That's Fit

One of my favourite summer indulgences is a pint of cold beer on the patio on a hot summer's day. See, it's so refreshing, and when enjoyed with friends, it's a fun way to get together. Problem is, when you're having so much fun, one pint can turn into two, three or even more (provided you're not driving, of course!)

Calorie-wise, I know that beer is a better choice than, say, a margarita. And I know that a bottle of beer usually isn't too high in calories, depending on the beer you choose. But what about pints? Are they a good drink choice or a calorie disaster? What do you think?

The answer is 205 calories. Ouch. The good news is that it's fat-free, but there's still 17 calories.

Chances are, 205 calories is not going to make or break your diet. But multiply that by four or five and you're looking at almost half your day's worth of calories in liquid form. Another problem with alcohol? It makes digging into the deep-dish pizza/large order of cheese fries/street vendor hot dog seem like a really good idea (hint: It's not!) Not only does alcohol make you feel hungry, it reduces your ability to exercise good food judgment. I mean, really. Who heads for a salad after a night at the bar?

Calories-wise, your best bet for alcohol is a glass of wine. But no matter what poison you choose, make sure you stop at two.