So, you’ve been working out, dieting, and doing your best to get into shape. You’re seeing good progress and loving how you feel. Then the phone rings. It’s your best friend who just wants to get out, listen to some music, and have a few drinks. You could use a few drinks too, but are hesitant because of your diet and how well you’re doing. Do you go?
As the 5and2Guy, my premise is to focus and be disciplined on health and diet Monday @wake up time to Friday @5pm. But then on the weekend, be a little more lose and live a little. We all need a break sometimes from the disciplines and monotony of life. With that in mind, despite my commitment to my diet and health, I will have a few drinks on the weekend, just to loosen up a bit.
The problem is that going out and drinking can really pack on the pounds. So I did a little research and came across alpha.m.’s YouTube video: Drink AND Get SIX PACK ABS! 4 BEST Alcoholic Drinks That WON’T Make You FAT! Here are 4 drinks recommended from his video:
1. Straight Liquor
Most of the pounds from drinking occur from the extra carbs and sugars we add to our drinks. To avoid this, you could drink liquor straight or on the rocks. Liquors like vodka, rum, bourbon, and scotch take a certain level of experience and palette to pull off but can surely help you keep the carbs and sugars down. Time to man up!!!
2. Use a No-Calorie Mixer
If you can’t dink liquor straight, try a no-calorie mixer like club soda or a zero-calorie soda like Diet Coke, Sprite Zero, or Diet Ginger Ale. These can take the bite out of straight liquor without adding any additional calories. Also throw in a twist of lemon or lime to give the drink a bit more flavor.
3. Light Beer
Okay, so Light Beer may not come off as the manliest drink, nor will it pack the punch of liquor, but it will help you keep the calories down. One Light Beer has about 100 calories and 5 grams of carbs, Not too bad. The problem here is that you have to drink quite a few to feel anything and you eventually end up feeling bloated. Maybe that’s not a bad thing for a once in a while night on the town.
4. Red Wine
Ah, to have a nice glass of red wine with dinner. Personally, I prefer white wines over red, but if you want some alcohol with a low number of calories and carbs, then Red Wine is the way to go. A 5-ounce glass of Red Wine has about 120 calories and 3.5 grams of carbs. Red Wine may not be as effective as the straight liquor, but it has a higher alcohol content than Light Beer without the bloating feeling.
The Takeaway
Will alcohol have a negative impact on your diet? Well, that depends. If you primarily drink these four recommended drinks, occasionally go out, and don’t get so drunk that you start eating everything in sight, you’ll be fine. But if you’re drinking lots of sugary, carb-heavy drinks, going out on the town regularly, and eating everything in sight, then your diet will pay the price.
The key is to reduce as many carbs and sugars as you possibly can and don’t make going out and drinking something you do all the time. Drinking alcohol tends to lower our inhibitions. And when that happens, the sugary drinks, sweets, and bar foods have an open door to wreak havoc on our health. Make good choices, have a plan, and be careful.
***Note that drinking alcohol comes with an inherent number of risks, too many to list here. Before drinking alcohol, you want to make sure you are healthy (consult with a doctor) and you have a safe ride home. Make sure you have someone there who can look out for you and you’re in a safe place. There are more scarier things out in bars than carbohydrates!!!
You can view alpha.m.’s video here on YouTube: