A nice glass of of wine is one of life's pleasures.
However, one glass of wine a night or more can add up to some added calories that begin to show in parts of your body you wish it hadn't!
The reason is probably NOT one you even think about. When people are drinking wine or any other alcohol, the odds are that you are also EATING more food with it!
Alcohol temporarily keeps your body from burning fat.
First the science behind it in lay-person's terms! :
The reason is that your body can't store calories from alcohol for later, the way it does from food calories. So when you drink, your metabolic system must stop what it's doing (like burning calories from your last meal) to get rid of the booze.
Drinking presses "pause" on your metabolism, shoves away the other calories and says "break me down first!" The result is that anything you have recently eaten gets stored as fat.
What's worse is that research has shown that alcohol especially decreases fat burn in the belly. That's why you never hear about "beer hips." You hear Beer / Wine Belly"
Show me a gal that drinks wine every day and does not exercise, and I will show you someone who has "muffin top" !
Your best bet is to drink moderately, choose your drinks wisely (go for vodka-soda with lemon, or opt for a glass of wine over a sugary piña colada) and accompany them with a tasty, healthy, well-balanced meal, including loads of veggies, some lean protein, and healthy fats.Your ability to drop pounds depends on your overall energy balance, or the calories you consume minus the calories your body burns.
When you consume more than you burn, you gain weight; when you burn more than you consume, you lose. Pretty simple right ?
So here are some Rules to help you when you must "sip" !
Rule #1 - Always Eat When you Drink
But eat "right" - like I said before - nibble on healthy snacks - instead of nachos, bread and high carb laden apps. Skimping on food when you are drinking will only backfire and send you straight to the bottom of the candied nut bowl or salty chips.
Protein Shakes are ideal before you drink alcohol.
A cocktail or two can also make you forgetful....as in "that Death by Chocolate cake was not in your nutrition plan" !
Rule #2 - Know that some Drinks make you hungrier and others
The simpler the drink, the better. Why ? The sweet and fancy ones, like cosmos, etc. have more calories and the additional sugar can make you even hungrier!
Your blood sugar skyrockets as well resulting in cravings. A 1.5 oz of Vodka has 100 calories alone !
Rule #3 - Stick to a Drink or Two - tops
Moderation is your key to victory in the drinking dept. You know that, but some people have no "stop" button and I always hear - "oh, it was my birthday", or "it's only one piece of cake" - Uh Uh, it ALL adds up !
4 drinks every Saturday Night and you will be up 10 lbs a YEAR !!!
Rule #4 - Beware that knawing, starving feeling the next day
The morning AFTER you drink poses its own problems. Ever notice you crave large amounts of cheesy, greasy carb laden food the night after you have been drinking ?
You are dehydrated as well (cause' you probably were not drinking an H2O chaser with your booze)...Alcohol is a diuretic which can make you feel hungrier.
Your body, the next day, needs more energy to burn off those calories and wants the "highest form" which often results in you reaching for a donut or sugary cinnamon bun !
Instead, reach for high protein like oatmeal and berries.
You CAN enjoy your vino - but think about what goes with it !
'Peace, Love and Fitness'
