Though people commonly joke about the “freshman 15” and beer
bellies, the simple truth is that alcohol contains calories; regular or excess
consumption of which can result in unwanted weight gain.
 |
| OJ vs Beer |
Calories
When considering the effects of alcohol on body weight,
drinkers should take a look at the average alcoholic beverage calorie count:
-Wine: (4-oz) 62 – 160 Cal
-Shot of Liquor: (1.5-oz) 115 – 200 Cal
-Beer: (12-oz.) 140 – 200 Cal
-Light Beer (12-oz.) 100 – 150 Cal
Food
The main rule of weight maintenance and loss is burning the
same or more calories per day than taken in via beverage and food. However, a
few key characteristics of alcoholic beverages, in addition to calorie count,
make them more prone to result in weight gain.
Alcohol consumption is typically associated with high-fat
food choices: wine with steak – beer with pizza. Alcohol also lowers the body’s
blood sugar levels, causing food cravings.
Body
In addition to the extra meals and snacks ingested,
alcohol’s “empty calorie” content holds little-to-no nutritional value. Though
beer may seem filling to some, it is no substitute for a well-balanced meal.
Once alcohol has been digested, our bodies convert portions
of it into fat. The liver is then tasked with converting the remainder into
acetate, which affects our fat metabolism rate. Simply put, when the body is
faced with high acetate levels, burning acetate – not fat - takes priority. As
such, the body must store the fatty calories, resulting in weight gain.
Need Help?
Looking for an alcohol
recovery inpatient facility? Pick up the phone and call Above it All! With
a team of seasoned drug and alcohol addiction specialists available to address
your individual needs, you can count on Above it All to have you on the fast
track to recovery in no time.
Those who are taking addiction treatment,encouraging participation in support groups is a type of counseling approach that helps people recognize that they are not alone in what they are going through.Intervention help
ReplyDeleteLike many people, at the start of the year, I made a resolution to decrease my alcohol intake.
DeleteDrink Less in Seven Days by Georgia Foster has really helped me stick to this resolution. Georgia is a clinical hypnotherapist and alongside the written version of the book, there are also 4 "Hypnosis Hub" recordings that readers are encouraged to access to help them with the program.
One of the great things about Drink Less in Seven Days is that Georgia (and I"m going to call her Georgia because she kind of feels like a friend) is totally non-judgemental about how much you drink, why you drink, why you feel you drink too much etc. I feel that this is an area where people carry a lot of shame and negative feelings and to have someone who approaches an emotional issue like this with absolute objectivity is helpful in driving the desired behaviours. She's on your side!
There are two main parts to Drink Less in Seven Days. The first is how your amygdala (the part of your brain that deals with emotions and fear/stress responses) can actually work against your efforts to quit or reduce your drinking. It shows you how to move your decision to drink away from this very instinctive part of your brain to your prefrontal cortex which is the part of your brain that is more concerned with considered decision-making.
I found this part of the book fascinating, particularly the parts where she spoke about silencing your inner critic.
However, it was the second part of the book, where Georgia broke down different personality types. what triggers them to drink and how to circumvent these triggers that I found most useful. (Also fascinating, if like me you love a good theory of behaviour and the ability to proclaim "Yes!!!! That's me!"). Because it makes total sense right? If you drink out of social anxiety (which is me a little bit) your methods to success will likely be different to someone who drinks because everyone around you is (also me a little bit).
The biggest take away for me was starting to understand what triggers my wanting to drink and learning alternative strategies should I decide not to. I think a really important thing about Drink Less in Seven Days is that it is NOT about quitting drinking altogether. It is about cutting down to a level that you are comfortable with, whatever that is for you. And this feels more manageable than quitting altogether.
The cru of this type of book though is does it work?
So here's the real deal. I started this program in January. It's now March and I can count the times I have drunk alcohol on one hand. During this time I have been to pubs, bars and restaurants, entertained at home and been entertained at other people's homes so it's not like I have been hiding myself away. I have been around alcohol and people drinking as much as I ever was.
Will I drink again? Almost definitely. For me, this experiment was never about giving up altogether. And I have far too much fun making cocktails for this to give it up completely! However, I feel that moving forward I will be able to drink in a more mindful considered way.
Thank you to Georgia Foster for a thoroughly fascinating book that does exactly what it says on the cover!
Here's a link to The 7 Days To Drink Less Online Alcohol Reduction Program.
John
When has anyone ever stopped at just 1 glass/shot? Unfortunately people link having fun with alcohol instead of sober activities.
ReplyDeletevery interesting post.this is my first time visit here.i found so mmany interesting stuff in your blog especially its discussion..thanks for the post!
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Thanks for sharing this useful information on how alcohol effects body weight.Alcohol consumption is maximum amongst youth and is a serious concern.This needs to be controlled.Regular counseling and medical meeting from professionals should be organized to guide youth about the adverse effects of alcohol consumption.If someone is addicted to substances,then that person should be advised for treatment.
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Thanks a lot for this great stuff!I would to shade some light on the topic how long does alcohol stay in urine then people will more aware by the harms of alcohol.
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