There are two times in a person's life when we are almost guaranteed to gain 10-15 lbs of unwanted weight. The famous "Freshman Fifteen" and the "Holiday Season." When we consider all the family get togethers, and various work holiday parties, each event can quickly add 1,500 calories to your daily caloric intake! Between the various meals with ham, turkey, stuffing and all the fixings, then the finger foods, pizza, cookies at parties, calories and body fat can quickly accumulate. Now add alcohol and we have even more calories and lower cognitive control over our nutrient intake. As I have always said, it comes down to "choosing the lesser of the evils." In general, hard liquor and cocktail drinks tend to have more calories than a glass of beer or wine, but having one cocktail or multiple drinks can easily add up to a meal.
Let’s take a look at some popular seasonal choices for alcoholic beverages: Eggnog One cup of eggnog (250 ml) contains 160-290 calories and a shot of spirits adds about another 60 calories. Wine Red and white wine have about the same amount of calories, 121-125 calories per 5-ounce glass. Dessert wines tend to have more calories: A 3.5-ounce glass, for instance, has about 165 calories. Beer Among the popular non-light beers on the market, a 12-ounce bottle of Corona Extra (148 calories, 14 g of carbs and 4.6% alcohol by volume) is the “lightest” pick. Samual Adams Boston Lager comes in second with160 calories, 18 g of carbs and 4.8% alcohol content; Bass Ale ties with 160 calories, 13 g of carbs, but a higher 5.5% alcohol content; and George Killian’s Irish Red a close third with 163 calories, 14 g of carbs, and 4.9% alcohol content. Better for your waistline are the following two “light beers”: Beck’s Premier Light with 64 calories, 4 g of carbs and 3.8% volume of alcohol and Michelob ULTRA, which has 95 calories, 2.6 carbs and 4.1% volume of alcohol. Amstel Light, which packs 99 calories, 5.5 g of carbs and 3.5% volume of alcohol, is a true alternative to Amstel’s heavyweight Cream Stout. Hard Liquor and Cocktails = Hard to Burn Calories When it comes to hard liquor, a 1.5-ounce glass of 53-proof Kahlua has 170 calories, which is only 10 calories shy of a whole wheat Krispy Kreme doughnut! A frozen margarita made with 2 ounces of tequila, 4.5 ounces of Jose Cuervo margarita mix, and salt will set you back about 246 calories, the equivalent of a 4-ounce serving of Baskin-Robbins Cherries Jubilee ice cream. A 12-ounce serving of Rum and Coke will set you back 361calories, or those packed in Carl’s Jr. Charbroiled BBQ Chicken Sandwich. A 2-ounce Martini, made with Gin and dry Vermouth, has 119 calories; a 2.1-ounce serving of a Manhattan, made with Whiskey, Vermouth and Bitters, has 132 calories. This makes these two “Ms” the low-calorie cocktail drink alternative. It's easy to lose track of calories we consume from our beverages. Enjoy the holiday season with family and friends, try to limit the alcohol caloric intake, and stay active! Your waist will thank you, your family will thank you for not drinking to much and acting like a crazed lunatic, and you will be able to remember all the holiday memories which make this time of year special! Oh, and for the record, I'm not saying you're all a bunch of raving alcoholics! ha ha : ) *information compiled from sparkpeople.com
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Josh McCabeAs a Personal Trainer, I am here to help you live the healthiest life style possible! This includes eating habits, workouts and just living well! Ask questions, share ideas and cheer one another on! Categories |
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