Alcohol and Weight Loss: Do Drinks Make It Hard to Get Skinny?

Concerned about drinking alcohol and losing weight? There are a few essentials to learn and adapt to in making healthier habits. Beer, wine, and liquor can affect us differently. The type of alcohol not only has different nutritional value, but it also matters to slowing weight loss. While some chose to eliminate alcohol while losing weight, others can drink in balance and moderation and still get skinny. When learning to count and measure what we consume, it becomes easier to make better habits last.

During certain times of the year, and during times of unique challenges, eating and drinking can become a challenge. Especially during the pandemic, there are reports of more people consuming more than normal. Why does it get so hard to maintain healthier habits? We all respond to stress in our ways and for some of us, an extra drink or favorite meal helps us feel good, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, indulging can get out of hand quickly, especially if we make excuses to cheat. And it does not mean throwing in the towel or needing to completely start over when trying to lose weight.

At Smaller U Weightloss, we work with our members who lose weight on customized nutrition plans that can include balanced and moderate alcohol while losing weight and keeping it off.

Read Smaller U Weightloss Program Details on our website!  

Beer, Wine, and Liquor Affect Weight Loss Differently

Most adults notice weight gain with drinking as metabolisms slow down with age. And when life slows us down and we are less active, alcohol becomes more of a concern when trying to maintain weight loss. When we Google questions about the best beverages for weight loss, we find endless information in search results. Remember that the alcoholic beverage industries are contributors to some of what we may read. All the articles about the benefits of red wine are helpful and informative but might not tell the whole story. What they might not tell you is that a glass of red wine will kick you out of a fat-burning state for up to four days.

Aside from that beer or wine taking you out of fat-burning mode for up to four days, the carbohydrates and sugars are not your friends when trying to lose weight. Meanwhile, if you drink liquor your fat burn interruption is only three to four hours. At Smaller U Weightloss, our program can allow for 2 shots of hard liquor per week but please understand that even that amount affects weight loss.

How Long Does Alcohol Stop Fat Burning?

When drinking alcohol, what to remember is that when the body consumes alcohol, it has no way to store the caloric energy and so it uses it as an energy source first and metabolizes the alcohol before other sources of energy. Therefore, while metabolizing alcohol, the body is not burning any fat for energy. Weight loss results are delayed by alcohol and this is something to understand so that weight loss delays are not blamed on another factor.

How long alcohol stops fat burning can vary among people, as everyone has a unique metabolism, and some people report longer interruptions to fat-burning than others. At Smaller U Weightloss we create balanced and moderation-based plans to minimize the effects of alcohol and weight loss. Higher carb and calorie counts are important to consider if choosing to drink on a weight loss plan, so if that glass of dry red wine with dinner on Friday is essential, enjoy, but be aware.

Eating Before Drinking Alcohol While Losing Weight

How many times have you heard people joke about drinking their calories? This is not a good idea for several important reasons. First, because the carbs and sugars in alcohol supply quick and easy energy, your body is not burning food or fat. But why would it matter to eat before drinking while losing weight? Studies over time establish the fact that food absorbs alcohol and prevents its immediate digestion in our intestines. And if hungry or having low blood sugar, one might drink more to not feel hungry, which is ultimately counterproductive.

The Healthy Article: Here’s Why Drinking Alcohol Can Make You Hungry

One of the studies in the UK reported that “alcohol switches the brain into starvation mode, increasing hunger and appetite, scientists have discovered.” (Source: BBC, Alcohol flips brain into hungry mode) Too much alcohol has too often been to blame for regrettable late-night cravings and counterproductive decisions.

Can You Lose More Weight by Avoiding Alcohol?

When working hard at losing weight we can maximize every opportunity to get the most out of food and exercise. The amount of knowledge learned about low carb and sugar weight loss naturally favors quicker weight loss when alcohol is avoided. Anyone trying to lose a significant amount of weight by burning and collapsing fat should consider abstaining from alcohol. People who stop drinking altogether can realize quicker weight loss goals.

Healthline Article: Here’s What Happens to Your Body When You Cut Out Alcohol for 30 Days

Practicing Balance and Moderation to Maintain Healthier Habits

If considering allowing a drink or two and the Smaller U Weightloss plan allows, pick, and chose when to drink alcohol. Think about how many social situations, business networking, and family events involve alcohol. While some make their own rules of limiting to one drink per event, others limit at which events they might even have that one drink. Especially when on a weight loss plan, there is so much effort and diligence involved in achieving great weight loss results that last. Why risk messing all that up with the temptations of social drinking?

Habits are made and undone over time and repetition. When developing new and healthier habits, being knowledgeable about balance and moderation is important. It might be a good idea to just say no to any alcoholic drinks at frequently attended events where alcohol is served. There are so many busy networkers in DFW who chose not to drink in public for all kinds of reasons and while it might be a different habit to get used to, after a while, healthier habits become second nature.

What Are the Best Drinks to Keep Losing Weight?

The best drinks to keep losing weight are drinks that are least likely to knock you off your weight lossgoals. Especially on social occasions, we like to have a drink in our hand, and soda water with a fresh lime tastes simply fine and might keep others from continually offering you a drink. And if your Smaller U Weightloss plan allows an alcoholic drink, some recommendations are 1) Vodka (Tito’s is a GF favorite) with soda and lime, or 2) Tequila on the rocks with two juiced limes and a dash of club soda or Topo Chico. Remember to drink water between drinks and stay hydrated. You also may feel fuller by drinking water and are likely to drink fewer alcoholic drinks and feel better about good self-control and healthier habits.

Wherever one may be on their journey to lose extra weight and keep it off, being aware of alcohol and weight loss issues is important to success in maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle.

Learn Answers to Alcohol and Weight Questions at Smaller U Weightloss.

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