Do you know how many calories you drink in a day? You just might be surprised at the number, say researchers from the American Institute for Cancer Research. Their recent survey found that about 20 percent of the average adult's daily caloric intake comes in liquid form — and all those calories from soft drinks, fruit punches, sweet teas, high-calorie smoothies, alcoholic beverages, and gourmet coffee drinks with sugar, chocolate, or whipped cream can add up to big weight gains over time, the researchers say.

So what can you do about it? Increasing your awareness is the first step. Once you start noticing — and counting — the calories in your beverages, you'll see they're an easy place to start cutting back. Reach for water, unsweetened iced tea, or regular coffee instead of those other beverages. If you can't give up soft drinks, switch to diet soda. And make sure you're drinking skim, not whole, milk — it has the same nutritional value without the extra fat and calories!

Research has shown that our brains don't "register" calories in liquid form, making them particularly easy to overlook. Don't let them slip under your radar! It's far more satisfying to eat your calories than drink them, so pay attention to what's in your cup as well as what's on your plate!

Aging is 70-percent lifestyle. To stay young, eat right, exercise regularly, and keep a positive attitude.