Posted by Steve

We have all heard the term “beer belly”; I had a nice-sized one and I do not even drink beer. Still, I found it very interesting that men I know who drink plenty of beer but otherwise eat healthy end up having an ample-sized gut. The guys I know who ate poorly and drank beer end up being quite large. During my research, I found out this is no accident. Alcohol is a culprit against a slim physique. While I picked on beer drinkers just now, it does not matter what form the alcohol is consumed in; wine, hard liquor, the alcohol still causes problems when you are trying to lose your fat.

First off, alcohol has one of the highest calorie densities; at seven calories per gram, it is second only to fat itself at nine calories per gram. Additionally, the alcoholic drinks themselves have calories, particularly beer and wine, on top of the caloric value of the alcohol. If this were all there were to alcohol, it would only seem to be a matter managing alcohol with total caloric intake. Unfortunately, alcohol has another effect that directly impacts fat burning. When alcohol is being metabolized in your body, the liver cuts back on metabolizing your fat. The more alcohol you consume, the greater this impact is. However, even a small amount of alcohol - the amount found in a single drink - can have a noticeable effect on fat loss. So while a 12-ounce light beer may have only 95 calories or a 3.5-ounce glass of wine has 140, the interference effect of the alcohol may in fact add the equivalence of 100 or more calories in terms of fat that does not get burnt. And the effect becomes greater with each drink you consume.

Does this mean then you must completely give up drinking in order to lose weight ? Not permanently, but here is what I suggest though: during the periods you are specifically are trying to burn off fat, avoid drinking any alcohol. Your weight loss efforts will thank you for that. Once you reach your target weight, then enjoy your drinks in moderation. If you really need to enjoy your drink, try to limit yourself to one per day. I too enjoy a nice class of port wine, but when my fitness goal is to burn off fat, it is hands off for me. When I am finished with that phase, I celebrate with a couple of glasses that evening. Of course when at a social occasion, such as a party or wedding, a few drinks will not hurt. However, if you are serious about becoming lean, lay off the alcohol for a short period. Your figure will look all the better as a result.

By Don Carlin