Drink Like a fish and Balloon Like a Whale!

One of the most common questions I get regarding Clean Eating revolves around the consumption of Alcohol. Is Alcohol healthy? 


According to the Eat Clean Principles, we should try and limit our consumption of Alcohol.  Alcohol is simply another form of sugar.  Alcohol, like deserts, pack many unnecessary calories that will hurt your waistline.  If you are serous about your New Years Resolution (we are entering into our 3rd week) you should limit the amount of Alcohol you consume.  Otherwise, all that hard work at the gym will simply go to waste.


Think about some of the Alcoholic beverages you consume.  Do they have nutrition labels?  Chances are not. If they did, many people would not consume them.  I know most people don't what to hear this information, as many people enjoy drinking.  However, if you are serous about shedding a few pounds, these hidden sugars could damage your fitness aspirations. 


The Facts


That Bailey's Irish Cream that you drink - 350 Calories in just 100 ml 


Regular Beer - 150 Calories


Coors Light - 102 Calories in 355 ml Can


Wine - 74 Calories in 100 ml


Vodka - 222 Calories in 100 ml 


Rum - 60 Calories per ounce


Molson Canadian 67 -  Only 67 Calories !!!


Moderation is key! Try and limit yourself to 1 or 2 drinks per social event.  This may be hard for some of you :-) Especially those students in University.  It is not uncommon for some students to drink 10 or more beverages in an evening.  Simple math will tell us, drinking 10 beer @ 150 Calories per drink, equates to 1500 Calories. This is almost equivalent to half a pound (one pound equals 3500 Calories).


Think of Alcohol as another form of Sugar or desert.  Now, lets compare the nutritional facts of the 1500 Calories of beer you drank Saturday night to that of a Chocolate Mars Bar.  A Chocolate Mars Bar, packs about 233 Calories.  If we think about Alcohol as being in the same food category as Chocolate Mars Bars, simple math will tell us, if we drink 10 beer on a Saturday, we have basically ate about 6.5 Chocolate bars.  6.5 Chocolate bars!!! And that does not include the slice of Pizza you picked up at 3:00 am.  


Once again, I will ask you to think about this question. What are your fitness aspirations? For some people, they exercise and eating well balanced meals.  However, when it comes to Alcohol, this is something they enjoy and are not willing to give up.  And I am not suggesting they do!  However, if you are busting your chops at the gym and still do not have that killer Six pack that YOU REALLY WANT, there may be a hidden reason why. What you need to ask yourself, "Am I willing to give up foods that I really like for my health?"