One of the easiest ways to pack on the pounds is to drink your calories! One of the biggest weight loss blunders is drinking high calorie, high fat and high sugar beverages! A simple 5-minute drive through the Starbucks drive-through can cost you over 400 calories, 10 grams of fat, 60 grams of sugar and 60 grams of carbohydrates!! One of the biggest mistakes people make is forgetting that just because you aren’t chewing something doesn’t mean that it isn’t contributing to your weight gain or weight loss plateau. There really is nothing “skinny” about these high calorie “pick me ups”! If you are someone who finds yourself stopping at your local coffee shop a few times a week, I suggest you check out the nutritional information and see what exactly you are drinking! Unless you are drinking black coffee or an Americano, I can pretty much bet you are basically drinking a liquid big mac! There is no reason why you can’t have some of your favorite coffee beverages and still reach your goals. Instead of paying big bucks to sabotage your fitness goals, consider these excellent Gina Approved alternatives to your favorite coffee beverages!
Instead of a Starbucks Vanilla Latte try my “Gina Approved Vanilla Latte”:
1 cup coffee (regular or decaffeinated)
1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1-2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Stevia to sweeten (optional)

Heat almond milk over stove top or in microwave. If you have a espresso machine, use this to steam the milk. Once warm, add protein powder and mix until fully dissolved. Add stevia and vanilla extract and continue stirring. Pour milk mixture over freshly brewed coffee and enjoy!
You can always turn this into an iced latte but pouring it over ice or better yet blending ingredients into a Vanilla Frappuccino.
Nutrition Information:
Gina Approved Vanilla Late Vs Starbucks grande Vanilla Latte
135 calories vs. 250 calories
Fat: 2.5 g vs. 6 g
Saturated Fat: 0 g vs. 3.5 g
Carbohydrates: 4 g vs. 37 g
Sugar: 2 g vs. 35 g
Protein: 20 g vs. 12g
Instead of a Starbucks Green Tea Frappuccino have “Gina’s Green Tea Frappe”:
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
2 cups water
2 tsp macha green tea powder
2 cups ice
Stevia (optional)
Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until rich and creamy.

Nutrition Information:
Gina’s Green Tea Frappe Vs. Starbucks Tazo Green Tea Frappuccino
120 calories vs. 325 calories
1 g vs. 4 g
Saturated fat: 1 g vs. 1 g
Carbohydrates: 4 g vs. 63 g
Sugars: 2 g vs. 57 g
Protein: 20 g vs. 11 g
Instead of a Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino have “Gina’s Mocha Frappe”:
1 scoop chocolate protein powder
2 cups water
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups ice
Stevia (optional)
Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until rich and creamy.

Nutrition Information:
Gina’s Mocha Frappe” vs. Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino
130 calories vs. 400 calories
Fat: 2 g vs. 15 g
Saturated fat: 1.5 g vs. 9 g
Carbohydrates: 4g vs. 64 g
Sugars 3 g vs. 60 g
Protein 20 g vs. 5 g