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Bodybuilder’s Dilemma: How to Choose the ‘Right’ Booze

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Boozy Dilemma

Whether you’re going on spring break, meeting leprechaun pals out for St. Patrick’s Day, or hitting a Friday night happy hour, there are ways to offset the “Dad bod” if you plan to imbibe on adult refreshments. First, it’s important to know that alcohol provides seven calories per gram and contains mostly ethanol, an intoxicating and flammable liquid. “I wouldn’t categorize alcohol as a macronutrient, because we don’t need it for survival like carbohy­drates, protein, and fat,” says Jim White, R.D., owner of Jim White Nutrition Studios. “But you can fit it into a calorie range.”SEE ALSO: The Ultimate Bodybuilders Drinking GuideWhen you consume alcohol, blood vessels carry the booze to your stomach and intestines, where it’s metabolized in the liver. “The enzyme alcohol dehydroge­nase breaks down alcohol, coverts it to acetaldehyde, which then converts into acetate. This process puts a halt on fat oxida­tion because the body burns acetate first,” White says.To hack alcohol’s weight-gain effects, estimate how many calories your drinks contain, then either exercise them off before the cab arrives or alter your diet. “This is subjective, but try cutting back at a 2-to-1 fat-to-carbs ratio,” says White. Three Bud Lights have 330 calories. Divide 330 by 1.5 to find an approximate amount of fat calories to drop and divide 330 by 3 to find how many calories of carbs to cut. White says vodka is the “cleanest” hard liquor since it has the fewest congeners (toxins). Consider the low-calorie drinks on the following slides if you choose to (responsibly) booze. Your abs will thank you.

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Beer

BrandCaloriesCarbs (g)ABV (%)Bud Select 55551.92.4Beck’s Premier Light643.92.3Miller64642.42.8Molson Canadian 676723Michelob Ultra952.64.2_{Amounts are per 12 oz.} SEE ALSO: Beer Can Strengthen Your Muscles

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Wine

Brand/TypeCaloriesCarbs (g)ABV (%)Carlo Rossi White Zinfandel857.58Martini & Rossi Prosecco105510.5Franzia Cabernet Sauvignon117512.5Syrah122412.5_{Amounts are per 5 oz.} 

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Whiskey

BrandCaloriesPendleton96Jack Daniel’s98Bushmills98Jim Beam100Jameson104 _{Amounts are per 1.5 oz. All contain zero carbs and 40% alcohol by volume.}

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Vodka

BrandCaloriesABV (%)Skinnygirl Bare Naked7530Smirnoff Sorbet Light7830Monarch Citron8435Ketel One9640Absolut9640_{Amounts are per 1.5 oz. All contain zero carbs. Caloric information courtesy of manufacturer websites and getdrunknotfat.com} SEE ALSO: Low-Calorie Cocktail Recipes

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Boozy Dilemma

Whether you’re going on spring break, meeting leprechaun pals out for St. Patrick’s Day, or hitting a Friday night happy hour, there are ways to offset the “Dad bod” if you plan to imbibe on adult refreshments. First, it’s important to know that alcohol provides seven calories per gram and contains mostly ethanol, an intoxicating and flammable liquid. “I wouldn’t categorize alcohol as a macronutrient, because we don’t need it for survival like carbohy­drates, protein, and fat,” says Jim White, R.D., owner of Jim White Nutrition Studios. “But you can fit it into a calorie range.”

SEE ALSO: The Ultimate Bodybuilders Drinking Guide

When you consume alcohol, blood vessels carry the booze to your stomach and intestines, where it’s metabolized in the liver. “The enzyme alcohol dehydroge­nase breaks down alcohol, coverts it to acetaldehyde, which then converts into acetate. This process puts a halt on fat oxida­tion because the body burns acetate first,” White says.

To hack alcohol’s weight-gain effects, estimate how many calories your drinks contain, then either exercise them off before the cab arrives or alter your diet. “This is subjective, but try cutting back at a 2-to-1 fat-to-carbs ratio,” says White. Three Bud Lights have 330 calories. Divide 330 by 1.5 to find an approximate amount of fat calories to drop and divide 330 by 3 to find how many calories of carbs to cut. White says vodka is the “cleanest” hard liquor since it has the fewest congeners (toxins). Consider the low-calorie drinks on the following slides if you choose to (responsibly) booze. Your abs will thank you.

Beer

Brand	Calories	Carbs (g)	ABV (%)
Bud Select 55	55	1.9	2.4
Beck’s Premier Light	64	3.9	2.3
Miller64	64	2.4	2.8
Molson Canadian 67	67	2	3
Michelob Ultra	95	2.6	4.2

_{Amounts are per 12 oz.} 

SEE ALSO: Beer Can Strengthen Your Muscles

Wine

Brand/Type	Calories	Carbs (g)	ABV (%)
Carlo Rossi White Zinfandel	85	7.5	8
Martini & Rossi Prosecco	105	5	10.5
Franzia Cabernet Sauvignon	117	5	12.5
Syrah	122	4	12.5

_{Amounts are per 5 oz.} 

Whiskey

Brand	Calories
Pendleton	96
Jack Daniel’s	98
Bushmills	98
Jim Beam	100
Jameson	104

 _{Amounts are per 1.5 oz. All contain zero carbs and 40% alcohol by volume.}

Vodka

Brand	Calories	ABV (%)
Skinnygirl Bare Naked	75	30
Smirnoff Sorbet Light	78	30
Monarch Citron	84	35
Ketel One	96	40
Absolut	96	40

_{Amounts are per 1.5 oz. All contain zero carbs. Caloric information courtesy of manufacturer websites and getdrunknotfat.com} 

SEE ALSO: Low-Calorie Cocktail Recipes