how bad is alcohol and beer when dieting??? is it really that fattening?

Answer 1

One of the earlier posters was on the right track. In addition to the empty calories and the relative ease with which a person can toss down an extra 1000 calories without even thinking about it (note: this doesn't include that late night after-bar run to the pizza place), alcohol has an effect on a persons metabolism and fat storage.

The body metabolizes alcohol in very much the same way that it metabolizes simple sugars. Your bodies glycogen stores get filled up very quickly and the excess simple sugars store as fat. Also, when you consume an excess amount of these simple sugars, your body feeds off of these before it will feed off of your fat stores.

I recently had an experience with this bodily function with (of all freaking things) fruit! I thought that I had simply hit a plateau in my diet because the scale hadn't budged in a week (not even a tenth of a pound). I changed my exercise, the amount I ate, nothing changed! I started to think about it and the only thing I had recently changed in my diet was that I had started eating more fruit. In fact, I had replaced my afternoon snack and after dinner snack with fruit and had mixed fruit in during other times of the day in an effort to be healthy. After doing some research online, I discovered this effect of simple sugars and alcohol on the body. I cut it all out and a week later the scale is 2 pounds lighter.

In all honesty, you can drink if you really need to, but do so in modesty and limit it to once a week. If you do drink, just make sure you get back on the horse the next day (lord knows how easy it is just to sit in bed and eat crap when you are hung over). Good luck.

Answer 2

You need to start try to stop drinking all the calories possible....at least cut WAY back on them. I've stop drinking alcohol for the month of march....with the exception is st paddy's day. So far I've lost about an extra pound a week. If you really love drinking or enjoy it then pick one day out of the week....like friday or saturday and drink then. I had a friend that lost about 60 lbs in 6 months doing this. He also workout to Aerobics 7 days a week for 45 minutes and watched what he ate during the week.

Answer 3

Oh, I've just read about this, aren't you lucky. So, apparently it's not only the extra calories from the alcohol itself that you need to worry about, there is now speculation that drinking alcohol with your meal slows your metabolism and digestion. So if you are trying to lose weight, nix the alcohol. It really does have a lot of calories on its own, but add that to slowing your ability to burn calories and you're sabotaging your diet!

Answer 4

It's not the fat. It's high in calories. An average beer has about 150 calories in it. That adds up fast and you'll wonder why you're not losing the weight. I've recently lost about 25 pounds since January and I don't even drink soft drinks anymore due to the calories. (I hate diet root beer) You have to make up your mind what's more important... drinking or getting in shape.

Answer 5

Unfortunately, it defeats the whole purpose of dieting - especially the good drinks. They are useless carbs that go straight to the storage units (tummy,hips and thighs). I substitute sparkling water - no added anything - like San Pelligrino, but I put it in my beer, wine or margarita glasses with a wedge of lemon or lime, sometimes an umbrella, just for the visual satisfaction.

Answer 6

Yes it is!!! A few years ago when I was always partying and drinking of course my friends and I all gained weight especially since we drank beer. We stopped partying that hard and do not drink that much and we all lost weight. But if you drink beer stick with the lighter versions. They may not sound all that great but trust me it helps. I LOVE my Heinekens and switched to Heineken Light and do not feel as bloated when drinking the regular stuff.

Answer 7

IN the break down of alcohol in the system there is an increase of sugar, which is carb-based, so , yes, it is bad to consume alcohol and beer when one is trying to be more health- conscious

Answer 8

I -12 oz lite beer equals approximately one slice of bread.
1 - 4 0z glass of wine = 2 large apples.

You shouldn't drink ALL your bread and apples.

On occasion it's okay...but you must trade out the calories from what you are eating. Total calories are the key.

Answer 9

It isn't too bad, just empty calories. On weight watchers 2 lightbeers is the equivalent of one soda. Stay away from mixers and sweetened or frozen drinks. Lots of calories. The drink with the lowest calories is vodka and diet soda.

Answer 10

Oooooh yeah. I think I packed on about 30 lbs since I upped my daily regiment to a 12pack per night. Hard liquor is more concentrated but still has a lot of carbs and sugar calories. I think I might need to switch to heroin.