Drinking?

Can You Drink and Lose Weight?


Whether it's cocktails on ladies' night out, a beer at the bar, or a glass of wine with dinner, most of us enjoy a drink (or two!) every now and again. But remember what I've been teaching you: In addition to being aware of the foods that are good for you, you need to know which ones are not so great. And let's face it — alcohol is in the latter camp.

Simply, alcohol can sabotage your weight-loss efforts. It releases estrogen into your bloodstream, promotes fat storage, and decreases muscle growth. As soon as you have a drink, your body eats up all the glycogen (stored glucose) in your liver, makes you hungry, and reduces your inhibitions, so you're more likely to grab that chicken wing or stuffed potato skin at happy hour. Plus, alcoholic drinks contain many more calories than most people think — a 20-ounce serving of beer can pack 250 calories, a 6-ounce glass of wine contains 120, and a 1.5-ounce shot of liquor contains about 100. And that's without any sugary mixers.

If you're serious about losing weight, it's best to put alcohol aside until you're in maintenance mode. If you are going to have a drink, choose wine, which may protect the heart and help lower inflammation, or a drink with clear alcohol and no sugary mixers, such as a vodka and club soda or a Patron on the rocks with lime. One drink a day probably maxes out the benefits, though, so keep a cork in your alcohol consumption.

Choose Organic Wine

If you're going to have a drink, choose organic wine that's produced without pesticides or preservatives such as sulfites. About 1 in 20 people are allergic to sulfites (people with asthma are particularly vulnerable), and many swear that sulfites are behind the "cheap wine" hangover. All wine contains sulfites, but added sulfites can be 10 to 20 times the natural amount, so check labels for added sulfites. Once you've started drinking wines without them, you'll never want to go back — you'll taste the difference right away.