Does Booze Make You Fat

Does booze make you fat? Survey says...YES. Did I just date myself with that reference? Hoping most of you got that. Ok, moving on. Yes. Alcohol is a major offender when it comes to weight loss and frankly imbibing too often is extremely detrimental to your health in general.

Now some of you may be screaming “hypocrite” right now because you have seem me joke about wanting booze on my social media, but that is because I think of alcohol as a treat food that I partake in very occasionally. And this is because...I say again, booze makes you fat. It’s very high in empty calories with little to no nutrient content for most liquor, with the exception of red wine and beer. Alcohol also destroys will power, often leading you to overeat. Worse, studies have shown that alcohol suppresses fat metabolism by as much as 70%. It contributes to unwanted fat storage too, because when you drink alcohol, it’s broken down into something called acetate, which your body will burn before anything else. All other extra calories will be stored as fat.

Now, I know you aren’t going to give up booze entirely, and I wouldn’t ask you to. I’m not a total monster. So let’s talk about how to do it intelligently and successfully. First rule of thumb is to limit your intake to two drinks a week. Pick a night, make it your wild one, and have up to two drinks. If you are thinking you won’t “catch a buzz” you’re wrong. The less you drink, the lower your tolerance. When you don’t drink much or often, two drinks should do the job.

When you do drink, choose the following:

• Red Wine – Moderate on the calorie scale and loaded with antioxidants and health benefits. For example, the resveratrol in red wine can help prevent damage to blood vessels, reduce "bad" cholesterol and prevent blood clots.
• Dark Beer – Moderate on the calorie scale, loaded with antioxidants and flavonoids this beverage is also good for heart health.
• Clear Alcohol – These must be consumed straight, on the rocks, or with calorie-free mixers, like tequila on the rocks with a splash of lime, or vodka and soda water.

If you are thinking the above recommendations are no fun and you want your Sunday morning Bloody Mary or your Friday night margarita, think about how fun fat is. It’s not. You really get into trouble with alcohol when you start adding the sugar-laden mixers in with the booze. And though I want you to be grateful that I’m letting you have two drinks a week, even if they aren’t fun ones, I’m not a total bitch. Here are a few slimmed down versions of common cocktails, in case you just can’t live without one:

Slim Colada – 160 Calories

• 2 oz. Skyy Infusions Coconut
• 2 oz. club soda
• Splash pineapple juice
• Squeeze of lemon

Mix all ingredients with ice and serve in a highball glass.

Slimmojito - 140 Calories

• 2 oz. of white rum
• 12 mint leaves muddled in a glass
• 1 tsp. Truvia sweetener
• 1 oz. fresh lime juice
• 3 oz. club soda

Mix all ingredients with ice and serve in a highball glass.

Slimmerita - 150 calories

• 1½ oz. Milagro 100% agave Tequila, Silver
• ½ oz. Patron Citronge Orange Liqueur (or substitute with pomegranate juice)
• 4-5 oz. Sparkling Natural Lemon or Lime-Flavor Mineral Water (Trader Joes has a good one)
• Squeeze of lime

Mix all with ice and serve in a tall glass.