Dieting is a common approach for people looking to lose weight, but many who have tried it will say it’s challenging to pull off. Much of it involves reducing your consumption of certain foods and drinks, including alcohol. Drinking alcohol has long been known to affect your weight and how you burn calories, and if you’re on a diet, it’s usually considered a big no-no. However, modern approaches to weight loss emphasize that you don’t need to cut off anything from your diet; moderation and balance is the key. This means alcohol isn’t off-limits, but there are ways to manage your drinking without impacting your diet or weight loss journey. Here are four tips for enjoying alcohol when on a diet:
Choose your drinks wisely
All alcoholic beverages will impact your health somehow, especially if you drink a lot and drink frequently. However, some drinks have more health benefits than others, and opting for these choices can still make for a good experience without severely affecting your diet. Red wine and weight loss has always been associated with one another. Resveratrol, a polyphenol in grape skin, helps prevent the formation of new fat tissue. It regulates blood sugar, reduces cancer risk, and promotes heart health. One five-ounce glass for women and up to two five-ounce glasses for men should be the maximum amount of red wine consumed daily; you’ll still reap the benefits even with a reduced intake. Other types of alcohol, like beers and spirits, don’t have to be cut off from your diet, but their consumption should be more limited.
Use drinks as your “reward”
Dieting can be challenging, especially when you have to reduce your intake of your favorite foods and beverages. However, they don’t have to be off the table completely; instead, you can use them to reward yourself, which can help keep you going. Consider a small drink now and then as your motivation for weight loss. Celebrate milestones, like losing the first 10 pounds or finishing your first 5K. Of course, having a glass of wine or beer shouldn’t be your sole motivation for sticking to healthy habits, but it can make the journey more satisfying and rewarding. Caring for yourself doesn’t have to be a chore; it can be enjoyable when you celebrate your wins by doing something you enjoy as a treat. While rewarding yourself with a drink can be helpful when dieting, you shouldn’t go overboard once you’ve hit your milestones. Limiting yourself to one or two drinks can still be satisfying without impacting your progress.
Make your drinks at home
When drinking at restaurants or bars, you’re more in the dark about the kinds of ingredients put into your alcoholic drinks. If you want more control over what you consume, you can make some of your favorite beverages at home. Many healthier options for alcoholic drinks are low in calories and sugar and are easy to make in your kitchen. Vodka soda is one example; all you need for this drink is vodka and soda water, and the calories amount to around 133 in a standard 7.5-ounce serving. Squeezing lemon or lime juice in it also gives it an extra vitamin C boost. The vodka in it also increases leptin—a hormone that body fat releases—which helps regulate body weight by promoting the feeling of fullness. When you make your alcoholic drinks at home, you can customize them to your liking and avoid going overboard.
Have a plan
Dieting without a meal plan can make it significantly harder to stay on track. A detailed outline of your weekly meals can help you prepare your food in advance and stay motivated to stick to nutritious foods and drinks. Alcohol can also be included in your weekly plan; if you know you have a night out with friends on a Saturday or are visiting your family for the holidays, you can factor in the beverages you plan to consume those days. If you put down one cocktail or two beers in your plan, aim to stick to that to keep you consistent with your diet while still allowing yourself to enjoy something fun.
About the author
Cathy is one of blacktialnyc.com founders. As an owner of multiple bars in the last 17 years, Cathy brings her experience into her writings, to educate our tasty readers.
