresh or frozen
      • 2 tsp. ground flaxseed
      Microwave blueberries until soft and sauce-like, about 1 minute. Stir in the flaxseed for an extra fiber kick, and serve with the pancakes.

      A.M. Snack (62 calories, 15 g carbohydrates)

      • 1 medium orange

      Lunch (325 calories, 35 g carbohydrates)

      • 2 cups mixed greens
      • 1/2 cup sliced cucumber
      • 1/4 cup grated carrot
      • 1 1/2 Tbsp. Garlic-Oregano Vinaigrette, or a premade Italian salad dressing
      Combine greens, cucumber, carrot and vinaigrette.

      • 1/2 large whole-wheat pita round, toasted
      • 1/4 cup hummus

      P.M. Snack (95 calories, 25 g carbohydrates)

      • 1 medium apple

      Dinner (444 calories, 48 g carbohydrates)

      • 1 serving Mushroom-Sauced Pork Chops
      • 1/2 cup cooked brown rice
      • 3/4 cup Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

      Daily Total: 1,224 calories, 54 g protein, 164 g carbohydrates, 28 g fiber, 57 g sugar, 44 g fat, 7 g saturated fat, 1,270 mg sodium