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How to Get Drunk Without Getting Fat

2018-01-15 Claire L. Squire ShanghaiWOWeng


If you’re anything like me, as mid January approaches, you’re finding your new years resolutions to ‘get heroin chic’ slipping away fast. Shanghai is a city full of temptation in the form of late night chao mian and unpronounceable cocktails. So, if you find your new year resolutions flailing in the gutter on Donghu Lu on a Saturday night, then have no fear, I have a suggestion for you. Instead of chucking the healthy eating/drinking plan out of the window entirely, just swap your pina colada for a low calorie option! And bobs your uncle, you can be rolling in the gutter without dragging your resolutions down there with you.


(Because obviously giving up drinking is not a reasonable suggestion)



Fun fact: 1 gram of alcohol has 7 calories, compared to only 4 calories for a gram of carbohydrates or protein.


So how do you choose what to drink?


All booze is pretty calorie heavy, but some drinks are worse than others and unfortunately cocktails are not your friend. Calories add up even more quickly for mixed drinks than for beer and wine. A standard 1.5 ounce serving of 80-proof alcohol (vodka, whiskey etc) has 96 calories before you even get to the mixers. A 6-ounce serving of orange juice has 84 calories, but add a shot of vodka to make it a screwdriver, and the calories more than double.



Higher the proof, higher the calories.


Whether you're drinking a beer or a martini, the higher the alcohol content, the higher the calories, For example:


  • 80-proof vodka (40% alcohol; the most common type) has 64 calories per 1oz

  • 86-proof vodka (43% alcohol) has 70 calories/1 oz

  • 90-proof vodka (45% alcohol) has 73 calories/1 oz

  • 100-proof vodka (50% alcohol) has 82 calories/1 oz


How many calories in wine?


Most glasses of wine contain 125-150 calories, but that can double depending on the size of the glass and how full it is. At cocktail or dinner parties, glasses are often refilled before empty, making it especially hard for dieters to track their alcohol and calorie consumption. And in Shanghai there aren’t standard measures in bars like in many countries. This means you should err on the side or caution and assume it’s in the 150 cal range.



How many calories in beer?


Beer can range from 64-198 calories per 12 ounces. Light beers are a better choice because they contain the same amount of alcohol as regular beers but fewer carbohydrates, and we all hate carbs.


5 Tips to Curb Alcohol Calories


So how do you keep those calories in alcoholic drinks from adding up so quickly? Here are our three top tips!



1.Alternate alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks to save calories. 


Have an alcoholic drink and then a soft drink, something like a soda water with lime. Looks just like a gin and tonic but it’s zero calories. This means you will potentially half your calorie intake and your head will thank you in the morning because you’re staying hydrated. 


2.Choose wine, light beer, or simple cocktails made with low-calorie mixers.


Get picky when it comes to ordering. Get a light beer, or swap your rum and coke for a rum and diet coke. Seems simple but can be hard to remember when you’re a few drinks deep.


3.Skip the mixer altogether.



Just have your drink on the rocks and skip out the middle man altogether. Get a nice vodka, tons of ice and ask for a slice of cucumber. Delicious, and it makes you look hard core.


Some mixers that won't pack on the pounds include:


  • Diet soda or diet tonic: 0 calories

  • Orange juice (6 oz): 84 calories

  • Cranberry juice cocktail (8 oz): 136 calories

  • Light orange juice (8 oz): 50 calories

  • Light cranberry juice (8 oz): 40 calories

  • Light lemonade (8 oz): 5 calories

  • Black Coffee or tea: 0 calories

  • Lemon or lime juice (1/2 oz): 10 calories



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