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
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