Beer: Swig Lightly
With about 150 calories per 12-ounce serving, beer isn’t too high in calories and is a good choice. But it’s trying to stick to just one that’s difficult. If you have five at a time on Friday and Saturday night you’re looking at 1,000+ calories! If you go with beer, be sure to opt for lighter styles since darker beers also tend to have more calories. Consider, too, that when you’re splitting a pitcher, it’s hard to eyeball how much you’re actually downing at a time. Go for light beer (there are actually some good ones that don’t taste like water) to increase volume and cut about a quarter of the calories.
Budweiser Select 99 calories, 0 g fat, 3.1 g carb
Miller Lite 96 calories, 0 g fat, 3.2 g carb
Michelob Ultra 95 calories, 0 g fat, 2.6 carb
Amstel Light 95 calories, 0 g fat, 5 g carb
Beck’s Premier Light 64 calories, 0 g fat, 3.9 g carb
(all nutritional information based on a 12-ounce serving)
Hard Liquor: Go Easy
A one-ounce shot of hard liquor (80 proof) contains about 65 calories. The higher the proof, the higher the calories (100 proof has about 80 calories). When you figure most cocktails are made with 1.5 – 2 ounces, plus mixers like juice and soda (100 calories on average for 8 ounces), you’re looking at more than 200 calories. Gotta have your rum or whiskey? Use calorie-free mixers – club soda, diet tonic, diet soda – or order it on the rocks or reversed (e.g., club soda with a splash of vodka).
Vermouth 67 calories, 0 grams fat, 5.25 grams carb
Jack Daniels 96 calories, 0 grams fat, 0 grams carb
Smirnoff Red Label 96 calories, 0 grams fat, 0 grams carb
Don Julio’s Tequila 96 calories, 0 grams fat, 0 grams carb
Bacardi Superior 98 calories calories, 0 grams fat, 0 grams carb
Grey Goose Vodka 103.5 calories, 0 grams fat, 0 grams carb
Tanqueray’s Gin 114 calories, 0 grams fat, 0 grams carb
(all nutritional information based on a 1.5-ounce serving
Alcohol can still be a part of a healthy lifestyle, says White. To keep off a gut, try to drink in moderation – the recommended amount for men is 1-2 drinks daily (go over that, though, and the benefits are outweighed). And, increase cardio to burn off the excess drink calories (e.g., one glass of wine equals 30 minutes of walking or 15 minutes of jogging). Adds White: “You can still have a six-pack and drink alcohol.” We’ll drink to that.
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