In our society, we often talk about whether your cup is half-empty or half-full. Maybe we should start talking more about what's actually in your cup. Turns out the answer might be critical for your weight loss journey.

Over the past three decades, the number of calories adults obtain from fruit drinks, sodas, gourmet coffee drinks and other liquids has doubled, according to researchers at the University of North Carolina. This trend closely mirrors the rise in obesity in the United States.

In terms of nutrition and weight loss, what you drink is just as important as what you eat. According to the University of North Carolina researchers, most American adults consume 222 calories a day in the form of liquids. That could be enough to cause a weight gain of 21 pounds a year!

On the flip side, one study found that drinking about 16 ounces of water before every meal helped middle-aged and older adults lose 44% more weight on a lower-calorie diet than people who cut calories without drinking water before meals.

Here's what our Mommy M.D.s — doctors who are also mothers — do to drink better for weight loss.

"I carry a 32-ounce water bottle with me all day, everywhere I go," says Amy Barton, M.D., a mom of three and a pediatrician at St. Luke's Children's Hospital in Boise, Idaho. "I try to make sure that I drink it all by the end of the day."

"I drink coffee in the morning, but after I drink a cup or two, I switch to plain water," says Kristin C. Lyle, M.D., a mom of three daughters and an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, both in Little Rock. "I try never to drink any calories."

"One of my favorite snacks isn't really a snack at all but a beverage," says Jennifer Bacani McKenney, M.D., a mom of two and a family physician in Fredonia, Kansas. "For a quick 'snack,' I'll drink a box of Horizon organic milk. It's low in fat and high in calcium. The boxes hold a perfect portion. I prefer the chocolate flavor, but the vanilla is good, too."

"Before my son was born, I was a Diet Coke fiend. I drank six cans a day, straight out of the can!" says Edna Ma, M.D., a mom of two, an anesthesiologist in private practice in Beverly Hills, California, and author of the bilingual Chinese children's book "Travel, Learn and See." "But now I drink more water. Especially because I am nursing, I make an effort to drink a lot of water throughout the day. Also, about an hour before I eat, I drink 16 ounces of water. That helps me distinguish between hunger and thirst, and it prevents me from eating too much at mealtimes."

"I haven't had soda in 30 years," says Eva Ritvo, M.D., a mom of two, psychiatrist and author of "Bekindr: The Transformative Power of Kindness" in Miami Beach, Florida. "I don't miss it one bit. I also rarely drink alcohol. I don't want to drink all of those calories, plus, when you're drinking, it's harder to make good food choices. When I eat, I try not to drink too much, not even water. I've read that if you drink too much while you're eating, it dilutes your digestive enzymes."

"I found that after buying a juicer, we consume a lot more fruit," says Michelle Davis-Dash, M.D., a mom of two and a board-certified pediatrician in Baltimore. "Even my son drinks the smoothies we make."

Jennifer Bright is a mom of four sons, co-founder and CEO of family- and veteran- owned custom publisher Momosa Publishing, co-founder of the Mommy MD Guides team of 150+ mommy M.D.s, and co-author of "The Mommy MD Guide to the Toddler Years." She lives in Hellertown, Pennsylvania. To find out more about Jennifer Bright and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: PhotoMIX-Company at Pixabay