What to Drink?

The other evening a client stopped me in the middle of our workout to ask a very serious question.  For expats, living in Singapore, and really probably anywhere else in the world, your social life revolves around food and alcohol to some extent.  When you meet someone new, which happens frequently, the first thing we say is “we should meet up for drinks!”  Side note, what you should really say is “I have a great Pilates instructor, let’s go take a class!”  But let’s be real, 9 times out of 10 you make plans to get drinks.  So my client who is working hard to shed the remaining bit of baby weight asks me, “what should I be drinking?” She explains there is always a glass of wine involved which turns into a bottle.  Or every now and then a craving for an ice cold beer.  Trust me, in Singapore, the jungle does that to you.  So in the battle to loose a few lbs., what is the best option?

We all know alcohol is the root of a lot of weight gain for us all.  So obviously the best answer is to cut it out entirely.  However, for most, that may not be realistic.  I am not a fan of depriving yourself of anything.  When out with friends, and drinking is involved, my most realistic answer is a vodka soda cocktail with lots of lime.  1 ounce of vodka has 64 calories.  As a wine lover myself, it’s hard for me to accept the fact that wine is not good for you.   One glass of red or white wine has around 120 calories.  If you have to choose between red or white, always choose the red, as it has less sugar.

Regardless of what your are drinking, the best advice I can give is to drink a glass of water after each cocktail, or even better, simultaneously with your cocktail.  There is no shame in ordering or drinking water! I do it all the time.  It will keep you hydrated and will help you get out of bed the next morning for your workout!   You will also probably drink less!  Alcohol can make your break your fitness goals, so drink wisely!