How to Enjoy Wine on a Diet

While wine does have a surprising number of health benefits, it can negatively impact your waistline. If you feel guilty opening your favorite bottle of wine or accepting a glass of wine at a party, you shouldn’t.

While some wines are high in calories, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a glass and still lose weight.

Therefore, whether you’re starting a new diet or just looking for easy ways to shave calories throughout your day, this guide will help you shed pounds and still enjoy an occasional glass.

Eat Before Drinking

One of the best ways to naturally decrease your wine consumption is to have a meal before drinking. There are a few reasons why this is important.

First, if you drink wine on an empty stomach, you are much more likely to consume more food during the meal. In fact, studies have shown that those who drink before a meal consume up to 25 percent more food than those who do not drink before the meal.

In addition, if you drink on an empty stomach, any alcohol you consume will ultimately be stored as fatty acids in your liver.

So if you enjoy drinking while cooking, consider adding a healthy snack to your wine and limit consumption to just one glass.

Count The Calories in Your Wine

While it may seem simple, counting how many calories you consume is a great way to avoid overindulging.

Many studies also support this, as most people underestimate how much they actually consume.

Therefore, consider making a conscious decision of how much wine you will consume that day or evening based on the calories in the wine. This way, you can drink those glasses guilt-free as you know how much you will be consuming.

Drink Quality Wine

Not all wines are created equally. While some wines are made with great care in soil that is well kept, others come from fields that have been sprayed with pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers.

These additives are widely known for causing cancer and other long-term health complications, though they can also lead to weight gain.

Several studies also support this theory, so it’s important to purchase organic or biodynamic wines.

Purchase Luxurious Wine

If you’ve been eyeing a bottle of wine that is a little over budget, go ahead and purchase it. Buying an expensive wine will make you much less likely to overindulge as it cost a greater investment.

Therefore, if you typically drink affordable wine every night, consider purchasing a more luxurious wine and drinking it every other night. Not only will you enjoy it more, but you’ll also start to shed pounds.

Final Thoughts

Losing weight is about changing your lifestyle. It’s an ongoing process that you’ll perfect over time, so don’t beat yourself up if you relapse occasionally.

In addition, shift your mindset to thinking about everything you can enjoy on a diet instead of restricting yourself. For example, think about how you can enjoy a few glasses of luxurious wine each week rather than missing out on a daily glass of cheap wine with pesticides.

Every day is a new opportunity, so don’t be discouraged!