Alcohol has been a favorite pastime beverage of humans for millennia.

You’ve heard about some studies that promote the health benefits of Alcohol. For example, some studies have shown that drinking red wine may reduce a person’s risk for developing heart disease.

However, if losing weight is your main goal, it may be a good idea to abstain from alcohol for a while. Here are some reasons alcohol will slow down or STOP your medical weightloss.

Reasons Alcohol Slows Down Weight Loss

1. “empty” Calories

While alcoholic beverages can taste delicious and help you to relax after a stressful day, the calories you take in have no nutritional benefit. The term “empty calories” means alcoholic beverages provide you with extra calories containing little or no nutritional value. This is not a good thing for your medical weightloss program.

An acceptable afternoon snack should average 150-200 calories. By comparison, a 12-ounce can of beer is 254 calories and a 5-ounce glass of wine is 125. A night of drinking with friends or a couple of glasses of wine with dinner can set you back several hundred calories. Add in a few cocktails or shots and your calorie count can go through the roof.

2. Impaired Judgement Eating

No matter how well you follow your Learn2Lose phase 1 diet and how motivated you feel to lose weight, drinking alcohol will alter your mindset and decision making. This is especially true when it comes to deciding between a low caloric food like a Caesars Salad and something higher in calories like a burger with fries. Comfort food always seems more appealing when you’ve been drinking.

3. Alcohol and  Disturbed Sleep

If you have trouble sleeping you might think it’s a good idea to drink some alcohol to help knock you out. Actually, it’s a bad idea. Research consistently shows that alcohol induced sleep can lead altered sleep cycles. This  can negatively effect your sleep quality and may even alter hormones  related to energy storage, hunger and satiety.

Best Alcoholic Beverages Recommended by Weightloss Doctors

While most alcoholic beverages are tasty, they aren’t doing you any good when trying to lose weight.  But if you’re going to drink, the following may be less detrimental to your weightloss efforts.

Rather than consuming highly caloric or sugary drinks, choose some of these 100-calorie options instead:

1. Vodka

Calories: 100 calories in 1.5 ounces of distilled 80-proof vodka.

Keep your cocktails low in calories by choosing mixers such as club soda or diet tonic. Avoid sugary juices and sodas.

2. Gin

Calories: 115 calories in 1.5 ounces of 90-proof gin.

If you’re looking for a low-calorie cocktail then look no further than simple martinis with olives – which also contains antioxidants like vitamin E.

3. Brandy

Calories: 100 calories in 1.5 ounces of brandy.

Brandy is generally served as an after dinner cordial and should be consumed slowly to enjoy the subtle fruity sweetness.

4. Tequila

Calories: 100 calories in 1.5 ounces of tequila.

Tequila is a good choice if you HAVE to drink when on a weight loss program. The customary tequila shot consists of tequila, salt and lime.

5. Whiskey

Calories: 100 calories in 1.5 ounces of 86-proof whiskey. 

Whiskey can be enjoyed on the rocks for that low-calorie alternative. Do not add sugar based sodas to the mix.

The main point is, when alcohol is consumed, your body uses it as a primary fuel source over anything else. In a medical weight loss program, the primary goal is to utilize your fat stores as your primary source of energy.

While eliminating or reducing your alcohol intake will definitely help you be more successful with your weightloss efforts, always choose the lesser evil if you must drink.

To learn more about medical weightloss, or how alcohol affects your diet, please contact your  Learn2Lose weight loss doctor.