Holiday Drinking

HARLEYzFIT

I have a lot of family and friend get togethers over the next few weeks and am looking for a low calorie drink. Any suggestions?

jrline

Vodka, Whiskey, Rum, and Gin each have only 80 calories per shot so mixing them with lemon juice can be a low calorie adult beverage

TimothyFish

My preference is Diet Dr. Pepper.

Whiskeytub

*Cracks knuckles* Glad you asked.
This is something I have been working on since I started my weight loss journey since I love drinking and I refuse to give it up, ever. Here are your options in descending order with pros, cons, and tips:

1) Straight liquor.
A good whiskey or scotch, gin with a twist of lime, a fine tequila with lemon - all good options. Most efficient abv/calorie ratio. 2oz is usually less than 150 calories. Pro: Most bang for your buck, and the strong taste can force you to sip it, making is last longer. Con: Some people don't like the taste of liquor. Some people do, and it's easy to get sloppy if you're not careful (especially if you're eating at a deficit). Tip: Drink slowly and keep refilling your glass with ice, letting it melt as you sip. This will preserve the delicious alocohol flavor while allowing you to hold on to your drink for longer, giving you a nice friendly buzz that lasts for the evening without making you into that red-faced overly truthful relative who leans and breathes on everyone.
-Do not confuse liquor with liqueur - liqueurs are much sweeter and contain massively more calories than liquors do.

2) Cocktails.
Be careful with these - mixers can pack a lot of calories, as can sugary liqueurs like Kahlua, Drambuie and schnapps. Opt for club soda and citrus twist rather than juices or sugar sodas. If club soda bores you or isn't sweet enough, try using mostly the soda then cutting it with a small amount of ginger ale or tonic water. Angostura orange bitters also dress up a cocktail really nicely without adding much in the way of calories. Club soda, a teeny bit of ginger ale and bitters can be mixed with whiskey, gin, vodka or rum with delicious results.

3) Wine
At around 150 calories per 6oz, wine is not a bad option for the person who enjoys having a glass to sip on. Pro: You can make it last a while and it's got a decent abv/calorie ratio. Con: The spins.

4) Beer
Beer is terrible calorie-wise, but god help me, I love it. Most generic domestic beers are similar in calories with light beers being around 95 calories per 12 oz and non-lights about 150-180. Then you get into craft beers, where all the deliciousness is, and you really need to watch out. A nice high abv IPA can run anywhere from 180 to 300 calories per 12 oz. Stouts and Porters even more. Generally speaking, the darker and thicker the beer, the higher the calorie content. It is easy to rack up calories really fast by drinking beer. My best advice if you love beer but also want to get kind of drunk is to get a beer to nurse and a bourbon to drink on the side.

mommy2626

I need to remember this! As proven by this weekend-my drink of choice is tequila and limes. no mixers, never made me sick before, but now I am always drinking way too much and then sick as can be. Sooo, I need to remember to sip for a long time..... make it last lol!!

peachyfuzzle

Straight liquor, and Pepsi Max.

esjones12

Water....

randomtai

Check out http://getdrunknotfat.com/

cwolfman13

Bourbon on the rocks

Roxiegirl2008

I drink the flavored vodka and soda water. I love it! Of course be careful that can sneak up on you. Don't ask me how I know...lets just say my run the following day was less than impressive to me and the passer-by. HA

holly55555

My favorite are skinny margaritas. 100 cals each and taste better than the real thing, IMO, because it isn't as sweet.

That or just wine.

But honestly, moderate your drinking and it won't matter. I'm in my early 20s and drinking is added to every activity with friends. I moderate by only drinking on weekends/special occasions and it keeps my diet from going off the rails.

In example, last week, I went out with some girlfriends and ended up drinking a lot more than usual - as in, 1500 calories of just alcohol alone! That is what I eat in a day!

However, even though we were eating junk food that night - burgers, fries, etc, I still was careful about my portions so had I not been drinking, my food cals hit around 1500 still. I also ate really clean the entire week prior, including that day, so my calories were actually a little lower than my goal. My horrible binge night averaged out into only 400 calories extra over the course of the week. And again, this is not a typical thing for me at all, so it really doesn't even make a dent in my weight loss.

Just enjoy your parties and try not to stress out too much about it! As long as it's not a constant occurrence, it won't matter.

frksfrau

Whiskeytub wrote: »

*Cracks knuckles* Glad you asked.
This is something I have been working on since I started my weight loss journey since I love drinking and I refuse to give it up, ever. Here are your options in descending order with pros, cons, and tips:

1) Straight liquor.
A good whiskey or scotch, gin with a twist of lime, a fine tequila with lemon - all good options. Most efficient abv/calorie ratio. 2oz is usually less than 150 calories. Pro: Most bang for your buck, and the strong taste can force you to sip it, making is last longer. Con: Some people don't like the taste of liquor. Some people do, and it's easy to get sloppy if you're not careful (especially if you're eating at a deficit). Tip: Drink slowly and keep refilling your glass with ice, letting it melt as you sip. This will preserve the delicious alocohol flavor while allowing you to hold on to your drink for longer, giving you a nice friendly buzz that lasts for the evening without making you into that red-faced overly truthful relative who leans and breathes on everyone.
-Do not confuse liquor with liqueur - liqueurs are much sweeter and contain massively more calories than liquors do.

2) Cocktails.
Be careful with these - mixers can pack a lot of calories, as can sugary liqueurs like Kahlua, Drambuie and schnapps. Opt for club soda and citrus twist rather than juices or sugar sodas. If club soda bores you or isn't sweet enough, try using mostly the soda then cutting it with a small amount of ginger ale or tonic water. Angostura orange bitters also dress up a cocktail really nicely without adding much in the way of calories. Club soda, a teeny bit of ginger ale and bitters can be mixed with whiskey, gin, vodka or rum with delicious results.

3) Wine
At around 150 calories per 6oz, wine is not a bad option for the person who enjoys having a glass to sip on. Pro: You can make it last a while and it's got a decent abv/calorie ratio. Con: The spins.

4) Beer
Beer is terrible calorie-wise, but god help me, I love it. Most generic domestic beers are similar in calories with light beers being around 95 calories per 12 oz and non-lights about 150-180. Then you get into craft beers, where all the deliciousness is, and you really need to watch out. A nice high abv IPA can run anywhere from 180 to 300 calories per 12 oz. Stouts and Porters even more. Generally speaking, the darker and thicker the beer, the higher the calorie content. It is easy to rack up calories really fast by drinking beer. My best advice if you love beer but also want to get kind of drunk is to get a beer to nurse and a bourbon to drink on the side.

You weren't kidding when you stated you've been thinking about this. I think I am going with the Vodka w/ Diet Soda. But, I'm going for a good brand.
Best,
FrksFrau

holyfenix

80 proof liquor is 64 calories and 100 proof is 80 calories. My go to drinks are vodka with 7up 10 or rum with doctor pepper 10. Or straight shots of tequila/vodka.

GingerbreadCandy

Bookmarked. So much win in one post.

sjaplo

I don't drink any more or less over the holidays than I normally do.

Which is to say on average 36 - 48 oz of craft beer. It's food - track it accordingly.

thiswillhappen

Prosecco is actually not bad for calories! Get a nice dry one that's not too sweet. I drink it all the time these days! Also try swapping out every other drink with soda water and lemon wedge, it's a hangover helper, people think you're drinking something with booze in it so they don't pressure you or question you too much, AND you drink half the calories. Have fun!

GingerbreadCandy

Btw, supposed a pint of guinness contains less calories than the same amount of orange juice. Can anybody confirm/deny that?

Liftng4Lis

Bag the mixers, unless its diet.

GingerbreadCandy

Oh, just had a thought! For all ya beer lovers, you can always swap it with a Bavarian Radler. Which is a very refreshing drink made up by adding half a glass of lemonade to half a glass of blonde beer. (The dark beer version is called a Russn) If you want to go low cal you can swap the lemonade per lemon juice, some actually prefer it that way. If you really, REALLY want to cut the calories then you can swap it with sparkling water and a lemon wedge.

sheldonklein

Good beer is my great weakness. In general, american craft beers are very high alcohol, which means very high calorie. German beers, especially Weiss and kolsch beers, are much lower alcohol, as low or lower than macro brews. Of course, the lower alcohol has benefits apart from calories.

Charlottesometimes23

I like vodka and diet tonic or a cosmopolitan made from vodka, light cranberry and a splash of Cointreau shaken with ice. The mixers are basically 0 cals so it's just the cals of the spirits.

mpaulson89

Everyone in this post needs to add me. Ha i love drinking and have been trying to figure out better ways to drink since I refuse to give it up. Lately I've been drinking scotch or bourbon neat or a light beer.

terar21

Vodka soda water with lime juice. My preference is cranberry so I might do a splash of that instead.

civilizedworm

Disappointed. I thought this was an invite.

jodiemhorton

Whiskeytub wrote: »

*Cracks knuckles* Glad you asked.
This is something I have been working on since I started my weight loss journey since I love drinking and I refuse to give it up, ever. Here are your options in descending order with pros, cons, and tips:

1) Straight liquor.
A good whiskey or scotch, gin with a twist of lime, a fine tequila with lemon - all good options. Most efficient abv/calorie ratio. 2oz is usually less than 150 calories. Pro: Most bang for your buck, and the strong taste can force you to sip it, making is last longer. Con: Some people don't like the taste of liquor. Some people do, and it's easy to get sloppy if you're not careful (especially if you're eating at a deficit). Tip: Drink slowly and keep refilling your glass with ice, letting it melt as you sip. This will preserve the delicious alocohol flavor while allowing you to hold on to your drink for longer, giving you a nice friendly buzz that lasts for the evening without making you into that red-faced overly truthful relative who leans and breathes on everyone.
-Do not confuse liquor with liqueur - liqueurs are much sweeter and contain massively more calories than liquors do.

2) Cocktails.
Be careful with these - mixers can pack a lot of calories, as can sugary liqueurs like Kahlua, Drambuie and schnapps. Opt for club soda and citrus twist rather than juices or sugar sodas. If club soda bores you or isn't sweet enough, try using mostly the soda then cutting it with a small amount of ginger ale or tonic water. Angostura orange bitters also dress up a cocktail really nicely without adding much in the way of calories. Club soda, a teeny bit of ginger ale and bitters can be mixed with whiskey, gin, vodka or rum with delicious results.

3) Wine
At around 150 calories per 6oz, wine is not a bad option for the person who enjoys having a glass to sip on. Pro: You can make it last a while and it's got a decent abv/calorie ratio. Con: The spins.

4) Beer
Beer is terrible calorie-wise, but god help me, I love it. Most generic domestic beers are similar in calories with light beers being around 95 calories per 12 oz and non-lights about 150-180. Then you get into craft beers, where all the deliciousness is, and you really need to watch out. A nice high abv IPA can run anywhere from 180 to 300 calories per 12 oz. Stouts and Porters even more. Generally speaking, the darker and thicker the beer, the higher the calorie content. It is easy to rack up calories really fast by drinking beer. My best advice if you love beer but also want to get kind of drunk is to get a beer to nurse and a bourbon to drink on the side.

Well done... mayb I will switch to vodka and a low joule mixer... but I do love my wine and can never sip on it.

I find as well its the grog that will make me forget the diet just after 1 or 2 drinks. I tend to find the days I drink, I just forget my diet.. and exercise the day after. But then i really only drink every other week..

jkwolly

GingerbreadCandy wrote: »

Oh, just had a thought! For all ya beer lovers, you can always swap it with a Bavarian Radler. Which is a very refreshing drink made up by adding half a glass of lemonade to half a glass of blonde beer. (The dark beer version is called a Russn) If you want to go low cal you can swap the lemonade per lemon juice, some actually prefer it that way. If you really, REALLY want to cut the calories then you can swap it with sparkling water and a lemon wedge.

Stiegl Radler is good, but for only 2.5% alcohol (albiet 35 calories per 100ml), I'd rather have straight hard alcohol mixed with diet grapefruit pop! More bang for your buck

ORRRRRRR just red wine

UpEarly

GingerbreadCandy wrote: »

Btw, supposed a pint of guinness contains less calories than the same amount of orange juice. Can anybody confirm/deny that?

I can confirm that a 12 oz bottle of Guinness only has 125 calories. I never drink orange juice, but from skimming the database, the same amount of orange juice would have about 165 calories.

Dark beer doesn't always have more calories. It's the alcohol content and residual sugar that bring higher calorie counts. Like, a DIPA is going to have waaaaay more calories than a lot of standard stouts/porters.

jkwolly

UpEarly wrote: »

GingerbreadCandy wrote: »

Btw, supposed a pint of guinness contains less calories than the same amount of orange juice. Can anybody confirm/deny that?

I can confirm that a 12 oz bottle of Guinness only has 125 calories. I never drink orange juice, but from skimming the database, the same amount of orange juice would have about 165 calories.

Dark beer doesn't always have more calories. It's the alcohol content and residual sugar that bring higher calorie counts. Like, a DIPA is going to have waaaaay more calories than a lot of standard stouts/porters.

This.

Guinness is only 4.2% alcohol, hence why it's lower in calories.

katinachaos

Actually, most stouts are LOWER in calories than many ales.

http://www.craftbeer.com/craft-beer-muses/the-lighter-side-of-dark-debunking-the-myths-surrounding-dark-beer

http://www.muscleandfitness.com/nutrition/lose-fat/food-fight-lager-vs-stout

And the lower the alcohol content, generally, the lower the calories when it comes to many beers. Unless you're pounding imperial stouts, you're actually better off grabbing a few Guinness' and enjoying the full flavor than you are forcing down a few Michelob Ultras that are grody. (95 calories for the Michelob or 125 for the Guinness! Do a few squats while you're watching the foam cascade and you've broken even!)

dbmata

HARLEYzFIT wrote: »

I have a lot of family and friend get togethers over the next few weeks and am looking for a low calorie drink. Any suggestions?

Eggnog with brandy and bourbon.

kellienw335

My favorite is Captain Morgan and Diet Coke! It is only 92 calories for 2 oz and so yummy!