Reducing or eiliminating the amount of alcohol you consume will dramatically support your weight loss endeavors. In fact, any fitness goal for that matter.
While drinking alcohol is a favorite past time for all of us, it plays a major role in weight management. Anyone looking to lose any amount of weight or maintain their weight loss should consider skipping that evening glass of wine, beer, or cocktail. Here are 8 ways that alcohol will impede your weight loss.
1) Alcohol is "Empty" Calories
-Alcoholic drinks are often referred to as "empty" calories. This means that they provide your body with calories but they contain very little, to no nutrients at all. There are alomost 155 calories in one 12-punce can of beer, and 125 calories in a 5-ounce glass of red wine. Drinks that have mixers, such as fruit juice or soda, contain even more calories. A single night out with a few drinks can significantly eliminate several days of hard work managin your calorie intake and ruin progress on the scale.
2) Alcohol Is Used as a Primary Source of Fuel
-There are several other elements tha can cause weight gain from alcohol outside of simpy its' calories content. When alcohol is consumed it has to be burned and metabolized as a fuel source before your body uses anything else. This includes glucose from carbohydrates or lipds from fats. When this happens and your body is using alcohol as a primary fuel source, the excess glucose and lipids unfortunately end up getting stored as adipose tissue. AKA fat.
3) Alcohol Effects Your Organs
-The primary role of the liver is to act as the "filter" for any foreign substances that enter the body, such as drugs and alcohol. The liver also plays a vital role in the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. When we consume alcohol, even in small amounts, the liver is completely preoccupied with metabolizing the alcohol and getting rid of it as it only recognizes alcohol as a toxin, nothing more. While this is happening the liver cannot regulate the other processes that it is responsible for, like protein synthesis or lipolysis. AKA muscle building or fat loss. Excess alcohol consumption can lead to what is known as alcoholic fatty liver. This condition can damage your liver, affecting the way your body metabolizes and stores carbohydrates and fats. Changes in the way your body stores energy from food can make it very difficult and frustrating to lise weight.
4) Alcohol Can Contribute to Excess Bellyfat
-The "beer gut" isn't just a myth. Foods high in simple sugars, such as those found in candy, soda, and even beer, are also high in calories. Extra calories end up getting stored as fat in the body. Consuming foods and drinks high in sugar can quickly lead to weight gain. We can't necessarily choose or decide where all that extra weight will accumulate, but it will almost always accumulate in the abdominal area.
5) Alcohol Effects Judgement Calls... Especially With Food
-Even the most die-hard diet fan will have a hard time fighting the urge to dig into unhealthy, high calorie food options when intoxicated. Alcohol lowers inhibitors and can lead to poor decision-making in the heat of the moment. Especially when it comes to food choices. However, the effects of alcohol surpass even social drinking social drinking etiquette. Animal studies have found that mice given ethanol over a period of three days demonstrated a significant increase in food intake during that time. This study suggests that alcohol can actually trigger hunger signals in the brain, leading to an increased urge to eat more food.
6) Alcohol and Sex Hormones
-It's long been known that alcohol intake can affect levels of hormones in the body, especially testosterone. Testosterone is a sex hormone that plays a role in many metabolic processes, including muscle formation and fat burning capabilities. One study found that low testosterone levels may predict the prevalence of metabolic sydrome in men. Metabolic sydrome is characterized by:
-High cholesterol
-High blood sugar levels
-High blood pressure
-High body mass index
Plus, testosterone levels may effect quality of sleep as well.
7) Alcohol Can Negatively Effect Your Sleep
-A nightcap before bed may sound like a ticket to a good night's rest but you may want to reconsider. Research suggests that alcohol can lead to increased periods of wakefulness during sleep cycles. Spee deprivation, whether from lack of sleep or imparied sleep, can lead to an imbalance in the hormones related to hunger, satiety, and energy storage.
8) Alcohol Effects Digestion and Nutrient Uptake
-Your cosial anxiety isn't the only thing that alcohol inhibits. Intake of alcoholic beverages can also inhibit proper digestice function. Alcohol can cause stress on the stomach and the intestines. This leads to decreased digestive secretions and movement of food through the GI tract. Digestive secretions are an essential element of healthy digestion. They break down food into the basic macro- and micronutrients that are absorbed and used by the body. Alcohol intake of all levels can lead to impaired digestion and absorption of these nutrients. This can greatly affect the metabolism of organs that play a role in weight management.
