Weight Loss Diet Plan Blog » Cooking

Which Alcoholic Drink is Best When You’re Dieting?

sheri — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 19:07:24 +0000

QUESTION: Dear Tom: If you are going to go out and have a drink or two with friends, which drink is the best when you’re on a fat loss program like BFFM? Would it be wine or a vodka mixed with soda? Is champagne better or worse than the other two?

ANSWER: The first thing I would suggest is that you ask a better question! The answers you get are only as good as the quality of questions you ask. “Which alcohol is best?” is not a very good question when your goal is to get leaner.

“Which alcohol is best” contains the presupposition that:

(A) that you ARE going to drink and
(B) a “good” choice exists.

What if ALL alcohol is a bad choice? what then?

If you asked, “How much damage would I do to my body and how much would I slow down my results if I drank during my fat burning program?” you might get a different feeling towards alcohol. This type of question presupposes that there WILL be a down side, it’s only a question of how bad it will be.

If you focus on the consequences of drinking, (like getting a beer gut), instead of how you can best “get away with it,” it may change your attitude. Then if you shift focus to the abs and lean body you want, and change your question to what is the best way to get great abs and a lean body, it will change your attitude and motivation even more.

I get asked about alcohol and fat loss a lot. Almost every time, I have a sneaking suspicion that the person asking the question is really just looking for me to give them “permission” to drink.

I’m not going to do that. Well, not exactly. But I do have 4 major guidelines I’d suggest you consider if you’re thinking about drinking:

[1] On fat loss programs, I don’t recommend drinking alcohol at all because alcohol suppresses fat oxidation and adds unnecessary calories to your diet, which either displaces nutritious calories or erases your caloric deficit.

[2] For lifelong maintenance, I recommend that if you choose to drink, that’s fine, but only if you do so in moderation (1-2 drinks a day is considered moderation according to most health authorities)

[3] I do not recommend daily drinking as part of a fitness lifestyle, because daily drinking can become habit forming. My recommendation is limit drinking to weekends, holidays and or special occasions.

[4] I recommend ALWAYS being cognizant of the calories that are added to your diet through alcohol and above all else know how many calories are in your drinks.

If someone really MUST know which alcohol is worst on a fat burning program, then it would be the one with the most calories. Conversely, the lesser of evils would be the drinks with fewer calories.

For example, that would mean choosing light beers over regular beers. Bass ale and Sam Adams lager both contain 160 calories per bottle. Guinness extra Stout packs 176 calories per bottle. (a bartender at an Irish pub once told me with a totally straight face that there were 1,000 calories in a Guinness… he really had me going for a minute).

By comparison, Amstel light contains only 99 calories, Michelob Ultra has 95 calories and Beck’s Premier Light has 64 calories (Beck’s pulled off that feat simply by lowering the alcohol content… I’ve never tried it, but I bet it tastes pretty watered down)

On a tangent, I think it’s a sin that light beers are marketed as low carb and advertised with diet and fitness images… but that will have to be a rant for another day…

Champagne has about 96 calories per 4 oz glass. White wine such as chardonnay has about the same caloric content as champagne.

Any pure distilled liquor will contain about 65 calories per fluid ounce at 80 proof. When mixed with other calorie containing liquids, the calorie count goes up. A 6 ounce screwdriver will give you about 130 calories. A whiskey sour about 169 calories. Rum and coke – 180 calories.

Naturally, mixed drinks may contain even more calories due to the sugar in the drink mixes. A margarita is one of the worst, with an 8-ouncer packing about 500 calories and a huge dollop of sugar!

A couple of those with your cheese nachos and enchiladas, refried beans, sour cream and guacamole, and you’ve just knocked back about two days worth of calories in one meal – calorie bomb city!

Fat loss is first and foremost a matter of calories in vs calories out, so the calorie counts are what you look at first.

If you wanted other criteria to judge the “best” alcoholic drink, you could also look at whether there is any health value, as in red wine, or whether there are any nutrients in the drink, such as what you might find in the vegetable juice of a bloody mary or the orange juice in a screwdriver.

However, I think that’s a pretty moot point when you consider the far superior way to get those same nutrients: eat whole vegetables and oranges.

The fact is, you can certainly get leaner while drinking, as long as you stay in a caloric deficit, but that doesn’t mean it’s the smartest thing to do for your body and your health.

Your friend and coach,

Tom Venuto
Fat Loss Coach
http://www.BurnTheFat.com

About the Author:

Tom Venuto is a natural bodybuilder, certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) and a certified personal trainer (CPT). Tom is the author of “Burn the Fat, Feed The Muscle,” which teaches you how to get lean without drugs or supplements using methods of the world’s best bodybuilders and fitness models. Learn how to get rid of stubborn fat and increase your metabolism by visiting: www.burnthefat.com

South Beach Diet Allowed Foods

sheri — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:42:38 +0000

There are literally hundreds of diet plans and programs gracing the weight loss market now days. Obviously it can be a challenge pinpointing one that actually works for you. Well, one thing you should know right off the bat is that it’s prudent to avoid all diets that involve questionable supplements. Unfortunately these oral capsules and tablets commonly contain high levels of caffeine and other stimulants. It’s important to realize that these diet drugs pull water off of the muscles and organs, which is unhealthy. On the other hand, there are some diet programs that simply involve eating wisely and working out. These are the ones that you should take more seriously. The South Beach Diet is one of these. The wonderful part is that the South Beach Diet allowed foods are ones that you actually want to consume, as opposed to other weight loss plans that do not let you eat!

Some of the South Beach Diet allowed foods are healthy fruits and grains, which are great for the body and digestive system. Like some other modern diet plans, the South Beach Diet places a focus on consuming lean proteins and keeping unhealthy carbohydrates to a minimum. Not that the South Beach plan doesn’t let you eat dessert as well. You are allowed to consume treats on the South Beach Diet. The only difference is that the recipes are already planned out and provided for you. This way you will not have difficulty keeping track of the South Beach Diet allowed foods. You can really lose weight and eat good at the same time. That’s what it’s all about. Better yet, the South Beach Diet does not incorporate questionable drugs with side effects.

Maybe you currently wondering where to get the South Beach Diet plan. Well, it’s conveniently located online. You can attain access to the South Beach Diet allowed foods and recipes for cooking at home. You can additionally take advantage of South Beach frozen meals, which are found in grocery stores across the country. These already prepared meals make it a cinch to eat right on the go or take a meal to work for lunch. For further information regarding South Beach Diet allowed foods and details on pricing, visit the South Beach official website.

Terrific 30 minute meals for the busy cook

sheri — Wed, 28 May 2008 15:39:07 +0000

How many of us have the luxury of spending hours in the kitchen, putting together a gourmet meal for the family dinner? Not many. We simply don’t have the time. Bringing dinner to the table quickly is often necessary, but time constraints shouldn’t exclude variety, nutrition or that gourmet touch. Careful menu planning and a well-organized pantry can make 30 minute meals a snap. Here are five great tips to help you serve delicious meals that also save time and money.

Do-ahead meals are an indispensable technique for busy cooks. Dishes such as spaghetti sauce, meatloaf and stew all freeze well. Here’s an example that shows how to maximize your food prep time. If you’re cooking burgers tonight, leave the skillet on low when the burgers are done. Toss another pound of ground beef in the skillet, break it up with the spatula and let it brown while you enjoy your burgers. After dinner, chop an onion, slice a few mushrooms and add to the pan, along with a jar of spaghetti sauce. By the time the dinner table is cleared, you’ve got spaghetti sauce. Pack it in containers and slip them in the freezer or frig, all ready to serve another day, with just one skillet to clean. This type of do-ahead meal gives you two or three 30 minute meals in a single effort!

Stews can cook unattended in a slow cooker. When you arrive home a warm, crusty loaf of bread is all you need to fix for a tasty and hearty 30-minute meal. Left over stew can be put in individual containers in the freezer for a quick lunch or dinner.

Efficiency in preparation is key to 30 minute meals. When you make meatloaf, make a triple batch. Separate and season each meatloaf portion for a different taste – cheese and ketchup for one, Italian or Mexican style seasoning for another, with sliced mushrooms garnishing the third. Your initial time investment is just a few minutes more than for a single meatloaf. Again, you save on cleanup of dishes and utensils. Grease each pan and line with foil. You can bake them all at the same time, freezing two for future 30 minute meals.

Here’s another technique for easy 30 minute meals: If your family members show up for dinner at different times, slice the cooked meatloaf and wrap in individual packets. This tip is especially useful for lunch or dinner on the run. You can make a sandwich of the slice or serve it with just a salad on the side, while that hungry teen can quickly have a meal of meatloaf, a baked potato and leftover corn on the side.

Simple but elegant meals fit easily into the 30-minute meal plan. Boil some linguine. While it’s cooking, soak some dried mushrooms and open a can of alfredo sauce. Garnish the mix with a few snips of fresh parsley and you’re ready to eat. Don’t forget the garlic bread!