Drinking alcohol is a favorite activity at parties, clubs, social gatherings, and even a night out with friends. It’s practically impossible not to drink when you’re around people. Think about having to spend your weekend without going to a bar with your friends. Not just that, drinks are also beneficial for health. Some studies suggest that alcoholic drinks like red wine can reduce the risk of heart diseases.
Many people know that alcoholic drinks and the weight loss process don’t go hand in hand. But what if we told you there is a way you can continue drinking (in moderation) and still lose weight?
The idea that you have to get rid of food and everything good in your life to stay healthy is not the one we preach. We believe that you can drink and eat whatever you want (strategically) and still be able to shed pounds.
Now don’t get this wrong. Just because drinking alcohol is okay during weight loss doesn’t mean you should open up a new bottle of wine every night or chug beers after work. A balanced diet is key!
Let’s learn more about the relationship between alcohol and weight loss!
Excessive Consumption of Alcohol and Weight Loss
The truth is, too much of everything is harmful. This goes for alcohol as well. Even if you’re always eating healthy and working out regularly but get carried away when it comes to alcohol, you wouldn’t be able to lose any weight. Too much alcohol can sabotage your weight loss journey and have the opposite effect.
When you’re losing weight and eat calorie-deficit food, your body burns the reserved fat in your body, resulting in fat loss. When you’re drinking too much alcohol, it makes energy accessible to the body, due to which it doesn’t burn the reserved fat. Another side effect is that alcohol doesn’t contain the right kind of nutrients that you’d want to put into your body.
Hence, too much drinking can lead to weight gain, so you need to find a healthy balance and make sure that you’re not consuming too much alcohol.
Meals vs. Alcohol
Another thing you need to know is that if you choose to consume alcohol, you’ll need to cut back on fatty snacks and heavy meals. If you’re trying to get rid of belly fat or lose weight in general, you need to focus on avoiding drinking or eating high-calorie items.
If you’re consuming high-calorie food and drinking beer or margaritas, it will lead to weight gain. Fatty food increases appetite and triggers sugar cravings. Before you know it, you’re having late-night snacks and sugary items that will increase the fat deposits in your body.
Therefore, if you’re planning on going to a social event and consuming alcohol, it’s best to eat your greens and avoid high-calorie food and snacks.
How To Enjoy Alcohol and Lose Weight?
Weight loss programs that restrict your diet and make you avoid all the things that a body craves naturally aren’t sustainable in the long run. While we believe it takes a little bit of discipline and willpower, you can certainly lose weight effectively and enjoy all the good things in life, i.e., alcohol.
Here are a few tips for drinking alcohol without stalling your progress:
Drink in Moderation
As mentioned earlier, make sure you’re drinking in moderation and not drinking so much that it affects your weight loss in any way. Staying healthy and maintaining your weight is all about having a balanced diet.
Before you go out with your friends or head to a party, keep in mind that you’re only allowed one or two drinks at most. Commit yourself and try to stick to it. If you went overboard and had three glasses, stop there instead of throwing caution to the wind and drinking like a fish.
Healthier Drink Options
If you must have drinks on occasion, try to choose a healthier drink option than, say, a chocolate martini. A drink option that isn’t packed with calories will do the trick. Healthy drinks will allow you to drink on social occasions without consuming too many calories.
Here’s a list of alcoholic beverages you can choose from to limit your calorie intake:
- Vodka and soda
- Light beer
- Tequila with lime
- Champagne
- Gin and diet soda
- Dry martini
Stay Hydrated
For every glass of beer or red wine you drink, make sure you’re drinking a glass of water and staying hydrated. This will keep you hydrated and full, so you don’t drink more than you’re supposed.
Often, we carry around a glass of wine or beer in social gatherings even when we don’t need one and end up drinking the whole thing while talking to other people. Instead, carry around a glass of water, lime, or even soda to steer clear of alcoholic drinks.
Don’t Skip Workouts
The morning after your night out or having a drink is when you need to push yourself out of bed for an early morning exercise. If you have enrolled in a dance workout or yoga class in NYC, ensure you don’t miss it!
Skipping Meals
Some people try to make up for the alcohol calories they consumed the night before. This will only make things worse because you will starve yourself and eventually have a bigger and high-calorie meal.
Regardless of how much you drank last night, make sure you have healthy meals and stay hydrated throughout the day.
Drinks to Avoid
Here’s a list of drinks you should avoid if you’re losing weight:
- Pina colada
- White Russian
- Long island iced tea
- Margarita
- Mulled wine
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