For some, warmer weather means “suns out, guns out.” For others, that phrase is put on the back-burner and traded for an entirely different concept notoriously popular among college students: day drinking.

Lasting from sunrise to sunset, too many of these day-drinking escapades, though, can unfortunately start to show quicker than you can bong a beer.

So how can you participate in alcohol-induced activities without losing your summer body?

The best way to enjoy and not regret a day — or night — of drinking is to try and stick with alcohol that is healthier. Using the word “healthy” may be a stretch when talking about alcohol, but some are actually considered healthier than others.

Here is a list of the healthiest alcohols, according to BodyBuilding.com:

Spirits: Typically, a shot of liquor, such as tequila, vodka, gin, whiskey, rum or anything other 80-proof beverage, comes to be about 100 calories (more or less). Unless downed all in one breath, these spirits are usually mixed with sugary drinks, causing the number of calories to double, even triple, in amount. If hard liquor is your drink of choice, sticking with low calorie mixers, like club soda water or coca-cola zero, is your best bet. The upside to drinking liquor: Most have no carbs, so they won’t make you feel bloated.

Wines: When it comes to wine, there isn’t a whole lot to whine about. They contain a lot of antioxidants that aid in fighting stress and free radicals. An average class of white wine, such as a Chardonnay or Riesling, has about 110-115 calories and five grams of carbohydrates. Red wines, such as Merlot or Pinot Noir, have an average of 120 calories per glass with four grams of carbohydrates. Of course, too much of a good thing can be bad.

Beers: Light lagers, such as Bud Light or Coors Light, is the best to stick with when drinking 30-packs. They contain about 100-110 calories with a range of five to seven grams of carbohydrates. Some of the most unhealthiest lagers to avoid include Angry Orchards with 190 calories and 22 grams of carbs and Sam Adam’s Pale Ale with 160 calories and 19 grams of carbs. These increased amounts of carbohydrates can cause bloating and extra fat around the mid-section, hence the term “beer belly.”

The amount of calories can easily change from drink to drink as well as what you mix with it or the amount you drink. Whether you are day drinking on College Avenue or drinking at the bars at night, keep in mind the calories you consume, and, if you’re not too hungover, run an extra mile the next day at the gym.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bottoms-up-choosing-healthier-drinks.html

Contact Katie Leyton at [email protected].