Everybody knows that alcoholic drinks are a source of empty calories, but rest easy; you can enjoy a cocktail or two without ruining your diet. As long as you focus on drinks low in fat and sugar, you can enjoy yourself without having to hit the gym extra hard.

Besides choosing drinks that are low-fat and/or low-sugar you should also try to limit your total intake of alcohol. Drinking 5 skinny cocktails and then binging on a plate of nachos because your inhibitions are lowered will do the same amount of damage as drinking 5 piña coladas.

Cuba Libre (Light)

(Adapted from Jane Lawson's book, "Shaken: 250 Classic Cocktails with a Twist")

• 4 parts white rum (2 oz.)
• 7 lime wedges
• Diet cola

It is very important to measure the liquor, not only for calories, but also for taste! You don't want to overwhelm the lime flavor. Top with the diet cola and garnish with the last lime wedge.

Mojito Light

• 3 parts light rum (1 1/2 oz.)
• 3 lime wedges
• 4 mint leaves
• 1 packet of sweetener
• Soda water

In a shaker, pour the sweetener and squeeze the juice from the 3 lime wedges, dropping the wedges in when finished. Tear the mint leaves into large chunks and drop into the shaker as well. Pour a splash of soda water in, to help soften the ingredients. Grab a muddler (or a pestle) and use it to mash the sweetener with the mint and fruit.

It will probably take about 10 mashes to adequately release the oils and flavor from the mint and limes. You don't want to over-muddle the drink because you will destroy the mint leaves. Put as much ice in the shaker as you think would fill an old-fashioned glass. Pour in the rum and shake well. Pour shaker contents into the glass and top off with soda water. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Martinis

The classic martini is a great drink to hold in a perfectly manicured hand while smiling coyly at a suitor's advances. They come in those delicate, triangular glasses and can have fun names like the Flirtini or the Chocotini. But don't order one at a busy club, as it is bound to slosh all over the floor before you reach your destination. (Order one on the rocks if this is the case.)

• 6 parts gin or vodka (3 oz.)
• Dry vermouth (just a splash for gin martini only)
• Cocktail olives

Although dry vermouth is a common ingredient in gin martinis, most people do not like a significant vermouth flavor. Even the small splash you would pour in the shaker might still be too much for some people. The way to get around this is to pour the dash of vermouth in the chilled martini glass, swirl it around and then immediately pour it out. This will give the basic flavor without compromising the integrity of the gin.

After flavoring the chilled martini glass, pour the gin into a shaker with ice. Clear liquor martinis are commonly stirred, not shaken, so use your bar spoon to swirl the gin around in the ice. Remember James Bond? He always dropped his trademark line, "Shaken, not stirred," because otherwise, the bartender would have made it the traditional way.

If you don't have a bar spoon, which is just an extra-long, skinny spoon, a sundae spoon would make an adequate substitute. You just don't want to use a short spoon to stir, because you will most likely end up submerging your fingers in the liquid.

Once you have thoroughly stirred the gin (or vodka), pour it into the martini glass. You can garnish with an olive on a cocktail pick or a twist of lime. Because you are drinking almost straight alcohol, you will consume about 200 calories and no added sugars or fats from mixers.

To Make a Twist:

• Cut a wedge of lime or lemon
• Scrape the fruit away from the rind
• Twist the rind over the cocktail

A twist is an important addition to a cocktail, especially one as simple as a martini. The twisting action releases the oils and fragrance stored in the rind of the fruit. If you look closely while you twist over your cocktail you will see a fine spray of mist come off of it. When finished, drop the rind into the drink or hang it over the edge of the glass.

You can make some changes to the traditional martini recipe and still keep your fat and sugar counts low. For example, you can try using a flavored vodka, like vanilla or raspberry.

With this knowledge and these recipes you can confidently sip away knowing you are making the best decisions for your body. And nothing is sexier than confidence!