I have cut alcohol from my diet successfully for about 2.5 months. I am wondering how much is ok? I have heard red wine is good for you, but they are saying the same thing about chocolate.

I have been craving a glass of red wine, but thus far have not caved in.

Wondering what every one else's thoughts are.

From what I have read that 1 glass of wine(5 oz) is anywhere between 90-150 calories per glass. You can check out the basics here. Hope this helps in your decision.

Which is comparativly low-cal, if you look at something like beer.

Red wine is fine. Avoid beers, but a glass of red / white wine is OK, although it is important you don't drink more than 2 glasses a day.

I love wines and I drink about 3-4 glasses a week. On special occassions I do drink more than that, but rather that than pop or beer.

Remember that alcohol WILL impede on your metabolism. The calories are low, but if you have alcohol in your system, you tend to burn less calories. I would say a glass of wine every once in a while is not a problem, but you have to keep all of the factors in mind when chosing to do so. ENJOY!

What about liqour.. is it the same effects? I enjoy a good scotch oe bourbon whiskey.. straight or with water on the rocks... NEVER with cola or any other sweetened mixes...

Same effect as far as the burning?

You can drink 1 cup of wine during meals (the 2 main ones) If the wine has good quality = good health.
A lot of studies have concluded that wine has antioxidants.. (i don't know if it is writen that way) wich avoid free radicals, besides they increase your levels of HDL and block lipoproteins of forming (molecules made of proteins and fats) reducing the probability of a heart stroke. These substances are found in greater quantities in RED wine. Besides if you drink it at night it will give a more restfull sleep.
For even extra benefits enjoy it with someone.

There was a tv segment on the calories in cocktails the other day that was horrifying. Biggest surprise for me is that alcohol has more calories in it than most of the sugary stuff used as mixers. Standard frozen margarita? youre looking at 700+ calories a serving!
If you drink, wine is a good option, and cocktail wise keep it simple and diet (vodka and diet tonic is my favorite, only about 80 cal)

bacardi diet coke for 52 cals you can't go wrong

last night i went out to the bars with friends after work...and i really didn't want to kill my diet with alcohol...

i mentioned that i was probably going to get a glass of wine...but they all kinda joked around with me like i was acting like a girl...

so i ended up with a jack and diet coke instead... i figure one glass couldn't hurt as much if i'm dancing it off anyway all night long! haha

I'm suprised that people tend to attribute eating healthy, and being active to being ascetic. If I couldn't have a few drinks and a smoke once and a while I would probably go insane. Everything in moderation, especially moderation.

Now when I see my dad once or twice a year I will kick back sip some fine single malt and smoke a fine cigar. All in all the time with my dad is worth it. Am I going to do that every weekend? Naaa already tried it and it landed me where I am at now.

yeah, but, Bacardi and Diet Coke (I hear it's called the Skinny B*tch in the SF Bay Area) is GROSS!! I've tried it a few times...just can't do it. Vodka Diet Coke is somewhat more tolerable.

Bottom line, though, I have to agree with Simon G: It's all about the moderation.

Interesting topic for discussion... I have always to know more the specifics.

I always wonder: folks in the UK guzzle down their beer in pints but many do manage to maintain a good physique.

Is it just that many have a better metabolism rate? How would a person classify what is the right amount of alcohol?

And it is a bit difficult to be drinking wine when people around the table are guzzling down the beers!

But, this is a good wake up call - stay away from the barley stuff. Else, the hardwork of pumping it out in the gym is just a waste of time!

But beer is so tasty Harish !!



I agree, beer is the devil's drink... But bitter drinks like Guiness or real ale don't spike insulin very much, so in small doses are probably better for you than things like alcopops or mixer + coke...

I think if you look at Asians and most Europeans you will find they walk and bicycle a LOT more than the average American. I say this because I grew up in Spain and England, I have also worked in Central Asia. They might not see it as "working out" but it is physical activity.

When I visited my folks last fall in Japan I probably did more walking in those 10 days than I had in the previous 2 months.

Just a thought.

that's it. no more beer for me even if it comes in light.

What about rum + diet coke?

what a weird first and only post..

As it has already been said, moderation is really the key. If you like your beer, there is nothing wrong with that, just don't drink a six-pack everyday - especially if you want a "six-pack" some day.

For me, it is about trade-offs. I have given up cheese and mayo, but I will not give up my beer. I run, bike, weight train and do krav maga almost every day of the week.

And I drink beer ... mmm sweet beer.

Bumping this thread because managing my alcohol consumption is a pretty critical component of my fitness strategy at the moment.

The impact alcohol has on me is twofold: for one, the extra (and nutritionally empty) calories don't do me any good, and alcohol is converted to acetate, which the body has to burn for energy before it digs into my fat stores. Second, my strong will tends to melt away after two drinks, and after four drinks, the odds of me hitting the weights the next day decrease significantly.

The challenge, of course, is that I love beer (and scotch, and vodka). And, being 27, the favored social activity is drinking.

Lately, I've had success by ordering one very expensive drink (e.g. a martini), which gives me a resaonable buzz and depletes my budget for the night. Seems I respond better to self-imposed pressure to manage finances than weight.

Another trick that helps is to order a dark or opaque bottle of beer and hang on to it even after it's empty. Somehow, just having the bottle in hand lessens the implicit social pressure to have a drink. (You ever notice how strange it is to have empty hands when everyone around you is holding a beer?)

So how does everybody else manage their consumption? What do you say to friends when they observe a dramatic change in your consumption habits, or when you decline another drink? How many drinks per day (or week) do you budget?