Weight Loss Diet and Alcohol

There is a time and a place for having a few alcohol beverages, just not when you are trying to lose weight! When you eat/drink more calories than your body needs, your body stores fat and you gain weight. Pure alcohol has about 7 calories per gram, which is twice as fattening as carbs or protein (approx 4 calories per gram) and nearly as much as fat (9 calories per gram). So, while you are on a weight loss diet you have to be aware of have many calories you may be drinking.

Often people forget to add calories that they drink to their daily calorie intake. More damning is the fact that alcohol has no nutritional value for your body, they are empty calories. Alcohol is also a diuretic which cause dehydration and water loss. Important minerals which help you maintain weight such as magnesium; potassium; calcium and zinc are also lost during this water loss.

When you drink alcohol you get less rest as your body doesn't enter a deep sleep, which can result in you eating more calories the next day.

You can suffer serious health problems due to more stomach acid being produced whilst drinking alcohol.

One of the toughest aspects of drinking alcohol whilst on a weight loss diet is the false appetite you will get as it stimulates your appetite. Your willpower is also reduced which could lead to you over-eating or eating the wrong foods. Many bar foods that accompany alcohol are very salty, such as crisps or nuts, this will result in you drinking more and adding more calories to your daily intake.

It is very easy to forget how much alcohol is in each serving of alcohol and fizzy drinks. Whilst drinking alcohol you can easily forget how many calories you have digested. So next time you reach for alcoholic drinks whilst on a weight loss diet consider is it really worth the empty calories you will gain? Research has indicated that there is an increase of 33% of consumed calories at a meal whilst drinking. Alongside the extra weight you will gain, health issues can become a problem because of gaining weight around the abdominal area. A 'beer belly' puts you more at risk for type 2 disabilities, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Regulating your alcohol intake will not only make your weight loss diet more successful but also help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Tips for calorie reduction when drinking alcohol whilst on a weight loss diet:

• Drink a glass of water in between each alcohol drink
• Drink 'light' versions of the alcohol beverage
• Always have food in your stomach before drinking alcohol
• Sip your drink to make it last longer.

http://www.motivation.ie/programme/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_A_Maher