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The 9 Golden Rules of Christmas drinking

…or how to booze without the bulge. You know you’re going to do it. You know it’s going to go straight to your hips. So here’s how to make it all as harmless as possible…

This time of year can play merry hell with your weight. As the Christmas spirit flows it can be almost impossible to resist having one – or three – too many at festive dinners and parties.

Trouble is, quite apart from the hangover, the damage to your body and the cringing ‘morning after’ memories, too much alcohol will also wreak havoc with your weight-loss plans.

But just why is it quite so damaging – after all, there’s only 52Kcals in a gin and slimline tonic, and 83 Kcals in a small glass of dry white wine?

Alcohol burns faster

The answer is that rather than getting stored as fat, most of the alcohol gets converted by your body into a substance called acetate, and when your acetate levels rise, the body will burn it up for energy before it burns fat.

So the more alcohol calories you take in, the less fat calories your body burns. One American study showed that after a drink of vodka, the amount of fat the body burns can drop by 73% for several hours. That means all those fat calories are simply being left to linger - most likely on your tummy and thighs!!

Makes you hungry

Alcohol also acts as a powerful appetizer and simply makes you want to eat more. Various research has shown that people eat more when they have a drink or two with their dinner.

Then there’s the ‘What the hell’ factor. No matter what you say to yourself before you start, this usually kicks in around drink number two, and here at Closerdiets.com we believe this is the most dangerous enemy of all.

Oh dear – it’s all enough to make you reach for the vodka bottle…but wait! Your Closerdiets.com Christmas drinking fairy is here with 8 golden rules to guide you safely through the festive season without totally busting through your diet! It’s Christmas, after all, and everyone deservers a well-earned treat!

The 9 Golden Rules of Christmas drinking

1. Don’t drink when you’re hungry. In other words, fill up before you go out. Drinking on an empty stomach spells disaster because a) the alcohol affects you faster, weakening your resolve so you drink more, and b) if you’re hungry to start with you’re likely to go mad at the buffet after a drink or two
2. Wait until dinner. If you’re having wine at dinner, don’t be tempted into a glass before you sit down. Stick to a soft drink, then hit the wine when you actually start eating
3. Mix it up. If you like spirits, always mix them with a slimline tonic or diet mixer. They’ll last longer
4. Add some fizz. Same with white wine – turn it into a sparking Christmas spritzer simply by adding sparkling water or diet lemonade
5. Don’t be afraid of carbs. Avoid low-carb beers – these are very high in alcohol
6. Take it in turns. Alternate each alcoholic drink with a glass of sparking water, diet drink or juice.  This will slow you down and help stop you getting too dehydrated
7. Ditch the guilt. Don’t feel guilty about having a glass of wine or two – you deserve it. Feeling guilty will just make you miserable and defensive so you drink more, end up drinking too much and then have good reason to feel guilty!!
8. Do it together. Why not have a pact with a friend – say, tonight we’re each going to have just two glasses of wine – then support each other throughout the evening by buying soft drinks and laughing at people who say ‘go on – have another.’ Agree a fab treat for the next day for doing so well! (And don’t have it if you fall off the wagon!)
9. Choose your booze. We advise red or white wine or vodka and cranberry juice. See our calorie list of alcoholic drinks below and make up your own mind. Cheers!

Alcoholic drink calorie content

WORDS: Lucy Bulmer
lucy.bulmer@emap.com