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Watching Your Weight at the Bar

Posted July 8, 2008 at 02:00 PM by Martinique Haller

Section: Her Nutrition, Weight Control

Drinking doesn’t have to do you in.  Yes, many drinks have more calories than you bargain for, but that doesn’t mean you have to be a tight-lipped teetotaler or a dieting die-hard.  There are a few simple things you can do to keep an evening at the bar enjoyable enough that you don’t wake up with regrets (about what you drank anyway) the next morning. The most important thing is to be honest with yourself about your goals.  Do you want to put a number cap on your calories? Do you want to loosen up and not stress so much about what you put in your body? Are you sick of your old drink and want something new to keep you entertained and on track? You set the goals - there is no right way to eat or drink, just make sure you’re honest with yourself and that you set yourself up for success to achieve your goals.

If you want to watch the calories here are some good suggestions:

If you like beer, stick with light beer. Sure, some people say light beer is really just beer-flavored water, but there are a few brands that are pretty good. I like Sam Adams light, maybe you like Amstel Light or MGD Light. Experiment with different light beers until you find one that suits you.  You could also start with your favorite beer and then switch to light beers after that first one. Beer isn’t going to push you over the edge unless you drink a lot of it, so if you want your old standby and you’re only going to have one or two - then go for it.

Switch from tonic to soda water.  The ‘tonic’ in your gin and tonic or vodka tonic isn’t any lighter than coke.  Don’t get fooled by its lack of color.  If you switch to soda water, you’re really only drinking liquor (as far as calories and sugar are concerned).  When I get soda water, I usually get an extra lime and better liquor because I know I’m going to taste it more.

Be tough; get your liquor on ice.  Save calories and impress your dates when you tell the bartender confidently, “Whiskey on the rocks.”

Go slowly. Sometimes if I’m in for a long night of drinking I’ll rotate my cocktails with soda water and lime in a rocks glass. I’m not afraid that my pals will know I’m drinking water, but when it feels like a grown-up beverage I feel like I haven’t quit the party.

If you must get a fruity cocktail, by all means get one! My advice, however is not to drink them all night. Start off with your margarita or pina colada and then switch to something that won’t make you so sick with sugar overload. Those are the drinks that set both your waistline and your wallet back.

What are your suggestions for sticking to your healthy-living or weight-loss goals during a night of drinking? Leave them in the comments below.

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Tags: bars, beer, cocktails, drinking, martinique haller, weight loss

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