How Alcohol Affects Weight Loss
Anybody wanting to lose weight should realize the effect that alcohol has on weight loss. This seems to be one of the mistakes that a lot of people make. They diligently exercise and eat healthy. The one thing that is overlooked is the effect that alcohol can have on one’s weight loss initiative.
Alcohol is like rocket fuel. It takes precedence over fat and carbohydrate as the body’s fuel of choice. In the presence of alcohol, fat and carbohydrate is stored in your fat cells. In other words, alcohol consumption completely halts fat burning until all the alcohol is excreted from the body.
Alcohol also increases appetite. This does not help the situation as all the extra calories consumed would be stored in the fat cells. Alcohol consumption is usually accompanied with meals loaded with fat.
Alcohol also affects testosterone levels. Testosterone production dips in the presence of alcohol. The body breaks down alcohol in the testes. Enzymes that are critical for the production of testosterone are diverted to the break down of alcohol.
Drinking also spikes cortisol levels. This further exacerbates the situation. Spikes cortisol levels stunt the production of growth hormones and testosterone.
Alcohol also dehydrates the body. Dehydration severely affects cell metabolism. Dehydration also affects fat loss as the cells are not able to effectively burn fat.
What about people who are able to lose weight and build muscles while drinking. These people are on the extreme end of the bell curve. Their bodies are equally affected by alcohol. If they abstain from alcohol, they will definitely be able to get better fat loss or better muscle building.
Anyone wanting to lose weight should cut alcohol consumption or abstain from it completely.
For further reading;
- Alcohol’s Effects on Weight Loss – Part 1
- Alcohol’s Effects on Weight Loss – Part 2
- Alcohol’s Effect on Testosterone and How It Affects Fat Burning
Also download the FREE EBook entitled “All You Need to Know About Alcohol and Weight Loss”
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11/01/2010
Excellent points, as usual. Another big problem concerning alcohol and fat loss is the fact that alcohol calories are completely empty counter-productive calories that are so easily consumed. Just as you mentioned in Part 2, it’s nothing for someone to drink an extra three hundred calories in one sitting without realizing how quickly it will add up to extra fat pounds over time.
14/01/2010
Thanks for your valuable feedback Aaron. The negative effects of alcohol on someone trying to lose weight are very often underestimated. People do not realize how it is sabotaging their weight loss efforts. While it is impossible for people to completely stop taking alcohol, they could abstain from it until they achieve their weight loss or fitness goals.
23/01/2010
I need help
23/06/2010
great article, when it all comes down to it alcohol is plain and simple not good for the body, the negative affect far out weight the positive so if we were to drink we should think of how much and how often.
23/06/2010
Thanks for your comment. You are absolutely right. The worst thing is that alcohol halts fat burning. WHy would anyone wanting to lose weight consume something that completely halts fat burning?
24/06/2010
I’ve had numerous clients that do almost everything right, train hard 4-5 days a week, keep their diet in check all week and then go and ‘piss up’ half of their fantastic progress by binge drinking on the weekends. It has mainly been the young males who are concentrating on building muscle and trying to lose that extra few kg of fat to see a six pack, that then go and have 10-15 beers on the weekends with their mates. It can become quite frustrating to try and break that routine especially the young 18-25 age group. Thats not to say the female who are training dont sabotage their fitness goals as well. A weekend of binge drinking with the sugary RTD alco-pops and it can be enough calories to waste a whole weeks work of training and exercise.
08/02/2011
Great article and helpful tips. It’s nice to see that people still take the time to teach others by offering free advice and information. That’s what keeps `em coming back!
13/10/2011
It would definitely make sense if you avoid drinking alcoholic drinks, for one thing this does not do any good for you when losing weight.
14/10/2011
Alcohol has nothing to do with your weight loss as well as the other aspects of your health. it clearly make sense if you get rid of it.
17/10/2011
Instead of alcohol why not try other types of beverages which are much healthier and more potent in weight loss.
21/01/2012
Great post, As a nutritionist, I’ve learned that alcohol is a bit of a tough one to advise on. In moderate amounts (about a drink a day), the research shows quite robustly that it is beneficial to our health. It has a nice impact on HDL cholesterol, improves insulin sensitivity and has been shown to reduce mortality in cohort studies. However, I totally agree with your points on weight loss. Alcohol can completely sabotoge the weight loss effort. Add to this the fact that some people are predisposed to alcoholism genetically and the picture gets even more confusing. I generally advise my weight loss clients to limit alcohol to 4 drinks per week or less. I’ve found this amount will allow for some of the health benefits of alcohol but will not prevent weight loss.Dr. Tom Halton