Can I Drink Alcohol and Lose Weight?!

Drinking Slows Fat Loss

Now, why would I even say “mostly”?

Because depending on your personal metabolism, and the kind of alcohol, and - the quantity of alcohol you drink, it could be “maybe”. But do understand this – that maybe will either vastly slow down the rate of your fat-burning weight loss, or - stop it altogether.

This is the first of 4 articles all about how alcohol affects weight gain, weight loss, and your health and metabolism.

The bottom line? If you really want to drop those unwanted pounds - give it up until you reach your goal. So if you are serious about effective and lasting fat loss, like the kind our dieters here at BonVie experience, here is what happens when you drink.

Let’s start with some facts to help you commit to abstaining:

First. Alcohol has almost twice the Calories of Protein and Carbohydrates.

At seven calories per gram, alcohol has only two fewer calories than fat, which has nine per gram. And because those calories in alcohol lack the nutrients beneficial for a healthy metabolism they will actually hasten fat storage.

And those calories in a typical alcoholic drink are concentrated! Compared to many foods, this means you take in more calories than would otherwise be consumed, and certainly more than you think. Plus, because alcohol passes through the system rapidly it’s easy to over-consume without realizing the total intake.

Adding to the caloric total issue, is that some cocktails contain fats – that’s right fat - and wine and beer both have high carbohydrate content. If you have been following our blogs or, our other videos, you know that carbs cause the pancreas to release insulin , and signal the body to store fat - the overall result is weight gain.

Second. Alcohol Loosens Inhibitions

Most people feel more relaxed when they drink, and this leads to less vigilance about what we put in our mouths and the impact alcohol is having on weight gain - along with other health issues.

Lower inhibitions plus alcohol’s tendency to stimulate the appetite means more calories consumed and extra inches around the mid-line. Since alcohol provides little nutrition, it makes the body crave more food , searching for satiety and nutrition, particularly in the form of fatty and salty foods. Think about it, most locations and occasions featuring alcohol have a lot of these salty and fat-laden foods – like pizza and beer.

Combined with the loosening of resolve that goes with an inebriated mind, you have the perfect “recipe” for excess fat gain. For dieters, alcohol has also been shown to diminish motivation , making a committed dieter fall off the tracks.

Third. Alcohol Increases Appetite

A Danish study showed that if a group of men were given a meal and allowed to eat as much as they wanted, those who drank alcohol, increased the amount of food consumed.

Scientists at London's Francis Crick Institute have found there could be a scientific reason why we overeat the next morning and eat junk food while drunk. They discovered that the specific brain cells or neurons which stimulate the urge to eat can be activated by alcohol. "And when these neurons make this protein, they regulate food intake and alcohol is modulating the effect of these neurons so as to increase food intake."

Our next article in this series will focus on how Alcohol damages our body, and that goes well beyond an expanded waistline...