Diet

8 Genius Ways to Lose Weight Without Giving Up Booze

Thanks to these diet and fitness tricks, you can have your happy hour and a tiny waist too

by Amanda Montell | COMMENT

PHOTO 6/9

Find Your Signature Drink The Boozy Problem: You'd be horrified if you looked up the calorie counts of some cocktails. You might think there's no harm in enjoying a single margarita with dinner, but blended beverages made with sugary pre-made mix can pack up to 700 calories in a single drink.

Similarly, kicking back with a few beers or half a bottle of wine with friends seems innocent enough, but depending on the color, sugar and alcohol content, you could easily tack on an extra thousand calories to your day, thanks to booze alone.

The Boozy Solution: "Sip smart!" advises Cederquist. Try replacing sugary soda or juice with sparkling water or unsweetened iced tea as a mixer to avoid those hidden calories. Better yet, find a simple, low-calorie recipe you love, and stick to it whenever you drink. For example, consider making a wine spritzer or light mojito your signature drink. Courtesy of Cederquist, here are a few recipes to experiment with to find your go-to:

Light Wine Spritzer
1/4 cup wine
3/4 cup seltzer water

Vodka Soda
1 part vodka
2 parts soda water
Add fresh squeezed lime, lemon, grapefruit or orange for more flavor

Light Mojito
2 ounces white rum
Juice of half a lime
Mint leaves
4 ounces soda water
Drop of liquid Stevia

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