Information on the Alli weight loss drug and

weight loss programs.

Online resource for losing weight.

Weight Control is Much Easier if You Curb the Alcohol

05-15-2009

There are differing schools of thought when it comes to the topic of alcohol consumption and its relationship with weight control. One school of thought believes that weight control problems are a direct result of alcohol consumption while another believes that the behaviors associated with alcohol consumption are to blame. Regardless of which position you take on this topic, most will agree that weight control is much easier when heavy alcohol consumption is not in the mix.

There are some people who use alcohol heavily without a weight control problem. Usually, these people drink alcohol frequently yet rarely eat. Keep in mind that alcohol is an energy source with no real food value. So a weight control problem is averted because all the energy consumed is burned up by the body. However, the absence of a weight control problem is offset by the fact that the individual does not get the nutrients he or she needs which can lead to all sorts of health problems.

Most times it is difficult to watch your calories while consuming alcohol. If you are trying to adhere to a strict diet, all inhibitions to turn away fattening foods are let down. What makes it even more difficult to turn away these foods is the fact that the person's appetite increases while consuming alcoholic beverages. Probably the most popular food among those who consume alcohol is fried food. Not only does fried food put weight on you, it contributes to arteriosclerosis which is clogging of the blood vessels. Also don't forget that alcoholic mixed drinks are usually made from mixers loaded with sugar.

When you curb the alcohol use, you will inevitably sit less. One of the factors causing a weight control problem is inactivity which is exactly what a heavy drinker does. Also consider that with prolonged alcohol consumption spanning several weeks, a person builds resistance to the intoxicant and the result can be increasingly longer periods of sitting. If a person drinks too much and becomes intoxicated, the next day is spent with lowered metabolism and the drinker sleeps late, falls asleep at work, or just moves slowly. This combination of lowered metabolism and inactivity means that any unused calories taken in will get stored as fat.

Depression associated with heavy alcohol consumption can cause weight control problems. Heavy alcohol consumption leads to chemical imbalances which can result in depression. Those under the burden of depression oftentimes are inactive and find comfort in fried foods or desserts loaded with sugar. Depression in the heavy drinker can lead to more alcohol consumption so that the individual can forget his or her mood disorder.

The type of alcohol you drink has an influence on weight control. For example, beer causes the body to swell and can lead to gouty arthritis complications. Beer is high in calories ranging from 95 to over 200 in a 12-ounce bottle. A shot of whiskey will add over 100 calories to your energy intake. It may be that you do not want to totally give up drinking during this tough period of making adjustments to your eating habits. So if you are going to drink alcohol while establishing weight control, you are best off drinking white or red wine. Both of them are among the lowest in calories for alcoholic beverages.