HOW ALCOHOL CAN CAUSE WEIGHT GAIN<\/h3>\n
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First off, let\u2019s think about the main subject at hand, alcohol<\/i><\/b>. The key to keeping\u00a0alcohol in your diet is understanding how it is processed in your body. When you consume beverages with alcohol, your body has to convert the alcohol into other substances since your body cannot store or remove alcohol in its pure form. Once converted, substances broken down from alcohol can be eliminated from the body. The liver is the main place where alcohol is converted into these substances.<\/p>\n
Alcohol does not directly slow down metabolism, but drinking alcohol can contribute to weight gain. The substances that alcohol is broken down to are burned off before your body can burn calorie<\/span>s<\/span><\/em> from other sources such as carbohydrates, proteins or fats.<\/strong> In addition, alcohol consumption impairs your body\u2019s ability to burn fat <\/strong><\/span>as a source of energy, leading to possible weight gain with the extra calories not being burned off.<\/p>\n Calories provide energy for our bodies to function and come from carbohydrates, protein, fat, and alcohol. The difference is, unlike the other three sources, alcohol does not carry any nutritional value. For each gram of carbs, protein, etc., you get a set number of calories.\u00a0For 1 gram of carbohydrate or protein, you get 4 calories. For 1 gram of fat, you get 9 calories. Alcohol contains about 7 calories per gram, which is almost as many calories as fat and almost double the caloric content of carbohydrates or protein<\/em>. That means you might have to put in almost double the effort to burn those pesky calories.<\/p>\n Consider this<\/strong><\/em><\/span>… A 150 lb person would have to brisk walk about 4-5 miles to burn off about 300-400 calories (such as in a fast food double hamburger), which is the same number of miles to burn off about two regular beers.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Although consuming alcohol may make it harder for you to lose weight because of the increased number of calories you consume, it won\u2019t necessarily impair weight loss as long as you otherwise follow a low-calorie diet or as long as your caloric intake is the same<\/em>. This is not to say replace your more wholesome, nutritious foods with alcohol. If you are drinking on a daily basis and your weight remains stable, you\u2019re probably not getting enough nutrients. Limit alcohol so you can get enough real food. If you want to have an occasional drink with your friends or family, you can still practice a healthy lifestyle by incorporating a healthy diet and exercise so that those extra calories from alcoholic beverages won\u2019t result in weight gain.<\/p>\n Follow some of these tips for calorie reduction, staying safe and healthy, and making the best choices when you\u2019re out enjoying drinks with your family and friends:<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Drink in moderation.<\/b> This is defined as one drink a day on average for women and two drinks a day for men. One drink is equivalent to a 5 \u00a0oz glass of wine, 12 oz beer, or 1.5 oz 80 proof liquor.<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Drink water for thirst.<\/b> Drink a full glass of water before your alcoholic beverage \u2013 Wine, beer and hard liquor do NOT quench thirst.<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Alternate one non-alcoholic beverage (sipped slowly) with each alcoholic drink. <\/b>A sparkling water with lime is a good drink to have in between, especially if you are watching calories. When you begin to feel buzzed, stop or take a break.<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Skip binge drinking.<\/b> Some dieters believe that if they save all their drinks for the weekend, they aren\u2019t consuming the same number of calories. Regardless, calories add up. In addition, binge drinkers end up developing conditions that may impair weight loss or maintenance.<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Drink on special occasions. <\/b>Consider having a few drinks to celebrate a special occasion or when meeting friends or family for dinner instead of having one or two drinks every weekend.<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Choose the right booze.<\/b> Look for drinks that contain the lowest calories. Keep in mind that many mixed cocktails can contain more calories than the alcohol itself<\/em>. A 5 oz glass of wine can contain up to 120 calories. Don\u2019t be fooled by the small shot glasses either. They can contain 60-100 calories per shot that can soon add up. Beer contains the highest amount of calories<\/strong> since it may have sugar (e.g. maltose) and carbs (i.e. cereal grains), providing about 150-200 calories and possibly leading to the renowned \u201cbeer belly\u201d if consumed in high amounts. Choose a sugar-free mixer if possible or anything with the word \u201cskinny\u201d or \u201clight\u201d. These drinks may contain less calories than their regular counterparts. Stay clear of any sugary mixer or juices, which are likely to be high in calories.<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Stick to proper measurements. <\/b>Keep track of drinks by sticking to the standard size of one drink at a time. With supersized beer mugs or fancy cocktail glasses, your \u201cone drink\u201d may be 2 or 3 in disguise.<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Balance your alcohol intake with a natural, low-sugar, low sodium diet.<\/b> Eat as cleanly as possible throughout the week, consisting of whole, natural ingredients such as fresh produce, whole grains and lean protein to maintain a healthy weight. It is especially important to eat a well-balanced meal before your drink alcohol. Never drink on an empty stomach as this may lead to binge eating or poor food choices.<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Boost hydration while drinking and the following day.<\/b> Flush your body of toxins by drinking more water every day, especially since alcohol can have a dehydrating effect on the body. Match every alcoholic beverage with an 8 oz glass of water. Finish the evening with a non-alcoholic drink, ideally a glass of water, to prevent hangovers.<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Add exercise into your daily routine after a night of drinking. <\/b>30 minutes to 1 hour of exercise can help shake the \u201calcohol fog\u201d as well as boost your metabolism.<\/p>\n Want to learn more about how to\u00a0have your cocktail and drink it too?<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0HOW TO KEEP YOUR FIGURE AND YOUR DRINKS TOO!!<\/h3>\n
HOW TO GET SKINNY LIBATIONS<\/h3>\n
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