Wine and Your Waistline: How Alcohol Affects Weight Loss

For many of us, alcohol goes hand in hand with fun and relaxation. 
 
So, it’s no wonder why many people want to know how much booze they can get away with drinking and still achieve their health, fitness, and fat-loss goals. 
 
As a social drinker myself, I really, really want to tell you that this article will end with the kind of advice I’d like to hear: “Go ahead! Drink as much wine as you want and enjoy effortless weight loss!” Unfortunately, it’s just not that simple. And as fun and relaxing as a glass of wine can be, it will not help your weight loss goals. ​

 The negative effect of alcohol: 
 
Affects Fat Burning
Alcohol can affect the amount that your body can burn. When alcohol passes the liver, it produces a by-product called Acetate, which inhibits fat burning capabilities of the body. This means that if you drink alcohol constantly, the fat burning processes in your body take a back seat. 

Increases Appetite
Alcohol consumption results in increase of appetite more than any other type of drink. Not only do meals appear tastier and more appetizing when there is a bottle of beer to pair with it, people also get hungry more after drinking alcohol. 

Decreases Testosterone
Drinking alcohol can decrease the production of testosterone and increase that of cortisone, a muscle-destroying hormone. 

Reduces Vitamin and Mineral Absorption
Another harmful effect of alcohol that has something to do with weight is the decrease in vitamin and mineral absorption. This happens because when you consume too much alcohol, the liver becomes preoccupied in turning alcohol into acetate. Therefore, any vitamins and minerals that you take in just goes straight to the detoxification process.
 
Causes Dehydration
Since alcohol is a diuretic, which can elevate rate of urination, it can cause dehydration. Hydration is very important not only to weight loss, but also to general health. It can impair the progress of your weight loss program and at the same time, affect your overall well-being.
 
 
Those negative effects of alcohol can be a huge barrier for fat loss, and this is something that I see many clients struggle with, time and time again. They feel like they deserve a glass or two of wine because they’ve had a hard day or week, as a way to unwind, or as a reward because they’ve been eating well and exercising.

I understand that having a couple of cocktails can be part of a social event, and once in a while, that is to be expected! But I’m seeing a rising trend in the number of people drinking wine almost every night! 

If you’re having a hard time losing body fat, and you’re eating well, moving a lot, and getting plenty of sleep, I encourage you to temporarily remove alcohol completely for two to three weeks—don’t change anything else—and see what you notice. I’m willing to bet that you’ll be pleasantly surprised.