Sippin' on Gin and ... Diet Tonic, with a Splash of Lime

Summer's here and there's nothing better than lounging by the pool or sitting on the patio enjoying a cold drink. Drinking is also a way to pack on some extra calories to your day without realizing it. I've come across so many different calorie counting sites that say the calorie count for each drink is different, so it's also hard to estimate exactly how much you're consuming when you're wasting away in Margaritaville. Below are the top five drinks that I tend to avoid (although I can't always say no to the margarita) and the five drinks that I like to order. 


WORST (AND MOST DELICIOUS) DRINKS TO ORDER:

1. Long Island Iced Tea - 780 Calories
Serving Size: About 8oz
Ingredients: one part vodka, one part tequila, one part rum, one part gin, one part triple sec, 1 1/2 parts sweet and sour mix, a splash of Coke (The liquor should equal two or three total shots.)


This one was a SHOCK - I had no idea that long islands were this many calories. And this is just for the normal 8oz size, I love the giant long islands at Houlihan's. Wow. 

2. Margarita - 740 Calories
Serving Size: About 8oz
Ingredients: 4 ounces limeade/mix, 4 ounces tequila, 1/3 ounce triple sec

Oh margaritas. I love you, and the chips with salsa, queso, and guacamole that inevitably come along with you. Like I said, I still can't turn down a good margarita, but when I do order one, that's it - just one. If I want another drink I'll get a light beer. Some restaurants have started serving the "Skinny Margaritas" but they might as well be a shot of tequila with some lime juice - bleh.

3. Mai Tai - 350 Calories
Ingredients: 1 ounce light rum, 1/2 ounce dark rum, 1/2 ounce creme de almond, 1/2 ounce triple sec, sweet and sour mix, pineapple juice


I won't order a mai tai unless I'm on vacation, which isn't often, but since they are so delicious I thought I would post this calorie count anyway. I guess it's better than the margarita, but it's still a little bit over the top considering most people can suck these down like fruit punch. 

4. Vodka or Gin Tonic - 200 Calories
Ingredients: 2 ounces gin/vodka, 5 ounces tonic water, one lime wedge


This one was also a bit of a shock - I thought this was a low calorie drink order! It certainly doesn't taste as delicious as the other drinks on this list. Order this one with a diet tonic mixer and you'll bring down the calorie count significantly (see below). NOTE: The same calorie count goes for a rum and coke, whiskey and coke, etc. 

5. Beer - Between 160 to 200 Calories
Serving Size: 12oz


If you're ordering regular (not light) beer, you might as well order a hard liquor drink. You won't drink as much and you won't feel as bloated in the morning. A Sam Adams has 180 calories, Guinness has 176, and Blue Moon has 170 (saaaaaad, I love Blue Moon). 


Honorable Mention:
White Russian - 425 Calories
Strawberry Daquiri - 220 Calories
Pina Colada - 650 Calories

BEST (AND MOST TOLERABLE) DRINKS TO ORDER:

1. Rum and Diet Coke - 65 Calories
Serving Size: 6oz
Ingredients: 1oz rum, 5oz Diet Coke


This one is a good standby, nothing too crazy about it, but it's light and refreshing, and very little chance that the bartender will mess up the order. Same calorie count goes for most liquors and a diet mixer - vodka and Sprite Zero being my other favorite. 

2. Gin/Vodka and Diet Tonic - 110 Calories
Serving Size: 8oz
Ingredients: 1.5oz Gin, 6.5oz Diet Tonic

This one has a bitter taste, but I usually ask for a couple of lime wedges with it. Another thing you can do is order this drink with a splash of cranberry juice. It does up the calories a little, but only a little, and you'll love the taste. Sometimes saying, "I'll have a gin and diet tonic with a splash of cranberry juice and two lime wedges, please," you get a look from the bartender that's like, "This is not Starbucks, you can't order your drink one thousand different ways," but for the most part it's worked out well.

3. Mojito - 160 Calories

Ingredients: 2 to 3 ounces rum, 1 tsp. lime juice, 2 tsp. sugar, fresh mint leaves, club soda

LOVE mojitos, they're so refreshing, but I feel weird ordering it at a bar. If I'm sitting down at a restaurant, this is definitely my drink of choice, but if the bartender is going to have to dig out the muddler and mint leaves from God knows where, I'll pass. 

4. Cosmo - 150 Calories

Ingredients: 1 ounce vodka, 1/2 ounce triple sec, 1/2 ounce lime juice, 1/2 ounce cranberry juice 

[Insert necessary reference to Carrie Bradshaw and the Sex in the City girls.] Ok, now that that's out of the way, this martini is actually not bad. The problem is, they go so fast because they're so small, and you end up ordering way more than you ever thought you would. I prefer having a bigger drink to sip on so I'll order less. 

5. Light Beer - Between 55 and 110 Calories

Serving Size: 12oz

Any light beer is going to put you out ahead of ordering regular beers and most cocktails. The lowest calorie beers are the ones with the calories in their names: Miller Genuine Draft 64, Budweiser Select 55, etc. But counting for taste as well, not just calories, I prefer a Miller Lite at 96 calories, Coors Light at 102 calories, or Bud Light Lime at 110 calories. (Seriously, Bud Light Lime is the perfect summer, sit-by-the-pool drink.)

Honorable Mention:

Whiskey Sour: 125 calories

Mimosa: 140 calories

Bloody Mary: 140 calories


All of these calorie counts were taken from different websites, and I took the average of the information that I found. Some sites, for example, said that margaritas are 300 calories, but the majority sided with the 700+ amounts. (Bummer, I know.)

Mid-Month Status Report

I hadn't weighed myself all week because I've been catsitting for one of my mom's friends and she doesn't have a digital scale. I was a little concerned because I got takeout, ate out a LOT, and went to Austin this past weekend for a little mini-trip. I got on today, not sure what to expect, and I have lost two pounds!! It's a little bit short of my 7 pound goal for this month (I wish I was at 3 already) but considering the circumstances, I am very encouraged!

A lot of people at work have been secretly complimenting me, as in asking the people I'm closer to if I've lost weight. These are all men doing this, and I'm not sure why they think it's a big secret. Is it because they think I would assume if they say I've lost weight that I didn't look good before, or that I desperately needed to lose weight and they don't want to point that out? I appreciate that they don't want to hurt my feelings, but I love me some compliments!

Tonight is happy hour at Chuy's with the free nacho bar. If I can get a beer instead of a margarita I can cut 200 calories and then I will have nachos for dinner. And then go to BodyPump at 7:30. (I JUST got over being sore from the last one.) This weekend another friend is coming into town so I'll need to plan carefully for that as well.

BodyPump Class

I did my first BodyPump class tonight. It nearly killed me. Arms and thighs are jelly. Going to bed.

It was awesome.

57 Reasons to Lose Weight

I've been getting kind of down about this whole weight loss process -- it's happened before after I lost about 25 pounds, and I gave up and gained almost all of it back. To remind myself why I'm doing this, I've made a list of 57 reasons I want to lose this weight - one for each pound.

1. To be able to walk into any store I want and be able to find my size, not just the plus size section or Lane Bryant.
2. One word: Sleeveless. Dresses, shirts, halter tops...you name it, I will not wear it.
3. To be comfortable enough to wear shorts in public again (for the first time since 9th grade). I tried some on tonight at Kohls. We are not there yet.
4. To make my granma proud. She always believed that I could do it.
5. To continue to have regular periods (sorry, maybe TMI, but when I'm overweight I am irregular).
6. To not play the "Am I the biggest person here?" game every time I walk in a room.
7. To never hear "BUT you have such a pretty face." You have such a pretty face is fine. :)
8. To be able to wear tall cowboy boots and knee-high boots and not worry if they will fit over my calves.
9. Collar bones.
10. Shopping at Victoria's Secret for bras.
11. For my career. Appearance matters more in getting ahead at your job than I think anyone would like to admit.
12. To be an inspiration to family and friends.
13. To wear shoes with high heels and open toes that don't kill my feet after a half hour.
14. To meet guys. It's true.
15. To minimize my risk of diabetes, heart attack, stroke, etc.
16. So no one tells me that I remind them of Penelope Garcia on Criminal Minds.

Seriously?

17. So I can easily cross my legs.

18. So I can look awesome/be unrecognizable for my 10 year high school reunion or any weddings I have to attend. 

19. So men can pick me up and twirl me around. Lots of men are waiting in line to do this once I get small enough, haha. 

20. So I can wear cute rings without looking for a size 9 (which they never have). 

21. Amazing Facebook profile picture so all the stalkers from high school are all like, "Wow, she looks so good!"

22. Not avoiding mirrors like a vampire. 

23. Looking decent in a swimsuit and feeling comfortable hanging out by the pool, going on vacations to the beach, or going on cruises. 

24. To never again think "I can do that once I lose weight."

25. Going horseback riding again without feeling sorry for my horses. 

26. To never know or think someone is laughing or talking about me because of my weight. 

27. To never use weight as an excuse again - for anything. To never say "It would be so much better if I could just lose the weight." I hate believing that the extra weight is the only thing standing between me and happiness.

28. To never worry about a weight limit on anything - rides at the fair or amusement parks, chairs, etc.  

29. To be able to borrow clothes from friends. 

30. So when the time comes to go shopping for my wedding dress, I won't end up on "Say Yes to the Dress: Big Bliss." All the plus size brides are so sad when trying on dresses. Even if they say they "like their curves." 

But I still love Randy.

31. Little black dress. Not big black dress. 

32. So I can be a bridesmaid and not worry about whether the dress will fit or if they will have one in my size. To never again be the fat bridesmaid. To not dread going without those shawls that come with the dress because none of the other bridesmaids want to wear them. 

33. I think about weight ALL. THE. TIME. So my weight is not the first thing I think about when I wake up and the last thing I think about when I go to sleep. 

34. To never get "that look" from the person who has to sit next to me on the plane. 

35. To be more confident and outspoken. 

36. To go on any ride at amusement parks and not be worried about being turned away or fitting into the seat harness. 

37. Flirting! Whee!

38. To get whatever haircut I want without worrying that it will make my face look fat(ter). 

39. So I don't crave winter when I can hide under big coats and sweaters. 

I can't put my arms down!

40. So I can tell people my weight and it not be a big deal or a huge secret.  

41. Running!

42. Not being hypersensitive about everything. Example: I went through the Chick Fil A drive thru and had ordered a caesar chicken wrap and a diet lemonade. When I got to the window, the cashier said, "You had a caesar chicken wrap, a diet lemonade, and .... a large Oreo shake." And I laughed nervously because I thought he was making a joke since CLEARLY I must normally order large shakes while going through drive thrus. I told him I didn't have the shake and he took it off. It had nothing to do with me, just an error on the cash register. 

43. Not feeling like I am an outsider - to feel normal. 

44. Participating in intermural sports or clubs. 

45. So my friends would feel proud to set me up with their friends. 

46. Halloween in girl world. I'm a mouse, duh!

47. Not feeling self-conscious about going to a spa for a facial or massage or spray tan. I can't really imagine going naked in front of anyone right now, much less a total stranger who is going to be all up in my personal business. (Frankly, I don't know if I'd be ok with it after the weight loss, but it's worth a shot.)

48. To not feel completely inadequate when guys talk about all the hot girls at work. 

49. So my twenties are not wasted and my life is not put on hold any longer. 

50. Single digit sizes. 

51. To not be ashamed or embarrassed to go to the gym. I'm totally getting better about this one. 

52. When the time comes, to be able to have a healthy pregnancy. 

53. To be able to look and act my age. 

54. To wear a belt with my jeans or skirt and show it off. 

55. So that it will be easier to make close girlfriends. 

56. To not be threatened by healthier people. 

57. Because I'm worth the time and effort it takes!

Whew, that was really long and full of feelings. I promise that won't happen again for a while. :)

I Had A Skinny Day!

And I felt like I had to share it. You know those days when you just FEEL skinny, even though you haven't really lost that much weight? That was me today!

Ihopenoonewalksin, Ihopenoonewalksin, Ihopenoonewalksin!

In the future I will try to be less awkward taking a full body shot in the company's restroom, but I was terrified of getting caught since the door was directly to my right so anyone walking in was going to realize immediately what I was doing. Also, next time maybe I will try to get my full body in the shot.

Bonus: I know it wasn't completely in my head because I got two compliments from people; one woman said I was glowing and asked if I was in love - I WISH - and another girl said I looked so skinny walking through the door.

I went to zumba last night and danceton tonight - I am worn out but it was a lot of fun, especially the zumba class. And it's almost the weekend! Hurray!

Monthly Weigh-In: May 2011

May's Goals:
Weight: -7.2
20 days in calorie range
20 days working out

May's Progress:
Weight: -2.2
Days in calorie range: 12/31
Days calories NOT TRACKED: 4/31 (Boo!)
Days worked out: 5/31



Total YTD Progress:
Weight: -27.8
Days in calorie range: 77/120
Days worked out: 62/120


June's Goals:
Weight: -7.3
25 days drinking 8+ glasses of water


Clearly May did not work out for me....since I basically didn't work out the whole month of May. I'm re-evaluating my weight loss goals. NOT to change my ultimate goal in September, but this is the second month where I didn't meet my goal, and I just need to re-situate the numbers. Instead of the 6 pounds a month I planned, since May was such a blow-off month, I'm going to up it to a goal of 7.3 pounds per month. Otherwise, I would have to lose 11.2 pounds this month to stay on track with my numbers the way they're set up now. 


May was difficult because of the teambuilding event at the beginning of the month coupled with Ashley and Rivka's visit this past weekend. Not that I regret that because we had a total BLAST, and I knew I would be taking a break from the diet, but I also don't want to set myself up to fail, to get discouraged, to give up, and to not reach my goal by my birthday. The whole reason this is working this time is because I'm being realistic - I'm going to take vacations and eat chips and drink margaritas - and if I need to adjust my goals, I will. 

See? Look how much fun we were having!

With that said, I really want to step it up in June. I only have one out-of-town trip planned for one night, and I don't have a big event at work that will consume my entire life for two weeks either. I do have a fantastic trip planned for July to see Meaghan, back from Korea (!!!!), so I would like to get a head start on July since I know we will be celebrating her return! 

I decided not to set a goal for days in calorie range or days worked out this month because I am committed to those fully. I have noticed that I've been really dehydrated lately, though, so I want to make sure that I get all my water in for the day. I have also read that it helps a lot when losing weight, although I can't really believe it would make that much difference besides an initial pound or two in water weight. I'm going to start tracking that as carefully as my calories, and we'll see if it actually does make a difference like everyone says.  

Halfway to Birthday Goal!!!

So after the week of the teambuilding event where I lost my mind and ate everything in sight, it's been really hard to get back on track. I only went to the gym twice last week, and didn't do much else. But I stopped getting takeout for every meal and started eating my leftovers again, and while I wasn't excited about it at all, it totally worked.

So now, officially, I am over halfway to my birthday goal (-57 pounds by September 30th)!!! I have lost 29.2 pounds!! This has been great for my motivation this week because I really felt like I was slacking, falling behind schedule for the weight loss, and that I'd never make my goal now - but the official halfway point is not until May 18th, so I'm actually slightly ahead of schedule! (Yes, I counted the days out. Stop judging.)

Now the exciting part....I get a $250 reward for being halfway through. Originally I was going to get a Barnes and Noble Nook or a new purse, but now I'm not sure what I want to buy for myself. I desperately need some new shoes for work and for the gym...but the purpose of this reward was more of a just-for-fun purchase and something that I wouldn't normally buy. Anyway, I'm going to think about it, but since I also finally met my goal from last month, I got this new shirt to wear to the Ranger's game on Memorial Day weekend!

Still can't wait for Rivka and Ashley to be here!