Don’t Let Alcohol Be the Downfall of Your Diet

Don’t just drink responsibly, drink smarter.

You know to avoid the cakes and pies, but what should you do when it comes to alcoholic drinks? It’s easy to overlook the calories found in beverages. If you’re counting calories to lose weight, don’t ignore the calories found in what you drink. Because while they may not require a fork to ingest, alcoholic beverages rank pretty high on the calorie scale—second only to fat. With little to no nutritional content, no fat, and low in carbohydrates, alcohol only adds empty calories to your diet. These empty calories can pack the pounds on every part of your body fast. One can of beer (150 calories) will take at least a 30-minute brisk walk to burn off.

It’s not just the calories that sabotage your diet. Alcohol actually prevents your body from burning fat, especially fat around your waist. In addition, alcohol slows your metabolism, causing whatever food you’ve recently eaten to be more readily stored as fat.Anchorage Boot Camp

If you’re trying to watch your weight but you enjoy drinking a glass of wine to relax after a long day, if you enjoy drinking a beer while watching the game, or if mixed drinks are on the menu at your girls’ night out, the Anchorage boot camp says you don’t have to say no. You just have to know how to drink smart and lose weight at the same time.

Continue Counting Calories

Not all drinks are created equal. Because of this, some alcoholic beverages are more diet-friendly than others. Wine is lower in calories than other options with 20 calories per ounce on average. A five-ounce glass of wine adds up to 100 calories, but has no fat, cholesterol, or sodium.

Next on the scale comes hard liquor. While it may contain more calories (32–79 per ounce) than wine, not as much hard liquor is consumed at a given time. One shot or mixed drink contains one and a half ounces of hard liquor, making the calorie count per serving between 64 and 119. Mixing a drink with soda increases the number of calories.

Beer can easily be a dieter’s downfall. One 12-ounce can of beer has approximately 150 calories. Light beers are a slightly lighter choice at 108 calories, while ale comes in at 216 calories per 12 ounces. With these numbers, it’s clear how easy it is to overdo it on beer, especially when it’s poured from a pitcher.

Liqueur, or cordial, is highest in calories per ounce. Served alone or with mixers, coffee, or cream, a one-and-one-half ounce of liqueur contains 155 calories. Mixers only add additional calories.

Eat When You Drink

Skimping on food and calories in order to allow yourself to splurge on alcohol will only result in a high-calorie backfire. That’s because the simple carbs found in alcohol temporarily increase your blood sugar, which is then followed by a drop. In case you don’t know, that sudden drop will make you ravenous. Smart drinking means eating a snack or meal with protein, fiber, and healthy fats prior to drinking. Food in your system will help stabilize your blood sugar and keep the alcohol from being absorbed as quickly. By eating smart, you can control your hunger and enjoy your drink.Anchorage Boot Camp

All in Moderation

A healthy lifestyle and a healthy weight are about moderation. This includes alcohol as well. Drinking in moderation means one drink a day for women and two a day for men. This doesn’t mean you can save up a week’s worth of drinks to be had in one day. Doing so will definitely sabotage your diet. Do this and any extra calories will be stored as fat, and your blood sugar will skyrocket, making you hungry. Once under the power of alcohol, you’ll not able to think straight and can easily consume way too many extra calories.

Watching your weight may mean you just opt for a smaller glass. Or you may choose to dilute your alcohol with a diet soda or soda water. Whatever you choose, just make sure your waistline won’t regret it the next morning.

This  blog was submitted by the Anchorage Personal Trainer from Fit Body Boot Camp Anchorage.

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