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The affects of Alcohol on weight
control
So
you’ve been exercising regularly,
and cutting back on your calories to meet
your weight loss goals. Everything is
going great with your new changes but you
notice the number on the scale isn’t
moving much and your body isn’t
changing shape as quickly as you’d
hoped. There may be one more habit
interfering with your weight loss
efforts- -alcohol. Perhaps you enjoy a
glass of wine with dinner, have a couple
of beers while watching the big game, or
even cocktails on a Saturday night with
friends. All common practices but they
may be getting in the way of your weight
loss efforts.
Alcoholic
beverages have been enjoyed throughout
recorded history. For some, a drink with
dinner may be relaxing. Others may enjoy
the inhibitions that alcohol can create
to “let loose” with friends.
Many people drink for the health
benefits. After-all, evidence shows that
moderate drinking, especially red wine,
may lower the risk of heart disease. No
matter what your reasons are for
drinking, alcohol can interfere with your
weight loss goals.
Alcohol
is a product of fermenting carbohydrates-
both sugars and starches. This means it
does provide calories. Specifically it
provides 7 calories for every gram
compared to 4 calories per gram of
carbohydrates and protein, and 9 calories
per gram of fat. Drinking 4 (12 ounce)
beers will supply 600 calories. To burn
those calories, a person would need to
walk non-stop for 3 hours. Skipping the
cab ride and walking home may be a
strategy but for most of us a 3 hour walk
is a bit daunting even when we are in
good shape.
Although
wine contains fewer calories than beer,
this can also lead to extra calories.
Having a glass of wine provides 100
calories, but this is dependent on the
glass size. A serving size of wine is
5-ounces. The larger wine glasses hold
about 10 ounces turning your one glass of
wine into two glasses. To put this into
perspective, drinking two glasses of wine
each night with dinner will add an extra
200 calories each day. If these calories
are not burned through exercise and daily
activity it can lead to a 20 pound weight
gain in a year.
Adding
juice, creams, and sodas to cocktails
will increase the calorie level beyond
what the alcohol is already providing. Be
careful of what you are drinking. In some
cases, one drink provides more calories
than an entire meal! Here are the drinks
that top the scales for most calories:
Long
Island Iced Tea: 780 calories
Margarita: 740 calories
Pina Colada: 644 calories
White Russian: 425 calories
Sex on the Beach: 356 calories
Mai Tai: 350 calories
Lemon Drop: 223 calories
Besides
adding calories, alcohol may affect your
weight for other reasons. Some evidence
suggests drinking alcoholic beverages may
stimulate your appetite and cause you to
eat more than you normally would. It also
decreases your inhibitions so you
don’t care how much more you are
eating. How many times have you enjoyed
chips and salsa with your margaritas
while out with friends? How many chips
did you eat? Who knows- all you remember
is the waiter bringing three or four
refills of the chip bowl.
Another
factor to take into account is that your
body processes alcohol first, before fat,
protein, or carbohydrates which may slow
down the burning of fat. There is also
evidence that drinking too much seems to
increase fat carried in the stomach area-
otherwise known as the beer belly.
Studies show that people with a higher
amount of fat in the abdominal region are
at a greater risk of heart disease.
Ok,
this is looking dreary but it
doesn’t mean you can never enjoy
alcohol again. It just means that it is
time to take inventory to see how much
you are drinking and pay attention to how
many calories your favorite drinks
supply. Learn how to enjoy alcohol in
moderation so you don’t end up
sabotaging your weight loss efforts.
This Web site is intended
for Australian residents and is not a
substitute for independent professional
advice. Information and interactions
contained in this Web site are for
information purposes only and are not
intended to be used to diagnose, treat,
cure or prevent any disease. Further, the
accuracy, currency and completeness of
the information available on this Web
site cannot be guaranteed. Lifestyle Home
Services, Its Affiliates, Researchers or
agents do not accept any liability for
any injury, loss or damage incurred by
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