November 24, 2014
3 Things to Know to Booze While You Lose!
{Article adapted from: http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Can-You-Drink-Alcohol-Without-Gaining-Weight-28385398}
It is no secret that booze and alcohol will pack on weight faster than Christmas! Speaking of Christmas (and other holidays in general), most of us tend to overindulge in our fair share of booze with friends and family over holiday meals-talk about packing on major calories, right?
They say everything is okay in moderation-that is true. But there are smarter ways to booze-and still lose the unwanted pounds this holiday season.
Here are the top 3 things to know, according to a recent POPSUGAR article:
1. Know that some drinks make you hungrier than others.
"When it comes to waist-friendly cocktails, the simpler the drink, the better. Not only do the sweet-and-fancy ones tend to have more calories, but the additional sugar can make you even hungrier: Your blood sugar skyrockets higher than it does on beer, wine, or a shot of something, making the plummet (and the resulting cravings) worse."
2. Know Booze has 7 calories per gram, making it the second-most calorie-dense macronutrient. (That's just below pure fat, which has 9 calories per gram.)
"This means a measly 1.5-ounce jigger of vodka has almost 100 calories. Mix that up with some club soda and lime, and it's a reasonable tipple, but when you start tossing together a whole bunch of different liquors — whether it's a hipster fizz made with bourbon, elderflower liqueur, and house-made bitters, or a dive-bar Long Island iced tea loaded with vodka, rum, tequila, and gin — it really adds up (to the tune of 300 calories, in the case of a Long Island)."
"Even simple mixed drinks like rum-and-Cokes and screwdrivers pack extra calories because of the sugary soda and juice. "So if you're going to drink, have something straight up and simple like wine or beer," Dr. Peeke advises. Any wine or beer works, but to trim about 10 calories per glass, choose a rosé or white wine instead of a heavier red. A whole pint of a dark beer is around only 170 calories (compared with 195 for the same amount of regular beer) and may leave you feeling fuller than, say, Champagne, because it's so starchy and rich, Karst notes. Vodka, gin, or bourbon with club soda and a twist are pretty good bets, too. Club soda is calorie- and sugar-free and dilutes the alcohol and its effect on your cravings. Avoid juices, liqueurs (which are sweet and syrupy), colas, tonics, and super-sugary bottled mixes like the ones for a lot of bar-made margaritas and daiquiris."
3. Know that kimping on food in order to "make room" for drinks will only backfire on you.
"Here's why: most cocktails are loaded with simple carbohydrates, "so during a night of drinking, people end up with soaring blood sugar, followed by a 'crash' that leaves them ravenous," says Jason Burke, MD, an anesthesiologist and hangover researcher who runs a hangover treatment clinic in (where else?) Las Vegas."
As a bonus, here are some healthier alternatives for smarter boozing and the caloric content to help give you an idea of how things can quickly add up. Personally, I would so rather EAT my calories!
For a 1.5 oz. serving of hard alcohol:
Malibu Coconut Rum: 81 Calories
Gordons Gin: 96 Calories
Jack Daniels Whiskey: 98 Calories
Grey Goose Vodka: 96 Calories
Jose Cuervo Tequila= 96 Calories
For a 5 oz. serving of wine:
Red = 120 Calories
White = 110 Calories
Champagne = 112 Calories
For a 12 oz. serving of beer, cider, and malt beverages:
Amstel Light Lager: 95 Calories
Becks Lager: 135 Calories
Sam Adams Pale Ale: 160 Calories
Guiness Stout: 128 Calories
Magners Cider: 125 Calories
Mikes Hard Lemonade: 235 Calories
Source: POPSUGAR
Photo source: Tumblr
For more on smart boozing, double click the image below:
It is no secret that booze and alcohol will pack on weight faster than Christmas! Speaking of Christmas (and other holidays in general), most of us tend to overindulge in our fair share of booze with friends and family over holiday meals-talk about packing on major calories, right?
They say everything is okay in moderation-that is true. But there are smarter ways to booze-and still lose the unwanted pounds this holiday season.
Here are the top 3 things to know, according to a recent POPSUGAR article:
1. Know that some drinks make you hungrier than others.
"When it comes to waist-friendly cocktails, the simpler the drink, the better. Not only do the sweet-and-fancy ones tend to have more calories, but the additional sugar can make you even hungrier: Your blood sugar skyrockets higher than it does on beer, wine, or a shot of something, making the plummet (and the resulting cravings) worse."
2. Know Booze has 7 calories per gram, making it the second-most calorie-dense macronutrient. (That's just below pure fat, which has 9 calories per gram.)
"This means a measly 1.5-ounce jigger of vodka has almost 100 calories. Mix that up with some club soda and lime, and it's a reasonable tipple, but when you start tossing together a whole bunch of different liquors — whether it's a hipster fizz made with bourbon, elderflower liqueur, and house-made bitters, or a dive-bar Long Island iced tea loaded with vodka, rum, tequila, and gin — it really adds up (to the tune of 300 calories, in the case of a Long Island)."
"Even simple mixed drinks like rum-and-Cokes and screwdrivers pack extra calories because of the sugary soda and juice. "So if you're going to drink, have something straight up and simple like wine or beer," Dr. Peeke advises. Any wine or beer works, but to trim about 10 calories per glass, choose a rosé or white wine instead of a heavier red. A whole pint of a dark beer is around only 170 calories (compared with 195 for the same amount of regular beer) and may leave you feeling fuller than, say, Champagne, because it's so starchy and rich, Karst notes. Vodka, gin, or bourbon with club soda and a twist are pretty good bets, too. Club soda is calorie- and sugar-free and dilutes the alcohol and its effect on your cravings. Avoid juices, liqueurs (which are sweet and syrupy), colas, tonics, and super-sugary bottled mixes like the ones for a lot of bar-made margaritas and daiquiris."
3. Know that kimping on food in order to "make room" for drinks will only backfire on you.
"Here's why: most cocktails are loaded with simple carbohydrates, "so during a night of drinking, people end up with soaring blood sugar, followed by a 'crash' that leaves them ravenous," says Jason Burke, MD, an anesthesiologist and hangover researcher who runs a hangover treatment clinic in (where else?) Las Vegas."
As a bonus, here are some healthier alternatives for smarter boozing and the caloric content to help give you an idea of how things can quickly add up. Personally, I would so rather EAT my calories!
For a 1.5 oz. serving of hard alcohol:
Malibu Coconut Rum: 81 Calories
Gordons Gin: 96 Calories
Jack Daniels Whiskey: 98 Calories
Grey Goose Vodka: 96 Calories
Jose Cuervo Tequila= 96 Calories
For a 5 oz. serving of wine:
Red = 120 Calories
White = 110 Calories
Champagne = 112 Calories
For a 12 oz. serving of beer, cider, and malt beverages:
Amstel Light Lager: 95 Calories
Becks Lager: 135 Calories
Sam Adams Pale Ale: 160 Calories
Guiness Stout: 128 Calories
Magners Cider: 125 Calories
Mikes Hard Lemonade: 235 Calories
Source: POPSUGAR
Photo source: Tumblr
For more on smart boozing, double click the image below:
