Unhappy with the scale? The answer may not be what’s on your plate, but rather what’s in your glass

Let’s be honest, we (myself included) are all guilty of having a glass or two of wine, bourbon, or beer before bed. While a glass of wine may only have 120 calories per serving, it’s still a nutritionless ticking time bomb that’s packed with carbs and sugar and wreaks havoc on your body the minute it enters.

Random fact: The average American consumes 4-14 alcoholic beverages a week! Guys, that’s an extra 600-2,200 calories a week! THAT’S CRAZY!

Ok, ok, let’s set caloric intake aside for a minute. It’s the way alcohol calories are used once they are consumed that is most important.

Here’s the deal – normally our bodies use the food we have consumed on a first-come-first-served basis, but when alcohol enters the body it acts like a bratty kid who cuts in line and replaces the last meal you ate as the body’s primary food source. So, that’s a good thing, you’re thinking those alcohol calories are burned first. WRONG, the energy from the real meal you ate (if not burned off) gets stored as body fat! And boy does the body store it fast. A study done in 2019 at Oxford University showed that alcohol can show up on a scale in less than 4 hours! What the heck! No thank you!

Next, let’s discuss how alcohol affects our metabolism. We all know that the speed of your metabolism determines how many calories we burn when our bodies “are at rest”. Therefore, having a fast, efficient metabolism is key to maintaining a healthy weight. Alcohol interferes with the body’s fat-burning ability by harming the organs and tissues in our digestive tract. It pisses off our stomach and intestines, causing them to be less effective at breaking down our food. (i.e., slowing down your metabolism). This is all based on how alcohol spikes insulin levels in our bodies, which directly affects our metabolism and the way our bodies store fat.

The bottom line is while society seems to become more and more encouraging of drinking, it’s our bodies and our health that are paying the price. So how can we combat this? Over the past couple of years starting the new year with a “dry” month has gained popularity. But that doesn’t just have to be January. You could try a “Dry May”. If that isn’t for you just stick to moderation and choose the right drinks. A drink here or there will not ruin your progress.