Can You Drink and Stay Fit? Tips from a Nutritionist/Trainer

New Year’s resolution season is waning, and we’re starting to notice even our most die-hard friends loosening up on the goals a bit. One debate we all seem to have is whether it’s necessary to give up drinking completely in order to stay fit. Some of us insist absolutely yes, others think there’s some wriggle room. (And we’re usually discussing it over cocktails, so there’s that.)

We turned to CrossFit coach and nutritionist Caitlin Barth for some insights on this question.

“In my years of nutrition coaching, the most common question I get is, ‘Can I still drink alcohol?,” Barth says. “There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Think of nutrition like your financial budget. There’s a certain amount of food and nutrients you should consume every single day to reach your weight loss and nutrition goals. If your goals are to lose a couple pounds and feel better in your clothes, you might have more ‘flexible spending’ to enjoy a cocktail or two. If your goals are more specific, like training for a triathlon or competing in a sport at a particular weight class, your nutrition ‘budget’ might be a little tighter.”

One thing that can help: “Understanding the amount of calories in different types of alcoholic beverages,” Barth notes. “A five-ounce glass of wine contains about 125 calories, and a 12-ounce beer contains about 145 calories. Distilled spirits, like Azuñia organic tequila, have about 96 calories per 1.5 ounces (a typical amount of calories in a tequila shot), so they’re going to be a better bang for your calorie buck.”

Sipping tequila on the rocks is an awesome way to get your cocktail on and keep it low-cal—but if mixed drinks are more your thing, Barth suggests trying Azuñia Organic Agave Syrup in place of simple syrup. “It’s a delicious, lower-calorie sweetener that adds a honey-like texture to your cocktails for only 30 calories per tablespoon,” she says.

“Life is all about balance,” Barth notes. “That means you can still enjoy a cocktail every once in a while, and still make progress toward your health and fitness goals.” We’re going to take this one to the bar and settle our friend debate.

Ready to get your cocktail on? Azuñia is offering Clean Plates readers 25% off Tequila Blanco or Resposado. Use the code CLEANPLATES at checkout—get yours now.