7 ways drinking alcohol affects your weight loss

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If you’re trying to lose weight, you may be wondering if it’s okay to have a drink or two.

The good news is that you don’t have to give up alcohol completely in order to reach your goals. However, it’s important to be aware of how alcohol can affect your weight loss efforts.

Red wine aids weight loss

For starters, alcohol is not part of a healthy and balanced diet because it provides empty calories. This means you’re consuming calories and getting absolutely no nutritional benefit AT ALL. Perish the thought!

Sure the occasional beverage to help us get through witching hour won’t do us any harm, but women are actually more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol than men.

This is because we have a higher proportion of body fat and alcohol is not taken up by fatty tissues. How unfair!

In addition, our ability to break it down is limited by the size of the liver, which is on average smaller than most men.

How is alcohol processed in the body?

How Drinking Alcohol Affects Your Weight Loss 1

The effects of alcohol on the brain are felt within about five minutes of alcohol being swallowed. It’s absorbed into the blood stream and affects almost all cells and systems in the body.

The actual rate of absorption can vary; it’s slowed down by food in the gut and by drinking low-alcohol beverages. Higher levels of gas molecules in alcohol, such as fizzy drinks, increase the rate of absorption. In the blood stream, alcohol is carried throughout the body and distributed in the body fluids – but not in body fat.

After drinking has stopped, the blood alcohol levels fall slowly over time, as the liver gradually breaks down the alcohol in the blood.

7 ways drinking alcohol will hinder your weight loss

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  1. Alcohol is high in calories. A single can of beer contains around 150 calories, while a glass of wine contains around 125 calories. These calories can quickly add up, especially if you’re drinking multiple drinks. Also we usually consume it at night so will be converted to fat instantly.
  2. Alcohol is a depressant. When you drink alcohol, it slows down your metabolism. This means that your body will burn calories at a slower rate, which can make it more difficult to lose weight.
  3. Loss of motivation. If you go over the top and drink too much you’ll wake with a hangover and won’t have any motivation.
  4. Alcohol stimulates your appetite. Drinking alcohol can make you feel hungrier, which can lead to overeating. This is especially true if you’re drinking sugary drinks, such as cocktails and mixed drinks.
  5. Alcohol impairs your judgment. When you’re drunk, you’re more likely to make poor food choices. For example, you may be more likely to eat unhealthy foods or order takeout.
  6. Alcohol disrupts your sleep. Sleep is essential for weight loss. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body produces more of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol can lead to weight gain, especially around the belly. Plus, a bad night’s sleep means you won’t have any energy to stick to you 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge.
  7. Alcohol and movtivation. Dehydration can make you feel tired and sluggish, which can make it more difficult to exercise. Exercise is an important part of any weight loss plan.

Other things that alcohol can also affect

  • The pituitary gland. Found at the base of the brain, this controls the body’s fluid balance, and alcohol can leave the person dehydrated and with a headache
  • The gut. Increased levels of alcohol irritate the lining of the gut, with diarrhoea as a possible outcome.
  • The pancreas. This may become inflamed, sometimes chronically. This can cause severe pain and a highly unpleasant reaction to booze in the future.
  • Heart and circulation. Where one or two standard drinks can affect the heart rate, blood pressure, the contraction of heart muscle and its efficiency in pumping blood, and blood flow throughout the body; higher levels of alcohol may result in irregular heart rhythms, raised blood pressure, shortness of breath, and cardiac failure.
  • Drink water throughout the night. Staying hydrated can help to reduce the negative effects of alcohol on your body.
How Booze Contributes To Belly Fat

How to reduce the negative impact of alcohol on your weight loss

If you’re trying to lose weight, it’s best to limit your alcohol intake. However, if you do choose to drink, there are a few things you can do to reduce the negative impact on your weight loss efforts:

  • Choose drinks that are lower in calories. For example, beer is typically lower in calories than wine or cocktails. Check out our list of the best low calorie wine brands.
  • Avoid sugary drinks. Sugary drinks are high in calories and can contribute to weight gain.
  • Drink in moderation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that women have no more than one drink per day and men have no more than two drinks per day.
  • Eat before you drink. Eating before you drink can help to slow down the absorption of alcohol and reduce your appetite.
  • Drink water throughout the night. Staying hydrated can help to reduce the negative effects of alcohol on your body.

We’re not saying you have to ditch booze forever, but perhaps consider why you are drinking. However, if you do choose to drink, there are a few things you can do to reduce the negative impact on your weight loss efforts. Consider if you are emotional drinking similar to emotional eating.

As always moderation is the key!

Source: The Right Mix

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