It’s Holiday Time.  We are offered cocktails almost everywhere we go.  They contain calories so don’t forget about them in your journaling for the day.  I am NOT by any means encouraging alcohol consumption.  If you do drink however there are two things to remember:

1. If you had Bypass or DS you metabolize alcohol differently and get drunk faster.
2. DON’T drink and drive.
3. The recommendation for women (not WLS peeps) is one drink per day and that doesn’t mean save up a week’s worth and have them all at once.

OK, so that was three.

Here is some information about the calorie content of different types of alcohol:

• Wine, white or red is about 100 calories per 5 oz glass;
• Coconut rum is around 77 calories per shot (1.5 oz)
• Beefeater Gin, Rye, Scotch, White Rum, Vodka, Cognac and Tequila are about 104 calories per shot
• Gilbey’s Gin is 119 calories per shot (1.5 oz)
• Light beer is around 108 calories per 12 oz
• Draft beer about 144 calories per 12 oz
• Lager about 168 calories per 12 oz
• Ale is about 216 calories per 12 oz

Flavored liqueurs which are often used in addition to Tequila or Vodka, or even Rum, like chocolate, mint, peppermint or strawberry liqueur run about 155 calories per shot(1.5 oz).

If you use zero calorie mixers like diet soda, water, diet coke or diet 7UP you can keep your one drink to a minimum number of calories.  Just remember, one Long Island Ice Tea can have as many as 780 calories, a Margarita up to 740, a Piña Colada 640, a White Russian 425, a Mai Tai 350, a Champagne cocktail 250, a fog cutter 225, a gin or vodka and tonic 200, a Mojito 160.  Most of those calories will go right to fat so choose wisely, or choose none at all.

Me, I’ll stick with a glass of wine or a Vodka and club soda at a party, after having a tall glass of water with a wedge of lemon or lime.  For those of you who think you need to have that drink in your hand to be sociable, can you tell me if the guy across the room is holding a tall glass of ice water with a lemon wedge, or sugar free soda, or a cocktail?  I think my point is made, now you can make YOUR choice.

Read more about Weight Loss Surgery and Alcohol here:

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/10/15/weight-loss-surgery-may-boost-risk-for-alcohol-drug-abuse-study