Can You Drink Alcohol When Dieting
In theory, No. Most weight loss diets do
not include alcohol.
Why not? Because alcohol contains 7 calories per gram - nearly twice the
calorie content of carbs or protein (both, 4 calories/gram).
In practice, a reasonable amount alcohol
is okay when dieting.
It won't disrupt your weight loss significantly and the motivation benefits
far exceed the extra calories.
What's a Reasonable Amount of Alcohol
When Dieting
It depends upon your present weight or
how much weight you have to lose. For a general guide, see Figure 1.
Figure 1 - Reasonable Alcohol Intake
When Dieting
| Amount of Weight
To Lose |
Units
of Alcohol per Week |
|
Men
|
Women
|
| Less than 15 Pounds to lose |
3
|
2
|
| 15-45 pounds to lose |
3.5
|
3
|
| More than 45 pounds to lose |
4
|
3.5
|
Note: 1 unit is 1/2 pint of beer, or 1
standard measure of spirits, or 1 small glass of wine.
Calories in Beer, Wine & Spirits
For more information on the calorie content
of alcohol, see these links:
Calories in Beer
Calories in Wine
Calories in Spirits & Liqueurs
An Easy Diet for Life
If you're looking for a healthy diet plan you can follow for life, choose
Weight Loss
Program.
It includes advice on all important weight loss issues, like motivation,
exercise and eating habits. Perfect for healthy weight loss and long term
weight control. For information, click Diet
Preview.
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