Dieting? Best and Worst Alcohols To Drink While Trying To Lose Weight

Getting in shape for bikini season or wedding season in the summer is so hard in the Treasure Valley with the constant temptation of rooftop bars, beers at the lake, etc!  Here's some guidelines on which drinks are the best to drink without wrecking your waistline and which ones you should stay away from.

The Best

Dry wine, not sweet

When I started the program at Idaho Fat Loss, I was so bummed that I was going to have to give up alcohol for 40 days...but low and behold, certain dry wines were considered a fruit that I could enjoy once a week!  Pinot Grigio, Sauv Blanc, Cabernet and Merlot are all great options for dry wines.  According to experts these have about 100-150 calories less per glass than sweet wines.  Not to mention red wine packs some serious heart health benefits as well!

Club soda for Mixers

I have a bottle of club soda in the back of my fridge and I'm kicking myself for not knowing this cocktail hack! It's calorie free and bartenders say it goes really well with vodka or gin. Others mix it with their wine to make a spritzer and helps them enjoy it longer so they don't pick up another full glass of wine.  It also helps you keep you hydrated so you fend off that nasty hangover!

Light beer

I will force myself to like light beer.  I will force myself to like light beer.  As someone that's completed the Old Chicago World Beer Tour TWICE, this is a hard one for me, but light beers typically only pack 95-140 calories into a 12 oz seriving.  Some of the ones I've enjoyed since adopting the Idaho Fat Loss lifestyle include Miller Lite (96 calories,) Corona Lite (99 calories,) and Bud Lite (110 calories.)  My "splurges" have been Leinenkugle's Summer Shandy (130 calories) and 21st Amendment's Hell or High Watermelon (147 calories.)

Mimosas

Now that I know this, Mimosa Sunday is automatically returning to my routine! Experts say mimosas are a go because they contain equal parts of sparkling wine (Oh hey Cook's champagne) and orange juice. If you stick with a 100% orange juice like Simply Orange and avoid adding any additional sugars or sweeteners to it, a 4 oz mimosa would only cost you 75 calories for the day!

Straight Alcohol

Cocktails are awesome and refreshing when it's 103º in the Treasure Valley, but they often add tons of extra calories and sugars to your liquors.  This seems irresponsible of me to say, but opt for tequila shots instead of the margarita.  My Fitness Pal says a shot of Patron Silver only runs you 69 calories, while a TGIF Friday's BFM Margarita (made with Patron Silver) packs in 419 calories.

The Worst

Pina Coladas

A combination of rum, cream of coconut and pineapple juice, this is one of the worst combinations of calories, fat, and sugar clocking in at over 300 calories (in a 6oz serving).  Bartenders suggest a skinnier version with unsweetened coconut water instead of cream, rum and a splash of pineapple juice.

Long Island Iced Tea

Not only will this powerful cocktail put you on your butt from the alcohol percentage alone, it's mixture of rum, vodka, gin, tequila, and triple sec will cost you almost 700 calories in an 8 oz serving. And you do realize it doesn't contain any tea at all right? How about trying the alternative: unsweetened tea with vodka and a splash of lemon juice.

Margaritas & Daiquiris

Icy, fruity, and 500-700 calories. In one glass.  Is this worth the calorie allowence that you'd normally have in a whole healthy meal?  I vote no.  If you want to shave some cals off your daiquiri try combining fresh berries, rum, ice, and a few drops of Sweet Leaf liquid stevia (available at Whole Foods.)

White Russian

My poor boyfriend.  This is his FAVORITE drink but the cocktail of vodka, coffee liqueur, and heavy cream costs you 450 calories, says Miller.  A lighter option?  Chilled brewed coffee with fat free skim milk, vodka and ice.

Sangria

I went to the Wishes and Wine fundraiser with my boyfriend and his friends at Indian Creek Winery in Kuna.  The girls brought GALLONS of Sangria and it was good.  REALLY damn good, but I paid for it on the scale the next day.  The sugar syrups, table sugar and fruit juices in Sangria make the calories add up.  You're better off squeezing a lime in a glass of New Age white and calling it a day.