Not-so-dinky drinkies
Which has fewer calories, sweet sparkling champagne or a stiff, tart gin & tonic?
This was the question posed over at FitSugar, and out of 204 votes, only half got it right (did you?)
It turns out, the fizzy stuff will only set you back 85 calories (and about $3 if you buy the stuff I like), whereas the hard alcohol costs twice as much, calorically-speaking - 170 calories. Though the lime wedge will ensure you don't get scurvy.
As the weekend begins and you get dressed up to hit the town (or perhaps are planning a 4th of July blowout, complete with vodka-soaked watermelon), remember that alcohol calories are empty calories. I'll never forget a nutritional sciences professor in college telling us "Drinking alcohol is like drinking liquid fat." Ew. I think she was using a scare tactic designed specifically for University of Wisconsin-Madison students, as we had been ranked the number 1 most binge-drinkingest school that year (or something to that effect) but in a away, she was right: Carbs and protein have four calories per gram, fat has nine calories per gram and alcohol lingers in the middle (but a wee bit closer to the pudge) at seven calories per gram.
So you might as well get something out of it. Try this fabulous White Wine Sangria from Women's Health, which gets a whole bunch of polyphenols and other antioxidants from green apples, pears, oranges, pineapple, plums and watermelon. Mmmm, it is barely noon and I could throw back a pitcher right now.
Remember, pina coladas can hide up to 400 calories and a hot mess of fat in their creamy goodness. Frozen margaritas are up there, too, so if you're going to imbibe, try one on the rocks - you'll look like less of a tourist, too.
Or drink water. As we learned from my last post, we KNOW that's calorie-free!
Enjoy your weekend,
Leslie
xxoox
Comments
As a former member of the drinking society, I am so glad that this is one thing I no longer have to worry about.
I agree, Tami. Thank goodness I don't have to worry about alcohol and it's 'effects' since I really don't like to drink anyway. Sometimes I wish I drank and that was the reason I had a few pounds to shed (well, more than a few), at least then it would be easier to just cut out the alcohol and see the results on my waistline. But nooooo, I had to pick food! Delicious, chewy, satisfying food! Damn you, bagels and chocolate and calamari! Why must you be so delicious?
On a different note, my husband is a cancer survivor and he said when he was on chemo, he had no desire to eat because it pretty much killed his taste buds and eliminated his appetite. So it makes sense to have some kind of a pill (maybe) out on the market that would suppress your taste buds from doing their thing. Is there such a thing? I've heard about using mouthwash right before eating and since it would make the food taste funny, you'd eat less of it. I dunno, I'm just rambling now. GGBacktoWork!
All you suggest sounds fabulous, Lisa! Sangria sounds fab. Not much of a drinker. I have a natural high. Love that mouthwash suggestion from mia. If I tried that at every meal, I'd never eat again or gain another pound, but the urge for something decadent would still be there. What's a girl to do?!
Sorry, Leslie. I know you are not Lisa. I just left a comment for someone named lisa on another blog. hee. hee.
Oh dear Lord! This makes me never want to drink again...although I know that will never happen!
I will stick with beer...
I will stick with beer...
As Tom Robbins once said..."better to have a little of something no good for you, than too much of something good for you"
As Tom Robbins once said..."better to have a little of something no good for you, than too much of something good for you"
a vodka drinker. 2 max. bad for weight watchers. can you tell me
a vodka drinker. 2 max. bad for weight watchers. can you tell me
