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The Not so Skinny on Alcohol

So, you’ve been exercising regularly, and following your weight loss program fairly well. You’re making some great changes but the number on the scale isn’t moving much and your body isn’t changing shape as quickly as you’d hoped. There may be another habit that’s hampering your weight loss efforts; alcohol.

Perhaps you enjoy a glass of wine with dinner, a couple of beers while watching the big game, or a few cocktails on a Saturday night with friends. For some, a drink with dinner is relaxing. Others may enjoy the affects of feeling uninhibited and “letting loose” with friends. Many people even drink for the health benefits. Evidence has suggested that moderate drinking, especially that of red wine, may lower the risk of heart disease.  No matter what your reasons are for drinking alcohol, it may be interfering with your weight loss progress.

Alcohol is a by-product of fermenting carbohydrates.  These carbohydrates contain sugar, starch and calories.  More specifically, alcohol contains 7 calories per gram of carbohydrate while non-alcohol carbohydrates contain only 4 calories per gram.   Drinking 4 (12 ounce) beers will supply your body with 600 calories. To burn off those calories, you would need to walk non-stop for 3 hours!

Adding juice, creams, liqueurs, and sodas to cocktails increase the calorie count above and beyond that of the alcohol. In some cases, one drink will exceed the calorie count of an entire meal! The drinks topping the scales for the most calories are:

Lemon Drop Martini	223
Long Island Iced Tea	780
Mai Tai	350
Margarita	740
Pina Colada	644
Sex on the Beach	356
White Russian	425

Written by, M. Raffito
Edited by, G. Spenc

 

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