Alcohol and weight loss... Two enemies that can be beaten!

Yes, I know you don't really want me to talk about alcohol and weight loss, but the unfortunate truth for many is that booze contains a lot of calories!

We all know that "a lot of calories" and losing weight don't go together.

Did you know that 4 pints of beer contain more calories than a main meal for many people?

Can drinking alcohol really affect my efforts to lose weight?

The answer is YES. It's very similar to eating more food. Alcoholic drinks contain at least one of these macro nutrient groups:

  • carbohydrate
  • fat
  • protein

    • Most of us are at least somewhat familiar with these. These groups all contain calories whether it is in food or drink.

    Why else should I cut down or stop drinking?

  • Alcohol and weight loss don't go well together, cutting down may help massively
  • Think of all the money you could save!
  • Drinking less can considerably lessen your chances of getting serious diseases
  • Drinking less can help your mood which can inturn help your personal relationships
  • Less likely to make a complete of prat of yourself.. I seem to have the desire to sing atrociously when I'm drunk :-)
  • Alcohol consumption often results in sleeping less deeply, so you are more likely to feel tired the next day, as well as hungover!
  • Alcohol contains pure calories and offers no other nutritional benefit
  • Alcohol can often be dehydrating and cause you to lose very important minerals from your body such as zinc, calcium and magnesium.

    So how many calories are in alcoholic beverages?

    Exact numbers can vary between different brands but typically:

  • A bottle of beer contains around 150 calories.
  • Gin, Rum, Vodka, Whiskey contain around 100 calories per jigger (1.5fl oz)
  • A glass of wine or champagne contains around 85 calories
  • A can of Tequila Sunrise contains around 230 calories
  • A cocktail of Daiquiri contains around 100 calories

    • As you can see, the above information paints quite a grim picture for those who are drinking and seeking to lose weight.

    alcoholic drinks

    What about if I skip a meal and drink a few beers?

    This is a very bad idea because as mentioned above whilst beer does contain many calories it does not offer any real nutrition. This will result in your body receiving fewer of the important nutrients it needs to function properly and may even result in vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

    Unfortunately, there is no way round it alcohol and weight loss do not mix.

    Be careful when selecting alternatives to alcohol

    When choosing alternatives to alcohol, be sure to choose low calorie ones. For example it is not a good idea to replace your pint of beer with a large milkshake.

    Many people say they really dislike the non-alcoholic beers, wines and spirits. I have never tried them personally so I cannot comment.

    Some alternatives include:

  • Sparkling pear juice
  • Sparkling Cranberry juice
  • Sparkling pear juice
  • Sparkling Cherry Juice

    • Some sparkling pear juice in a wine glass is very tasty :-)

    These products can be purchased from many health food stores. For those online shoppers amongst you, knudsenjuices.com have an excellent selection of alcohol alternatives.

    As always though, be sure to keep an eye on your calorie intake.

    I know I drink too much, but I'm finding it hard to stop, what should I do

    You see see your doctor immediately and consider investigating your nearest Alcoholics Anonymous group.

    Just because you drink a lot and are having a hard time stopping by no means makes you an alcoholic, but it is very important to get it under control as soon as possible to prevent things getting worse!

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