Myth: Calories, shmalories! Let’s just drink!
The Myth and The Madness
Sound too good to be true? Then it probably is…but man, we hope not! Ryan Cairns CSEP-CPT dispels the myths of fitness and sets us straight on the path to looking (and feeling) good.
Personal trainer Ryan Cairns dispels the myths of fitness to reveal the madness otherwise known as the truth! Photo by Mark Anthony Yammine.
Have you ever wondered how many calories you consume in a night of drinking? I never used to but now that I’m getting older, a little wiser and getting paid to help people lose weight, I do.
Let’s take a look at the calorie content of some of our favourite drinks, shall we?
In a 1.5oz shot of vodka, rum or gin there are 96 calories. That doesn’t even include mix and we all know it’s not the ice that makes you fat – it’s the mix. Some mixes bring the calorie count up to 400 calories per drink!
In a 12oz bottle of beer (which is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy) there are 150 calories. Light beer comes in at 110 calories per bottle.
And let’s not forget about wine. One 5oz glass will cost you 100 calories.
I’m an Islander through and through and I know we don’t just stop at one. If you consume a six-pack of beers in one go that’s an extra 900 calories. Most people only need 2000 calories or less per day. That doesn’t leave a lot of room for food, now does it?
That brings me to my next point. A night of drinking wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the China Garden or your favourite pizza place, right? That will bring your total night’s caloric intake up to 2000 calories or higher. One pound of fat is 3500 calories. To put it in perspective, swimming laps at a moderate pace for a half an hour burns about 500 calories. Now that’s a lot of swimming!
So what can you do to make your night “legen-wait for it-dary” without giving you a beer belly?
1. Workout the day you plan on going out to burn more calories. This will at least get you a little ahead of the game. Do something vigorous like an intense circuit or spinning class, or try this 15 Minute Workout for killer results.
Do 4 exercises in a circuit. Do each exercise for 60 seconds for a total of 4 minutes. Rest 60 seconds and repeat for another 4 minutes. Rest 60 seconds and repeat. The exercises are body weight squats, touch and release push-ups, ab rocker or plank, and burpees. The time keeps running, so if you can’t do the exercise for the full minute rest as little as you can and continue. At each minute, you change exercises no matter what.
To see video of the exercise, go to www.sparkfitnessnow.com and check out the The 15 Minute Workout.
2. Do light cardiovascular exercise the day after. This is only if you feel up to it. No one likes puke on a treadmill. You could try some light cardiovascular exercise like a light jog or use an exercise bike.
3. Stay hydrated. The body needs water to exercise, build muscle, and metabolize fat. Being dehydrated makes your heart and vital organs work harder.
4. I don’t recommend a heavy weight training session the next day. If you want to burn calories, that’s great, but alcohol has negative effects on muscle building. It affects protein synthesis, decreases testosterone and increases estrogen, and depletes the body of vitamins and minerals.
5. Don’t drink like a fish. Stick to lower calorie mixes like water or soda water. Try to make better food choices the night of and the day after. Drink water.
Yours in fitness and wellness,
Ryan Cairns
CSEP-CPT
If you like to party but also want to stay in shape, check out Ryan’s tips, videos and workouts at www.sparkfitnessnow.com. It turns out you CAN do both!
The Myth and The Madness Sound too good to be true? Then it probably is…but man, we hope not! Ryan Cairns CSEP-CPT dispels the myths of fitness and sets us straight on the path to looking (and feeling) good. Have you ever wondered how many calories you consume in a night of drinking? I never [...]
G! Gets Zesty: Feast on This!
The zestycook celebrates with a tantalizing four-course dining extravaganza
G! is celebrating it’s one-year anniversary, and I for one can’t believe that I’ve been cooking and writing for you – the G! readers – for a year already. Time has flown by and it’s been so much fun. So, in the spirit of celebration, let’s dust off the fancy china, the boxed silverware and break out the long-stemmed wine glasses – we’re cooking up a delicious four-course dinner will have the neighbours wondering how to get on the invite list!
This month, I’ve concocted a menu that will have you admiring each savoury bite that touches your taste buds. From appetizer to dessert, you and your guests will be treated to a meal that will surely become the talk of the town. Give these recipes a try for your next celebratory dinner feast and let me know how it went at www.zestycook.com.
Ok, enough chit chat – let the feasting begin!
Appetizer
Prosciutto and Goat Cheese Melts
Time to kick up the taste buds with what I call heaven on a piece of bread. Prosciutto and Goat Cheese Melts are a great way to start the evening’s festivities. Packed with flavour, the prosciutto (a thinly-sliced dry-cured ham) makes the perfect compliment to the smooth texture of the goat cheese. As you toast the baguette to get a nice crunch, the cheese warms through and the rosemary infuses the ham for an overall great flavour combination.
Salad
Sometimes simple is best when it comes to serving salad. This lightweight salad will keep you coming back for more or maybe even licking your plate. A combination of fresh tarragon, crispy romaine lettuce and crunchy almonds make this dish stand out with texture. For dressing, I’ve used honey, dry mustard, oil and vinegar. This salad makes for a very satisfying second course for the evening.
Entree
Lemon-Buttered Halibut
Who’s on board for a hearty serving of lemon-buttered halibut? Seriously, this dish is so good, it’ll make your ear hair stand up!
Pan-seared halibut in general is amazing, but toss in a last-minute lemon butter sauce with fresh thyme and sit this masterpiece atop roasted vegetables and you’ll think you were dining in a five star restaurant.
Ingredients
4 portions of halibut
2 tablespoons of butter
1 lemon
2 sprigs of thyme
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 green and 1 yellow zucchini (sliced)
1 Yukon Gold potato (sliced)
1 Tomato (sliced)
Salt and Pepper
Method
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and toss zucchini and potatoes in 1 tablespoon of olive oil and salt and pepper. On a single layer, add these to a roasting pan and bake until tender – about 30 minutes.
2. Season the halibut with salt and pepper and set aside.
3. In a small saucepan, add the butter, juice of one lemon and zest of half a lemon and gently bring to a simmer (melting the butter and creating a thickened sauce). Once melted, add in one sprig of fresh thyme.
4. In a large heavy pan, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and preheat until very hot. Place the seasoned halibut in the pan away from you so you don’t get burnt.
5. Let cook on the first side until a nice crust (about 3-4 minutes).
6. Turn and continue to do the same. Total cooking time should be about 7 minutes.
7. Remove from the pan and set aside. Quickly slice the tomatoes and sear them in the same pan for a minute before plating.
8. Time to plate – add the sliced tomato on the plate first, then stack up the zucchini and potatoes followed by the halibut on top.
9. Take the sauce that you made earlier and drizzle a little over the halibut.
10. Top with a piece of fresh thyme and enjoy!
Zesty Tip: When pan searing fish, the most important thing to remember is to dry the fish very well with paper towel. Removing all moisture will ensure you get the nice caramelized look and achieve the nice crust on the outside. If it is wet, it will almost steam the fish and you’ll lose the crust.
Dessert
Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Fudge Icing
Let’s finish off the evening with a little chocolate, shall we? A chocolate cake topped with chocolate fudge icing and drizzled with homemade caramel sauce will have you looking around the table to see if your guests notice as you put your fork on the lowest possible angle without licking your plate.
The combination of dark chocolate and milk chocolate really satisfies any sweet tooth, but what really hits home is the caramel sauce on top. A nice way to top off any celebratory dinner feast!
Thank you for joining me on this one-year celebration with food. I want to personally thank you for supporting me over the last year as I’ve had a lot of fun cooking and writing for you. I look forward to writing and sharing more recipes in the year ahead.
Take care,
zesty
For more information including all of the recipes featured in this article, be sure to come over and check out www.zestycook.com. Thanks so much for reading!
Cory Gallant aka zestycook
Cory Gallant aka zestycook loves food and everything about it. Since 2008, zesty has been sharing this love of all things culinary on his food blog zestycook.com.
The zestycook celebrates with a tantalizing four-course dining extravaganza G! is celebrating it’s one-year anniversary, and I for one can’t believe that I’ve been cooking and writing for you – the G! readers – for a year already. Time has flown by and it’s been so much fun. So, in the spirit of celebration, let’s [...]
Happy One-Year Anniversary G! Magazine
Da-nah-nah-nah-nah-nah-nah-nah…they say it’s our birthday…
And…(looks at calendar)…yep, TODAY is OUR birthday!!!
Thank you for being a part of G! Magazine – we couldn’t have done it without you.
Thanks for reading and we look forward to keeping you “infotained” in the year to come!
Da-nah-nah-nah-nah-nah-nah-nah…they say it’s our birthday… And…(looks at calendar)…yep, TODAY is OUR birthday!!! Thank you for being a part of G! Magazine – we couldn’t have done it without you. Thanks for reading and we look forward to keeping you “infotained” in the year to come!
Pick up the current issue of G! at restaurants, shops and salons across PEI
STAY IN TOUCH WITH G!
Add a comment