Sour Apple Liqueur has 72 calories per one ounce shot! Wow.
And most cocktails require a full ounce. But, here, with only 1/4 oz. we will
reduce that to only 18 calories without sacrificing flavor. Carbs = 7.5 per oz. so ¼ oz. = only 1.9 carbs.
So it's not really a super duper low carb cocktail. But when compared to the original Fuzzy Navel with, on average 275 - 300 calories per serving; and 37 to 50 carbs on average... well, it's a pretty good savings. Especially if you have more than one. And who can have just one? Again, I ask you, who can have just one?
P.S. Welcome Bulgaria!! BodyBeautyBliss is now being read in 14 countries around the world: US, UK, Canada, Italy, Malaysia, Denmark, Netherlands, Philippines, Croatia, Slovenia, Russia, Moldova, Australia, and Bulgaria.
So now it's after the holidays and we're feeling a little bloated, heavy, and slow. What we need is a plan for boosting our energy... so that we can get back on track with our health, weight and physical fitness goals.
1)Drink lots of water. A dehydrated body functions less efficiently. Replace sodas with plain water.
2)Reduce or limit caffeine. 1 or 2 caffeinated drinks per day like coffee, tea or cola can boost your energy and mental alertness, but more than 6 caffeinated drinks per day may make you anxious, irritable, and negatively affect your performance. Plus, your sleep may be disrupted.
3)Eat breakfast. Food boosts your metabolism and gives your body energy to burn. Make sure to include protein to help prevent that mid-morning low blood sugar drop. Symptoms of over-carbing and not enough protein (symptoms of low blood sugar) are drowsiness and the inability to concentrate. A carb eaten alone actually has a narcotic effect.
4)Don't skip meals. Going without food for too long allows blood sugar levels to dip. Try to eat regularly to maintain your energy levels throughout the day. You should never go longer than 6 hours between meals. To avoid low blood sugar symptoms your body needs an influx of nutrition at least every 4 hours. And don't eat more frequently than every 2.5 hours. This can also drag you down (got this advice from MMA Champ Jeremy Horn!).
5)Don't crash diet. Low calorie diets or diets that severely restrict carbohydrates don't contain enough energy for your body's needs. The typical crash diet also deprives the body of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and trace elements.
6)Don't overeat. Large meals can drain your energy. For a healthier diet, try eating 6 meals a day to maintain blood sugar levels and energy. Eating every 3 hours equals about 6 meals a day. Eating every 4 hours, about 5 meals a day.
7)Get enough sleep. Adults need about 8 hours per night.
8)Learn how to relax. A common cause of insomnia is fretting while lying in bed. Experiment with different relaxation techniques until you find one or two that work for you; for example, you could think of a restful scene, focus on your breathing, or silently repeat a mantra or phrase.
Sugar is something that people generally don't think of when it comes to insomnia. But, just like caffeine and aspartame, it can cause you to have that anxiety-provoking constant train of thought at bedtime.
9)Increase physical activity. Exercise!! Physical activity boosts energy levels, while a sedentary lifestyle is known to cause fatigue. It's a law of physics! A body at rest tends to stay at rest. A body in motion tends to stay in motion. Don't let yourself become a victim of "The Couch Potato Syndrome"!
10)Limit the time you sit down. Reduce sedentary behaviors such as watching television and using computers. Did you know that they now make laptop stands for your treadmill? I need one!
Read more about Shawna's weight loss program here:
A little bit more of MY STORY:
When I first started back to taking more exercise classes than I was teaching, I found that my energy waxed and waned from class to class. My diet was pretty good. I was drinking plenty of water, eating enough protein, and getting enough rest. So what was missing?
But my diet WAS deficient! What was missing was that a few of my 5 to 6 meals a day were protein only. I never eat carbs alone as that is one of the worst things you can do to your body as far as your insulin balance is concerned. I was eating whole grains but I wasn't getting enough vitamins and minerals from fruits and vegetables. So I started adding a serving of fruit or vegetable with each protein portion.
If I was in a hurry the fruit or vegetable became a 6 oz. can of V8 vegetable juice or a serving of a liquid vitamin mineral supplement (I hate taking pills! Especially those horse-sized pills they call vitamins.) I found the best quality and price for my liquid vitamins at Costco.
Well, what d'ya know. My energy level skyrocketed. My legs no longer felt heavy in my kickboxing class and I didn't just want to plop down on the couch when I got home.
Now, the only time I have trouble with physical energy is around the holidays when I eat a few too many potatoes (one of those evil White Foods you should avoid). What is a White Food? White foods are those high glycemic carbs that boost your insulin level, can cause insulin resistance, and lower your blood sugar so that you can't lose weight and are more prone to illness.
Those White Foods to avoid are: White potatoes, white rice, white flour anything - pastries, cookies, cake, pasta, and corn products. I do allow myself whole corn on the cobb with our summer BBQ's.
One's diet should contain GOOD carbs, which are fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, and whole grains. Some of these, like beans and nuts, contain both carbohydrates and protein. Good carbs supply the fiber, vitamins, and minerals we need for energy and clarity of mind.
If you do eat holiday stuffing, try to make it with 100% whole grain bread (lower on the glycemic index - how quickly the sugar enters your bloodstream) and add nuts (we enjoy pecans or walnuts), plus we add some chopped up turkey sausage for a little extra protein. A good balance of protein with your carbs lowers how quickly the carbs enter your bloodstream, resulting in less hunger, easier weight maintenance, and better health.
Hot Pirate Wench
This drink was inspired by this AWESOME Captain Morgan Rum video starring Marisa Miller. But I have to apologize here. The name, Hot Pirate Wench, just sounded better than Hot Pirate Chick. Unfortunately, "Wench" (according to Wikipedia and Dictionary.com) denotes a girl or young woman, a lass of dubious intent and lower class; generally a prostitute or extremely promiscuous female, a "working girl", if you will. Well, I won't.
As if there's something wrong with being a "working girl". Hmf. I'd like to think our Pirate Femme here is, rather, a woman of strong character and, although she may be promiscuous, it is always with a partner of her own, very discerning, choice. Note: SHE is the one in control. And, hey, is that a young Keith Richards?
And I have to add, just for fun, that to the right side of my search, were the words... "Amazon: For the Best Price on Wenches".
So, here it is, My Healthier Cocktail:
Hot Pirate Wench
1 ½ shots Rum (.3 carbs/84 calories)
1 shot Kroger Light Apple Juice (.8 carbs/3.1 calories)
1 shot All Natural Simply Limeade (4 carbs/15 calories) (or just a squeeze of Lime if you're intensely watching calories and carbs. Tastes much better with the Simply Limeade though.)
2 shots Ocean Spray Diet Cranberry Juice (.25 carbs/.6 calories)
For a Total of: 102.7 calories and 5.35 carbs
If you choose the lime squeeze, it's only 1.35 carbs. Compare that with the, up to 40 grams carbs and 700 calories, for a similar drink (Rum Punch) with real liqueurs, high fructose corn syrup, and sugar added fruit juices. Mmm. Tasty and good for you. You can probably count this drink as one or two of your daily fruit servings. But don't take my word for it, read up.
A great site that I like to use to calculate food and exercise calories, is: www.EverydayHealth.com
Go to "Food and Fitness" on the top bar and then scroll down to "My Calorie Counter" for an awesome way to keep track of calories consumed vs. calories burned.
Note: The brand names of the mixers in this recipe are important here, because these are the lowest calorie/carb versions I have found. If you find better, please let me know.
Also, please be aware that although straight rum is carb free, flavored rums might have an inkling of carbs. Please read Lisa Shea's awesome article: "Rum Carb Counts and Nutrition" at: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art33315.asp
*Too Strong? Add water or a clear diet soda such as Diet Sprite, Diet 7Up, or Fresca. Be conscious of the fact, though, that these drinks contain Aspartame (an ingredient that is NOT recommended by me).
At most healthfood stores you can find a soda called Hansen's. The diet version is sweetened with Splenda. It has no preservatives, no sodium, no caffeine, no carbs, and no calories. Best of all, it's one of the only sodas you can find without aspartame.
*Healthful Hint: Add a bunch of ice. A tray holds 14 cubes. I add 10-12 using a larger glass. That way you'll be hydrating as you go, as the ice melts.
Image via Wikipedia
