Skip Sipping to Slim down

Not surprisingly, people who abstain from alcohol tend to lose more weight than those who drink regularly, studies show. In some cases, non-drinkers dropped as much as five percent of their initial weight—compared to just two percent of regular drinkers. Of course, alcohol itself can be caloric. The slimmest sips (5oz wine or champagne, 12 oz light beer, or an ounce of vodka, tequila, whiskey or bourbon) will cost you about 100 calories each while the most caloric cocktails (think a frozen margarita, Long Island Iced Tea, and a White Russian) range from 300 to 500 calories. And once you’re loopy, alcohol lowers your inhibitions, making you more likely to say yes to greasy, fatty, sugary foods. Nix the booze from your January menu and you’ll be better positioned to knock off a few extra pounds.