Champagne Diet Gets You Skinny For Holidays: Ho Ho Ho!

The Champagne Diet. You CAN drink AND lose weight!

You can either call this a screwball concept, or just pop open a bottle of bubbly and see if the lbs. disappear.

No, the Champagne Diet is not routed in deep scientific theory but it is a plan that helped one young, NYC woman melt away the fat in a tasty, healthy way.

Let's take a closer look.

December 1st arrives this Thursday, and for many, December is the most sociable month of the year. The drinks will be flowing, and what better time to raise a glass of this low-calorie beverage to celebrate and get skinny.

Cara Alwill Leyba, who works for MTV, created the Champagne Diet after struggling with her own weight for a number of years. The 31-year-old writer had been on several well-know diet plans, but none of them kept the lbs. off.

"You name it, I’d done it," Cara says. "Atkins, Weight Watchers, Dukan. I’d been chubby since I was a child and hated it. I constantly felt down about my weight.".

A friend suggested to Cara to have a flute of champagne and diet sensibly, rather than eating on the run and grabbing a glass of wine.

And when you think about it, champagne is a smart choice. There are about 100 calories or less in a glass. And the alcoholic drink is an elegant selection, one that signifies class, glam, and wealth. In other words, a sip of champagne is a self-esteem booster.

Champagne also tastes great with any kind of food. Cara suggests a diet plan that ranges between 1,200 - 1,400 calories per day.

"I encourage 'glamourizing' your meals," she says. "Don’t order the fatty cheeseburger with fries and cola. Instead, get a smoked salmon bagel with a mixed greens salad and a glass of Champagne. Start putting the best into your body."

Learn more about Cara Alwill Leyba at her Champagne Diet website. She has 4,000-plus followers and a wonderfully written blog that explores dieting, weight-loss, and life in general.