What are the lowest calorie alcoholic drinks?

On Ep. 359, Nikkiey walks through the full lineup. Wine is the middle ground: one or two standard glasses is manageable. Beer is where calories climb fast, especially craft beer. A light beer like Corona Light lands around 100 calories, while IPAs can push 250, so if beer is your drink, she suggests going light. Cocktails made with juice, simple syrups or flavored liqueurs are where things go sideways on calories and sugar. A margarita made with mix, a mojito or a cosmo can run 200 to 400 calories per drink, depending on how it's made. Her own pick: you can't go wrong with a tequila and club.

You don't have to give up cocktails if you love them. Nikkiey's approach is to either order them occasionally and account for them, or ask for modifications, like a skinny margarita with fresh lime and tequila instead of a mixer-heavy version. She also suggests deciding in advance whether you're drinking, and noticing when you're just defaulting because everyone else is.

On Ep. 107, she adds a caution about drinks marketed as low calorie. Using a 100-calorie hard seltzer can that lists only 2 grams of carbs, she points out that alcohol is its own macronutrient at 7 calories per gram, and those 2 grams of carbs explain only a small part of the 100 calories. The label doesn't show where the rest comes from, so go by total calories rather than the carb number. She also calls alcohol empty calories: when a lot of your day's intake comes from drinks, it displaces the protein, fats and carbs that support building muscle and losing fat.

The takeaway: this isn't about willpower. It's about knowing what's in the glass and choosing the option that fits your plan.