WEIGHT LOSS AND ALCOHOL – CAN YOU DRINK AND STILL STAY IN SHAPE?

Alcohol and weight loss don’t go very well together. Learn how calories in your drink, after-drink snacks, and metabolism changes can slow your progress.

When we talk about losing weight, alcohol is often not part of the conversation. It doesn’t feel like “food,” so we don’t always count it. But in fact, alcohol has a lot of calories and almost no nutrition. One glass of wine or a beer can already add many calories to your day.

Alcohol also slows down your metabolism. While your body is busy breaking down alcohol, it stops burning fat and other nutrients. It can also make you feel hungrier and less mindful, which means you might eat snacks or dessert you didn’t plan to.

This doesn’t mean you have to quit alcohol completely. But it’s important to understand how it affects your body and why it can slow down your results. How often and how much you drink also matters. Even one glass of wine every evening can quietly stop your weight from going down.

The main thing is to be honest about your habits. If weight loss is your goal, it might be time to take a closer look at alcohol.

Three simple tips:

1. Drink only when it really feels worth it. You don’t have to say “yes” every time. Choose moments where a drink brings real joy.

   
   

2. Plan your snacks. If you know you’ll be drinking, have some healthy snacks ready.

   
   

3. Drink slowly and with water. Have a glass of water between drinks — it helps you stay balanced and feel better.