'Case of the Mondays'

We've all been there..I can't tell if it's better or worse after you've had an AWESOME weekend?
One thing is for sure this monday, I am starting it off with a healthy breakfast-I splurged a little bit too much this weekend on bar food, and may have on the alcoholic drinks as well....hehe
No need to worry though, you can still go out with your pals and not totally undue your healthy day. For starters, if you know you are going out, eat a meal beforehand. You will be less tempted to eat the bar food (should have taken my own advice on this one), and you will need some solids to avoid passing out after a few drinks. A good balance of carbohydrates and protein is good- think PB & Jelly, Veggie Burger, Chicken/Rice stir-fry. Hey, maybe even throw a few vegetables in there as well!
Now for the beer list- OOOOO its a long one at some places. I know that most people think  they aren't doing themselves much of a favor by switching from a heavy to a light brew, but if you are having more than 2 (the average man is recommended to limit himself to 2 drinks per day; the average women: 1 drink/day) you will be saving quite a bit of uneccesary beer belly calories by sticking with the light beers. In fact, here's a little breakdown:
(and ps. I dont know many guys (or girls) who stop after 2 beers?)



BUD HEAVY (budweiser): 145 calories
vs
BUD LIGHT: 110 calories
vs
BUD ICE: (seriously, they still sell this?): 123 calories
vs
BUD SELECT (have yet to try): 99 calories
vs
BUDWEISER SELECT 55: 55 Calories


4 bud heavy's vs. light: you save 140 calories (like an extra beer!)
vs Bud select: you save 184 calories
vs. Select 55: you save 360 calories


COOR's ("rocky mountain highh..): 149 calories
VS.
COOR's Light (..Coloradooo..."): 104 calories
save: 45 calories per 12 oz. beer
save: 180 per 4-12 oz. beers

CORONA:148 calories 

vs.

CORONA LIGHT:109 calories
save:39 calories per 12 oz.beer
save:156 per 4-12 oz. beers

MICHELOB: 155 calories
vs.
MICHELOB ULTRA: 95 calories
save: 60 calories per beer
save: 240 calories per 4-12 oz. beers

MILLER HIGH LIFE: 143 calories

vs.

MILLER LITE: 96 calories
save:47 calories per 12 ounce beer
save:188 calories per 4-12 oz. beers

SAM ADAMS: 160 calories
SAM ADAMS LIGHT: 124 calories
save: 36 calories per 12 oz.beer
save: 144 calories per 4-12 oz.beer

GUINNESS EXTRA STOUT: 153 calories

vs.

GUINNESS DRAUGHT: 126 calories
save:27 calories per 12 o beer
save: 108 calories per 4-12 oz. beers

MOLSON CANADIAN BEER: 155 calories
vs.
MOLSON LIGHT: 82 calories
save: 73 calories per 12 oz. beer, eh?
save: 292 calories per 4-12 oz. beers, eh?

The beers with the most calories I could find was:
Flying Dog Double Dog Pale Ale coming in at 292 calories per 12 ounces
 Sierra Nevada BIG FOOT at 330 calories...that's like a small meal right there!

Footnote: by no means am I promoting drinking heavily, especially for women as it is associated with Breast Cancer.
Side note of randomness: A new study in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that coffee drinkers had better LFT's (labs measuring liver function)- heavy drinkers or not. Weiiird.

Also, if you can't remember all these brands, here's a GENERAL list of Alcohol's caloric breakdown (beer vs. wine vs. rum..) from the ADA.  (call it OCD- but I put them in caloric order- lowest to highest :)

1 ounce Sake: 39 calories

1.5 ounce Rum (80 proof): 96 calories

12 ounce Beer, Light Type (4.2%): 99 calories

5 ounces White Wine:100 calories 

5 ounces Red Wine:106 calories    
  
1 ounce Liquer, coffee flavor (53 proof):116 calories

12 ounce Beer, Regular   (4.9%):153 calories

5 ounce Wine, Sweet dessert:165 calories