Holiday Survival Part 2

During the holidays alcohol tends to take on a more prominent role with toasts dedicated to health and prosperity, cocktail parties given in thanks and celebration,or wine on the menu of a holiday meal. Patients have begun to ask what to do especially when they have been abstinent during the time that they are dieting.

A few things to keep in mind regarding alcohol:
1) Calories. The calories of alcohol are considered “empty” calories as there is no nutritional value. Vitamins and minerals are not found in any sort of abundance that is for sure. The items used to mix drinks are also full of calories be it juice, soda, or syrup. In general carbohydrates make up the majority of the calories. A 12 ounce regular beer can have 150 calories and 12 grams of carbohydrates while 5 ounces of wine (red or white) will have about 120 calories and 5.5 grams of carbohydrates and a jigger of distilled spirits can have about 100 calories and no carbohydrates. It is this lack of carbohydrates in spirits that makes one ounce acceptable to Adkins' followers. The calorie and carbohydrate content only goes up when the drink contains juice, soda, syrup or other mix-in or garnish. Use of diet soda, sugar-free syrups, and ditching the spear of fruit can be small things to help with the calories and carbohydrates. There are recipes for low carb and low calorie drinks all over the web (see below).

2) Disinhibition. Lets face it, when we drink we lose our filter. While many dieters rely on their ability to say “No,” to diet-sabotaging foods, this becomes infinitely more difficult after just one drink. Why do you think “beer goggles,” have such a dubious honor? The Christmas cookie tray that was previously no big deal suddenly calls out to be eaten to even the most resolute dieter after a glass of Chardonnay and who can resist a Danish while drinking Mimosas?

3) Driving under the influence. The laws are variable from state to state but here in Arizona they are strict and during the holiday season, the police don't take days off. They have check-points set up to verify the sobriety and safety of drivers. Please do yourself a favor as well as potentially save a life...turn over your keys to a designated driver or take a cab if you do decide to drink.

So yes I skirted the question of, “Can you drink?” The answer is yes you can if you are of legal age and have the means to do so. Should you? That is up to you. I suspect that I will have one or two this season in celebration of the close of 2008 and for a healthy, prosperous and SKINNY 2009.

Sources:
www.calorieking.com
http://www.bellaonline.com/subjects/4101.asp
www.torani.com
http://phoenix.about.com/cs/crime/a/duidetails01.htm