Does Alcohol Derail Your Diet?

"Leave the Irreparable Past in His hands, and step out into the Irresistible Future with Him"

-Oswald Champers

Website: Enjoy some sweet drinks without the mega-calories http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/drinks/wine/low-calorie-cocktails/

HAPPY NEW YEARS! Can you believe it is 2011 already?! Well, I intentionally saved this post for after New Year's Eve! Whether you toasted a glass of champagne at midnight or had one too many cold ones, alcohol has some very real effects on your body, health, and fitness. Before we go into it just remember moderation. If you love the occasional wine with dinner, don't worry, I am not going to try to scare you away from the wine glass forever!

Why alcohol and weight loss are enemies?

-For starters, these drinks are highly caloric. These aren't terrible by themselves, but when you find yourself reaching for the 4th glass of wine these numbers can add up quickly!

-Not only does alcohol lower your inhibitions and increases the likelihood you give in to the cravings for pizza, fries and cookies, it also stimulates your appetite. Those Whataburger lights really start to catch your eye...

-Alcohol intake spikes your insulin level, which leads to fat storage. This beverage is not conducive to muscle building and fat loss, and actually reverses the positive efforts you have made in those areas.

-For all us cardio junkies out there, alcohol actually decreases the efficiency of the heart and lungs and also causes dehydration...dying for water makes a good, sweat-producing workout all the more difficult.

-Alcohol is a diuretic (meaning it causes water loss, hints the above mentioned dehydration!). With the loss of water, so goes calcium, magnesium, potassium and zinc, all of which help with muscle contraction/relaxation and fluid balance

-Many people claim alcohol helps them sleep. Well, it may induce sleep, but the rest is actually less deep...it is the quality over quantity theory here.

OK, again, excessive drinking does not have a place in a health world but 1-2 a week will not ruin everything you have worked so hard for. Just be conscious of what, when, and how much you consume.

-12 oz Bud Light=110 calories

-12 oz. Budweiser=146 calories

-12 oz. Dark Beer=170 calories

-Shot of 100-proof liquor=124 calories

-Shot of 80 proof liquor=97 calories

-8 oz. Pina Colada Cocktail=505 calories

-5 oz. Merlot/Pinot Grigiot=123 calories

-4 oz. Champagne=85 calories

-4 oz. Whisky Sour=200 calories

-3 oz. Martini=205 calories

-8 oz. Margarita (No, this is not the Texas-sized ones!)=280 calories

So how to cut calories and still enjoy a glass of your favorite drink?

-Dilute the drink with something zero-calorie and low sugar. Fill your glass with 1/2 wine and 1/2 diet sprite. Add ice cubes or water to your gin and tonic. You will still get the taste but will save some valuable calories.

-Remember a good rule of thumb, the sweeter the drink, the more calories it has. The pre-made drink mixes are high in calories and are nothing but high fructose corn syrup.

-The clearer the better. Drinks you can see through are lower in calories that dark.

-Avoid frozen drinks! What Texan doesn't love a good margarita (actually, I really don't like them at all, but I know they are a Texan-favorite!). But these frozen drinks such as margaritas can rake in 800 or more calories.

-Make it for special occasions. Drinking wine at a Christmas Eve dinner or having a beer with friends during the Superbowl will not cause a downward spiral. Give yourself the freedom to enjoy it without packing them in everyday.

With some planning, you can enjoy your favorite things without sabotaging your healthy lifestyle!

Megan