If you choose to consume alcohol, better options are wine (the
dryer the better), champagne, light beer, or mixed drinks made with
low-calorie mixers (water, sparkling water, diet sodas, light cranberry
juice, coffee, tea). The best options would be to choose lower-calorie
beers and if you are a fan of wine to make a wine spritzer using diet
soda.
Alcohol is a carbohydrate that provides energy in a form called "empty" calories because they do not provide any essential nutrients. Unlike nutrient-dense carbohydrates like whole-wheat foods, vegetables, and fruit that provide 4 calories of energy per gram, alcohol provides 7 calories/grams. It may directly promote fat storage by slowing down carbohydrate breakdown and also increase appetite. It may also cause bone weakness because alcohol takes the place of the actual nutrients needed. If consumed on a daily basis, or if one partakes in binge drinking once or twice a week, alcohol calories can add up and exceed the energy balance.
People trying to lose weight often overlook alcohol as being additive calories. On average, alcoholic drinks contain approximately 150 calories. Some mixed drinks, for example margaritas, can contain up to 500 calories in a single drink. If you consume one drink at 150 calories five days a week for an entire year, it is possible you would add eleven pounds to your waistline. If you do not consume one drink a day, how about the time you do go out and have three, five, or ten drinks? It does the same damage. For example, if you consume five drinks in one night a week for fifty-two weeks, you could be adding eight pounds to your image just from alcohol. Let's not forget the times when you binge drink and get the munchies. Late-night binging after a night of hard drinking is the ultimate recipe for disaster for one trying to get their weight on track.
Even if you are a habitual exerciser, additional calories from alcohol create extra work and set you back from reaching your goal. Not only does it affect your energy consumption, but it also affects the energy levels that determine the amount of activity you engage in the following day. This is due not only to consumption of excessive alcohol leading to "hangover" symptoms, but lack of sleep and dehydration as well.
If continued excessively for a long period, too much alcohol can lead to bone loss, an increase in cancer risk, and decrease in overall health. If weight loss is your goal, eliminating or limiting alcohol in your diet is a necessary modification. Alcohol in moderation is considered one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.
If you choose to consume alcohol, better options are wine (the dryer the better), champagne, light beer, or mixed drinks made with low-calorie mixers (water, sparkling water, diet sodas, light cranberry juice, coffee, tea). The best options would be to choose lower-calorie beers and if you are a fan of wine to make a wine spritzer using diet soda.
Alcohol is a carbohydrate that provides energy in a form called "empty" calories because they do not provide any essential nutrients. Unlike nutrient-dense carbohydrates like whole-wheat foods, vegetables, and fruit that provide 4 calories of energy per gram, alcohol provides 7 calories/grams. It may directly promote fat storage by slowing down carbohydrate breakdown and also increase appetite. It may also cause bone weakness because alcohol takes the place of the actual nutrients needed. If consumed on a daily basis, or if one partakes in binge drinking once or twice a week, alcohol calories can add up and exceed the energy balance.
People trying to lose weight often overlook alcohol as being additive calories. On average, alcoholic drinks contain approximately 150 calories. Some mixed drinks, for example margaritas, can contain up to 500 calories in a single drink. If you consume one drink at 150 calories five days a week for an entire year, it is possible you would add eleven pounds to your waistline. If you do not consume one drink a day, how about the time you do go out and have three, five, or ten drinks? It does the same damage. For example, if you consume five drinks in one night a week for fifty-two weeks, you could be adding eight pounds to your image just from alcohol. Let's not forget the times when you binge drink and get the munchies. Late-night binging after a night of hard drinking is the ultimate recipe for disaster for one trying to get their weight on track.
Even if you are a habitual exerciser, additional calories from alcohol create extra work and set you back from reaching your goal. Not only does it affect your energy consumption, but it also affects the energy levels that determine the amount of activity you engage in the following day. This is due not only to consumption of excessive alcohol leading to "hangover" symptoms, but lack of sleep and dehydration as well.
If continued excessively for a long period, too much alcohol can lead to bone loss, an increase in cancer risk, and decrease in overall health. If weight loss is your goal, eliminating or limiting alcohol in your diet is a necessary modification. Alcohol in moderation is considered one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.
If you choose to consume alcohol, better options are wine (the dryer the better), champagne, light beer, or mixed drinks made with low-calorie mixers (water, sparkling water, diet sodas, light cranberry juice, coffee, tea). The best options would be to choose lower-calorie beers and if you are a fan of wine to make a wine spritzer using diet soda.
Lose the Baggage, Lose the Weight
Copyright ©2013 by Lorna Stremcha. All rights reserved. http://www.lornastremcha.com
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Copyright ©2013 by Lorna Stremcha. All rights reserved. http://www.lornastremcha.com
