'Tis the season to party, but think before you drink

Dear Rissa, 

Every time the “ber” months come around, there are surely so many parties to attend. I enjoy drinking alcohol, but the holidays always add so many extra pounds. Parties have started and I already have an ugly muffin top — I can pinch so much fat on the sides of my waist! Any advice on how to enjoy alcohol without gaining so much weight?

M.S.

For many, alcohol is the perfect party starter. They don’t call it a social lubricant for nothing. Problem is we can all go from glam to slammed in no time plus gain so many pounds of fat before we can even say “Happy New Year!” With the Christmas holidays starting to come in full swing and with New Year fast approaching, you’re probably consuming more alcohol than usual. If you aren’t careful, the additional alcohol can lead to a festive weight gain. 

According to registered dietician Esther Blum, author of Eat, Drink and Be Gorgeous: A Nutritionist’s Guide to Living Well While Living It Up (Love this book — teaches you how to live a healthy lifestyle without missing out on all the fun.), “Although alcohol itself doesn’t contain any fat, it is metabolized as fat.” She goes on to explain in her book, “The reason is that alcohol is not an efficient fuel, so it actually halts your body’s fat-burning process.” She adds that not only is alcohol packed with too many calories, it also increases your appetite! Drinking alcohol can make you feel hungrier because alcohol can lower your blood sugar. After a few drinks, you may find yourself mindlessly overeating nuts, an extra slice of pizza or whatever food is within your reach. 

Because I was going out with Fiamma bar owner Paolo Trillo for five years (I’m now married to him), combined with attending so many alcohol-filled cocktail launches and fashion industry events, I’ve learned ways to enjoy alcohol without ruining my weight loss efforts and hating myself in the morning. Here are some tips: 

All bottled up: KOR drinking bottle is known as one of the most stylish, most functional personal hydration products on the market today. It comes in birch gray, sawgrass green, ice blue, and orchid pink colors.

• Think twice before grabbing those alcopops. Also known as ready-to-drinks (RTDs) or flavored alcoholic beverages (FABs), alcopops are sweet, sugary alcoholic beverages that look and taste like lemonade, cola, punch, and tea. They contain a lot of sugary fruit juices, flavoring, and artificial bright colors. Did you know that one bottle contains more calories than one Krispy Kreme doughnut? Three alcopops have more calories than a McDonald’s quarter pounder and small fries!

• Since alcopops don’t smell and taste like alcohol, most girls succumb to this drink. Since girls mistakenly believe alcopops contain less alcohol than beer, they end up drinking the flavored drinks twice as much! You’re actually better off with a light beer.

• We’ve all read about the heart-healthy benefits of red wine. To avoid a muffin top, wine is a great alternative, too. But make sure to opt for dry wine — it contains fewer calories than sweeter wine. Champagne is another option as it contains the same amount of calories as other dry wines.

• If you haven’t acquired the taste of wine and have a preference for sweet drinks, watch the sweet stuff. Liqueurs can have a high-calorie content, too. Why do you think they’re served in shot glasses?

• When it comes to cocktails and mixed drinks, remember that the larger the mixed drink, the higher the calorie content. An eight-ounce margarita can clock in a whopping 540 calories! Don’t go for it alone — grab some friends and some straws to share it. You can also go for a smaller cocktail, like a cosmopolitan. That way, you only take in a third of the calories.

• Vodka and gin have the same amount of calories (around 64 calories per ounce). But what you add to them will determine if they remain low-calorie alcoholic drinks. Stick to low-calorie mixers — opt for a diet soda instead of a full-calorie cola. But the best way to turn vodka or gin into a low-calorie alcoholic drink is to simply add diet tonic water and a wedge of lemon or lime.

• Most people eat high-calorie snacks when they drink alcohol — a double whammy for weight gain! Hard as it may seem, watch what you eat.

• Space out your drinks throughout the night. A woman’s body breaks down alcohol more slowly than a man does — even if they are the same size. Women metabolize one drink per hour while men metabolize two.

• Keep your calorie count low by drinking a glass of water between alcoholic drinks. Not only will this fill you up (so you don’t feel compelled to drink a dozen of cocktails), it will also keep you hydrated as alcohol has a tendency to dehydrate.

• Water also curbs hangovers. Drink a lot of water to help your body flush out toxins and lessen the burden on your kidneys and liver.

• Another reason to hydrate: Water is actually nature’s weight-loss tool! Increasing your water consumption prevents you from confusing hunger with thirst. We often reach for food when it’s actually water that our body needs.

 Rissa

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Something For Someone Who Has Everything

Dear Lucy, 

What do I give a girlfriend of mine who already has everything? She is fun, dynamic, a workaholic but also a fitness advocate. She loves many things but she can afford to buy them all herself. Do you have a solution?

 Val

Yes, I have a solution. Number one, it does not matter if she can afford to buy anything and everything herself. Receiving a present has a charm all its own, especially if it is a thoughtful one.

I think she would most probably appreciate a KOR drinking bottle as a present. It is now known as one of, if not the most stylish, most functional personal hydration products on the market today. What makes KOR different from your regular drinking bottle? Well, suffice to say that the saying “a thing of beauty is a joy forever” holds quite true here. The designs are sleek as they are thoughtful and beautiful. They are very comfortable to use also.

Other features as described in their catalogue:

• KOR perfect spout: Its exclusive threadless design feels great on your lips. Large for chugging and ice cubes, small enough to minimize splashes.

• KOR stones: Disc-shaped tokens with a message that provide a bit of inspiration each time you drink.

• No-worry cap: Swivels open with a press of a button and a twist of the wrist, then stay out of your way while you drink.

• Health-safe materials: The only thing that should come out of your KOR vessel is what you put in it. It uses BPA-free Eastman Tritan and food-grade 18/8 stainless steel.

• Cushioned base: Enjoy smooth landings with a soft rubber base that protects furniture and prevents slipping.

• Easy clean, easy fill: A nifty spout that twists off to reveal a much larger opening for easier cleaning and filling.

• Comfort: Sleek designs that are a joy to hold. Integrated ergonomic handles that make carrying a breeze.

• Hygienic spout: While most bottles force you to drink from an exposed surface, KOR’s cap design completely protects the spout when not in use.

KOR is available in Manila through Vanessa at 09178321680.

Lucy

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RX for skin discoloration

Dear Ms. Tingting,

What kind of treatment would you recommend for a common type of discoloration?

Pearl

There is a new skin regimen available from doctors that can effectively treat discoloration and commonly known as Illuminase — a combination of microdermabrasion, treatment with low-energy YAG (yttrium aluminium garnet) laser, and skincare treatment with hydroquinone, Retin-A, and sunscreen.

 More aggressive treatments including peels, Intense Pulse Light, and various lasers may actually worsen melasma because they cause inflammation, which stimulates pigment production.

 Women interested in Illuminase should go to a certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon with expertise in YAG laser. Sun protection is still a must to prevent recurrence of melasma.

Tingting

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Send e-mail to Tingting Cojuangco at tingtingcojuangco@yahoo.com. E-mail Lucy Torres-Gomez at ltg@pldtdsl.com. E-mail Rissa Mananquil at stylesos_rissa@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter @RissaMananquil.