If you have started (or are about to start) a weight loss plan,
then the one thing that you'll definitely have to consider at some point
or another, is what effect your alcohol consumption will have on you
achieving your weight loss goals.
FACT: People who drink as a regular part of their weekly routine are never going to achieve the same results as those who don't. "But, what if I only occasionally have a few drinks?" I hear you ask. " Will this be harmful to my progress?"
To answer this question, let's examine the facts about the impact of alcohol on your body weight and fat loss efforts.
1. Alcohol And Calories
The first problem with regular alcohol consumption as a part of your diet, is the fact that it's a source of empty calories. Empty calories have the same energy content as "regular" calories, but are nutritionally sparse by comparison. They lack the accompanying nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and antioxidants.
As they have little/no additional nutritional value, calories from alcohol are mostly stored as fat. Add mixers (which are generally loaded with refined sugar) to the alcohol, and things get even worse!
Mixed drinks can often contain 300 or more calories, which can easily sabotage your fat loss progress. In addition, alcohol can impair your judgement with regards to making smart food choices. How often does a heavy night out end with you craving foods high in salt and processed fats? So you could end up feasting on kebabs, wings, nachos and pizza while drinking as well. On an average night out, you could easily consume in excess of 2000 calories, which is almost the equivalent of half a pound of body fat.
2. Alcohol And Fat Burning
Moving along, the next thing that you'll want to consider, is the effect that alcohol has on your body's fat burning ability. Soon after consuming an alcohol beverage, all fat burning comes to an immediate and abrupt halt.
Remember your body has one purpose: keeping you alive. As alcohol is a toxic substance (and a threat to your survival), your body will immediately start to get rid of it. Other metabolic processes, such as fat burning, will drop down the priority list and it's only after the alcohol has been metabolised and removed from your body, that you can continue burning fat.
3. Alcohol And Recovery
Finally, the last problem with consuming alcohol during your diet is the fact that it will interfere with your recovery ability. If you "reward yourself" with a drink relatively soon after a workout session, the process of rebuilding and repairing your muscle tissue is delayed and dramatically reduced.
Alcohol is one of the most common culprits responsible for slow/stalled progress in the gym. Since your effort and progress in the gym is a vital factor influencing how quickly you achieve the lean physique that you desire, this can really hinder your results.
So there you have the key reasons why regular drinking is not going to help your weight loss efforts - The Alcohol Triple Whammy! Of course, if you want to have one or two drinks, once a week - that's fine, it's not really going to impact things all that much.
However, if every weekend is a big weekend out, or you drink on a daily basis, the process of achieving your weight loss goals may become a very long and frustrating one.
FACT: People who drink as a regular part of their weekly routine are never going to achieve the same results as those who don't. "But, what if I only occasionally have a few drinks?" I hear you ask. " Will this be harmful to my progress?"
To answer this question, let's examine the facts about the impact of alcohol on your body weight and fat loss efforts.
1. Alcohol And Calories
The first problem with regular alcohol consumption as a part of your diet, is the fact that it's a source of empty calories. Empty calories have the same energy content as "regular" calories, but are nutritionally sparse by comparison. They lack the accompanying nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and antioxidants.
As they have little/no additional nutritional value, calories from alcohol are mostly stored as fat. Add mixers (which are generally loaded with refined sugar) to the alcohol, and things get even worse!
Mixed drinks can often contain 300 or more calories, which can easily sabotage your fat loss progress. In addition, alcohol can impair your judgement with regards to making smart food choices. How often does a heavy night out end with you craving foods high in salt and processed fats? So you could end up feasting on kebabs, wings, nachos and pizza while drinking as well. On an average night out, you could easily consume in excess of 2000 calories, which is almost the equivalent of half a pound of body fat.
2. Alcohol And Fat Burning
Moving along, the next thing that you'll want to consider, is the effect that alcohol has on your body's fat burning ability. Soon after consuming an alcohol beverage, all fat burning comes to an immediate and abrupt halt.
Remember your body has one purpose: keeping you alive. As alcohol is a toxic substance (and a threat to your survival), your body will immediately start to get rid of it. Other metabolic processes, such as fat burning, will drop down the priority list and it's only after the alcohol has been metabolised and removed from your body, that you can continue burning fat.
3. Alcohol And Recovery
Finally, the last problem with consuming alcohol during your diet is the fact that it will interfere with your recovery ability. If you "reward yourself" with a drink relatively soon after a workout session, the process of rebuilding and repairing your muscle tissue is delayed and dramatically reduced.
Alcohol is one of the most common culprits responsible for slow/stalled progress in the gym. Since your effort and progress in the gym is a vital factor influencing how quickly you achieve the lean physique that you desire, this can really hinder your results.
So there you have the key reasons why regular drinking is not going to help your weight loss efforts - The Alcohol Triple Whammy! Of course, if you want to have one or two drinks, once a week - that's fine, it's not really going to impact things all that much.
However, if every weekend is a big weekend out, or you drink on a daily basis, the process of achieving your weight loss goals may become a very long and frustrating one.
Uncover the science behind nutrition, fitness and well-being. See more articles like this at http://www.thewellnessworks.co.uk. Claim your FREE copy of my special report: "10 Tips To Turbocharge Your Fat Loss" today!
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr_Nathan_Curran
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