People who control their daily calorie count may not consider alcohol as a serious factor. It's a mistake because even a few drinks after a tough day will make the difference surpassing the daily rate by far. It doesn't mean you will get fat or gain extra kilos after a few glasses of wine. However, it will make it more difficult to achieve your goal of getting fit, gaining clean muscle mass, or staying in shape. For example, if you add alcoholic drinks to your weight maintenance meal plan, it will slow down the progress and force you to give more effort to keep the numbers on the scale the same.
Does it mean you should quit alcohol completely? Absolutely not! One of the options is to switch to low-calorie alcohol drinks. How to choose them? Do they have significant differences from classic drinks? Let's get down and talk about low calorie alcoholic drinks in the context of dieting.
Why Quitting Alcohol Is Not an Option?
If a smoker decides to quit, it won't happen immediately. The person will do it slowly, reducing the number of cigarettes per day, and replacing cigarettes with snacks, chips, or something similar. The same thing happens to those who drink alcohol. If a man who prefers to have a beer after a shift is banned from having this option, it will lead to destructive consequences. Stress, desire, and other factors will make people consume even more alcohol to avoid stress...by drinking more beer.
If alcohol is a crucial factor stopping you from implementing a low-calorie, diet, you have to remove it slowly. The main factor to consider is to slowly reduce the calorie intake while the energy use remains the same. For example, if you enjoy wine with your dinner, consider replacing it with low-calorie wine. You will not struggle because of the bad taste, but your body will feel the difference.
This table represents low-calorie alcohol drink options, showcasing the alcohol percentage and the amount of calories per 100 ml.
Gin and Tonic
A classic combination for bars. Tonic water, originally made with high amount of fructose, makes a perfect balance with gin. At the same time, tonic makes big difference in the calorie count, and if you want to keep up with this drink, consider making it lighter, so it will have lower calories per serving.
People consider lowest-calorie alcoholic drinks not as good as classic, but this works only if you don't know how to mix them.
The best option is to use club soda or seltzer. These drinks are calorie-free, but at the same time they deliver the same level of taste. Your cocktail won't get worse, but you will keep the calorie count low. Standard serving of gin and tonic is about 97 calories. It may not look impactful, but if you need to drop weight, and every calorie matter, you have to consider everything you consume.
Light Beer Instead of Dark Beer
The main difference between these two types of beer is not only in color and taste. The major point you should focus on is the calorie count per serving. The difference always depends on the specific product you choose. If you are not sure whether the specific drink matches your preferences, check the label.
However, light beer is not a major component of a well-balanced diet. If you want to drop weight, eat clean, and get tasty food, it's essential to have a properly balanced meal plan. Our weight loss meal plan will surprise you with a huge variety of options to choose from. You can get a plan for a month and stop worrying about cooking and timing of eating. We deliver daily portions in the morning, so you will have a full set, knowing the order of your meals and the exact calorie count for each one.
Vodka Soda - Unexpected Combo
The stronger your drink is, the less you can consume. This statement is true, especially if we remember that alcohol dehydrates the body. That's why people often mix it with sparkling water to establish balance. You can try this formula by mixing soda and vodka. Most calories come from alcohol while soda is light and makes no big difference for the body. You`ll have around 80 calories per one drink.
Tequila and Fresh Citrus Juice
Your friends come to your place, and you want to have a smooth drink? Don't search for the lowest-calorie alcoholic drinks. Instead, get yourself a serving of tequila with fresh citrus juice. Such a combo looks unusual, mostly because people used to drink tequila with salt and lime. Mixing two ingredients in a 2-ounce glass, it will give you only 128 calories per serving.
How to Manage Alcohol if You Are on a Diet?
Here are some good tips about managing alcohol intake when you are on a diet. These simple steps will help you control yourself and avoid overcommitments.
Set a comfortable amount of alcohol and moderate it. 1-2 drinks after a shift is a comfortable amount.
In a bar, choose low-calorie alternatives over classic drinks.
Drink water when drinking alcohol to avoid dehydration. If you drink in the evening, this habit will help you feel comfortable in the morning.
Consume alcohol with protein and healthy fats to maintain blood sugar and keep your metabolism on the same speed.
Don't fast. If you drink at night, consider having a well-balanced breakfast next morning. Your body will receive the needed amount of energy, making you feel comfortable. Do this even if you drink low-calorie cocktail.
It's not rocket science that you can drink alcohol and still lose weight. You just need to know your limits and adapt your diet to these limits.
Monitor Your Body Activity
Applying the same diet to different people is difficult for multiple reasons. The main reason is that every person is different, having different metabolism, calorie intake, preferences, etc. Vegans won't eat the same food as people who prefer a carnivore diet.
The same works with alcohol. Somebody will feel uncomfortable after consuming a single shot while others won't see any changes after drinking several cocktails, so they don't feel like taking less alcohol than usual. That's why it's essential to monitor yourself and notice changes. The older we get, the more changes our body faces.