Alcoholic drinks and weight loss are not necessarily the best combination however, if one is to adopt a healthier lifestyle, then far better to make small incremental changes one at a time, rather than trying to give everything up at once and failing. In short, whilst the best results may be obtained by giving up alcohol altogether, a change of approach can see an individual able to lose weight without giving up drinking altogether.
Weight Loss and Alcohol: Why Alcohol Prevents Weight Loss
There are two problems which those who enjoy alcoholic drinks face in relation to weight loss and alcohol. The first problem is the alcohol in itself, alcohol has a negative effect upon the body’s energy burning efficiency, as such drinking any form of alcohol will slow down an attempt to lose weight due to the body burning calories in less efficient way.
The second problem is that many alcoholic drinks contain a large amount of calories, usually in the form of sugars. This is especially the case with drinks such as beer and wine which contain a large amount of residual sugar. In addition, even where lower calorie forms of alcohol are drunk such as spirits, these are often drank with full sugared beverages such as sodas and fruit juices.
Weight Loss and Drinking: Tips for Losing Weight Without Giving Up Drinking
If looking to lose weight without giving up alcohol then consider the following tips:
- Moderation – This may be the single biggest aid to losing weight without giving up alcohol. One can still have a drink and lose weight however, the calorific value of the drink simply needs to be considered in the context of the target daily intake. Moderation is also important as any alcohol will slow down the bodies calorie burning efficiency.
- Source – Consider switching to lower calorie forms of alcohol such as spirits, avoid high calorie sources such as beer and wine. There are lower calorie beers and wines available, but study the calorific content carefully as they are lower calorie drinks not low calorie drinks.
- Mixers – Even if drinking lower calorie forms of alcohol the benefit may soon be offset if mixed with sugary mixers such as fruit juice or fully sugared sodas. As such, consider mixing spirits with low calorie mixers such as diet soda or water.
In summary, if looking to lose weight without giving up drinking, then a combination of moderation and switching drinks can see that weight loss can still be achieved without having to give up alcohol.
Frank Smith - Frank Smith currently works as an full time industry analyst for a well known construction company in Lincolnshire. In his spare time, ...
