Ladies: Four Drinking Tips to Live Your Best Life

Life happens! Being a Service member can put you to the test mentally and physically. Who says you can’t wind down or celebrate success with a drink or two? Have fun, but just make sure you know how alcoholic drinks may affect you.

Know the Facts

One standard drink [PDF 545KB] of wine is five ounces, but when you fill the wine glass to the brim, did you know it’s actually 10-12 ounces? To stay healthy and fit, limit yourself to no more than seven drinks per week AND no more than three drinks on any day.

Own Your Limits

To protect your family and career, know your limits and keep risky drinking in check by asking yourself these four questions:

1. Should I challenge my guy friends drink for drink? Definitely not! Going shot for shot is never a good idea for anyone, but studies also show that when men and women have the same number of drinks, women will likely get drunker. Instead, consider taking the friendly competition to the pool table or dance floor instead of the bar!
2. Am I planning on getting pregnant? If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, any amount of alcohol is risky. Heavy drinking can make it harder for you to get pregnant because it may disrupt your menstrual cycle or increase your risk of infertility. When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, so does her unborn baby, which can have significant impacts on you and the baby. Celebrate you and your baby’s life by putting the drinks down.
3. Will I gain weight if I drink a lot? You might! Remember, alcohol has lots of calories, but few nutrients. Active women ages 18-24 generally need about 2,400 calories a day. Now add 400 calories for the three alcoholic drinks and at least 500 for the necessary munchies like fries or nachos, and just like that you’re well over 2,400. But wait, did you drink right before bed? Alcohol can disrupt your sleep. Without enough zzz’s, your body craves extra food which might cause you to eat more the next day too. If you’re curious about how many calories your alcoholic drink has, check out this alcohol calorie calculator.
4. Do I want to wake up feeling like my night took a wrong turn? Knowing your drinking limits (and owning them!) can help keep your nights out fun and carefree. Avoid regrets by not overdoing it so you can spend your Sunday Funday the right way. Drinking to forget your problems or to cope with a rough week isn’t a good idea either. Alcohol can increase depression and risk of suicide. If you or someone you know have thoughts of suicide, call the Military Crisis Line  at 988 and press 1, or text 838255, instead of turning to alcohol.

Ladies, you accomplish something new every single day. Take a minute to remember or update your life goals and make sure your drinking habits are not keeping you from crushing them.