How Is Alcohol Affecting Your Weight?

By: Meri Raffetto

So you've been exercising regularly, and cutting back on your
calories to meet your weight loss goals. Everything is going
great with your new changes but you notice the number on the
scale isn't moving much and your body isn't changing shape as
quickly as you'd hoped. There may be one more habit interfering
with your weight loss efforts- -alcohol. Perhaps you enjoy a
glass of wine with dinner, have a couple of beers while watching
the big game, or even cocktails on a Saturday night with
friends. All common practices but they may be getting in the way
of your weight loss efforts.

Alcoholic beverages have been enjoyed throughout recorded
history. For some, a drink with dinner may be relaxing. Others
may enjoy the inhibitions that alcohol can create to "let loose"
with friends. Many people drink for the health benefits.
After-all, evidence shows that moderate drinking, especially red
wine, may lower the risk of heart disease. No matter what your
reasons are for drinking, alcohol can interfere with your weight
loss goals.

Alcohol is a product of fermenting carbohydrates- both sugars
and starches. This means it does provide calories. Specifically
it provides 7 calories for every gram compared to 4 calories per
gram of carbohydrates and protein, and 9 calories per gram of
fat. Drinking 4 (12 ounce) beers will supply 600 calories. To
burn those calories, a person would need to walk non-stop for 3
hours. Skipping the cab ride and walking home may be a strategy
but for most of us a 3 hour walk is a bit daunting even when we
are in good shape.

Although wine contains fewer calories than beer, this can also
lead to extra calories. Having a glass of wine provides 100
calories, but this is dependent on the glass size. A serving
size of wine is 5-ounces. The larger wine glasses hold about 10
ounces turning your one glass of wine into two glasses. To put
this into perspective, drinking two glasses of wine each night
with dinner will add an extra 200 calories each day. If these
calories are not burned through exercise and daily activity it
can lead to a 20 pound weight gain in a year.

Adding juice, creams, and sodas to cocktails will increase the
calorie level beyond what the alcohol is already providing. Be
careful of what you are drinking. In some cases, one drink
provides more calories than an entire meal! Here are the drinks
that top the scales for most calories-

Long Island Iced Tea: 780 calories Margarita: 740 calories Pina
Colada: 644 calories White Russian: 425 calories Sex on the
Beach: 356 calories Mai Tai: 350 calories Lemon Drop: 223
calories

Besides adding calories, alcohol may affect your weight for
other reasons. Some evidence suggests drinking alcoholic
beverages may stimulate your appetite and cause you to eat more
than you normally would. It also decreases your inhibitions so
you don't care how much more you are eating. How many times have
you enjoyed chips and salsa with your margaritas while out with
friends? How many chips did you eat? Who knows- all you remember
is the waiter bringing three or four refills of the chip bowl.

Another factor to take into account is that your body processes
alcohol first, before fat, protein, or carbohydrates which may
slow down the burning of fat. There is also evidence that
drinking too much seems to increase fat carried in the stomach
area- otherwise known as the beer belly. Studies show that
people with a higher amount of fat in the abdominal region are
at a greater risk of heart disease.

Ok, this is looking dreary but it doesn't mean you can never
enjoy alcohol again. It just means that it is time to take
inventory to see how much you are drinking and pay attention to
how many calories your favorite drinks supply. Learn how to
enjoy alcohol in moderation so you don't end up sabotaging your
weight loss efforts.

© 2005, Meri Raffetto

About the author:
Owner of Real Living Nutrition Services, Meri Raffetto is a
recognized professional in the area of nutrition and wellness.
She specializes in weight management and cardiovascular
nutrition and offers online programs to help people reach their
weight loss and health goals. For more information or to sign up
for a free newsletter visit http://www.reallivingnutrition.com.

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