In order to lose weight, cut down on liquid calories rather than food.

Weight loss from liquid calories is greater as compared to loss of calorie intake from solid food, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The study found that drinking fewer sugary drinks was more important than eating less in order to lose weight. And, drinking one less serving of a soft drink was tied to just over one pound of weight loss at six months and an additional weight loss of over 1.4 pounds at 18 months.

The body is able to self-regulate its intake of solid food. If you eat too much solid food at lunch, you tend to eat less at dinner. However, this phenomenon of self-regulation does not apply for what you drink. The body does not adjust to liquid calories, and eventually, over time, you tend to gain more weight.

Beverages are categorized into eight categories:

1. Sugar-sweetened beverages (including soft drinks, fruit drinks, or high-calorie beverages sweetened with sugar)
2. Diet drinks such as diet soda and other diet drinks that are artificially sweetened
3. Milk (including whole milk, 2 percent milk, and 1 percent skim)
4. 100% fruit and vegetable juice
5. Coffee and tea with sugar
6. Coffee and tea without sugar
7. Alcoholic beverages
8. Water with no calories.

The best drinks are water, plain soda and tea or coffee with no sugar.