Healthy College Life!

I guess my biggest issue is figuring out the best exercises to do. Right now I currently do squats, lunges, crunches, aerobic steps, running, push-ups (the girly ones), and I do a dance dvd some. I just don't know what the best things are to do in order to get the best results! I can't afford a gym either, so it's gotta be all stuff I can do at home!

For example, 'light beer' may not be as "light" as you may have thought. A chart that lists dozens of brands of beer sold in the U.S. tells the number of calories, number of grams of carbohydrate, and percentage of alcohol in each. According to the chart, 12 oz. of regular Budweiser has 145 calories, but Bud Light has 110. Sierra Nevada Stout is the brand listed with the most calories, at 210 per 12 oz. In contrast, Miller Lite has only 96, and Michelob Ultra only 95 per 12 oz. serving. The beer on the list with the fewest calories is Molson Light at 82 calories per 12 oz.

What about wine, liquor and mixed drinks? The list does not name brands, but does list type. For wines, the chart compares calories for 4 oz. servings. Rose and dry white wines are the lowest in calories, while sherry and port are the highest. For spirits, Southern Comfort is at the high end at 180 calories per 1.5 oz. serving, while tequila, scotch, and 94 proof vodka, rum and whiskey weigh in at 115 calories per 1.5 oz serving.

Add mixers and the story changes: An 8 oz. gin and tonic has 180 calories; an 8 oz. margarita will have 250-350 calories; and a 12 oz. long island iced tea goes for a whopping 789 calories. So, if you're worried about counting calories, stay away from mixed drinks!

In addition to the calorie charts, the web page also includes these handy tips for reducing calorie intake when you're drinking:

* Try alternating alcoholic drinks with low calorie non-alcoholic drinks or water.
* Ask for low calorie / diet mixers where possible.
* Make your wine into a spritzer (a longer drink), or your lager into a shandy - both have fewer calories.
* Substitute your "alcopop" for a shot of spirit and a low calorie mixer - about a quarter of the calories!
* Plan your alcohol into your daily calorie quota so you can enjoy a glass or two. If you know you will be drinking during the weekend, try to save some calories each day in advance, so you can eat normally before you go out.
* Don't be tempted to skip meals to allow for drinks, as alcohol won't satisfy your hunger. In fact, alcohol lowers blood sugar levels (it prevents sugar that is normally stored in the liver, as glycogen, from breaking down). A drop in blood sugar levels sends signals to the brain you are hungry. With alcohol in your system, willpower can go out of the window and the snack attacks kick in. Eating a proper meal before you go out will line your stomach and slow the rate at which alcohol absorbs into your bloodstream, keeping you in control of how much you eat and drink.

Here's the link to the page so you can look over the charts yourself: Caloric Values of Alcoholic Beverages - University of Rochester

And remember, if you drink, don't drive -- or fly!