Is Alcohol Making Me Fat?

Beer and other alcoholic drinker I don't believe will keep you from seeing results but when drinking too much all those calories add up. I see a lot of people at the gym that drink 3 to 4 beers a night and losing weight seems to be difficult for them. I just made the decision to avoid alcohol drinks and focus on more whole foods and it has been working great for me.

At least in extreme drinkers, the additional calories plus the slowing of the central nervous system can definitely work synergistically against you.

Jim
RunFatBoy -- Exercise for the rest of us.

I am a regualr beer drinker and i have successfully lost 50 pounds this year. I just count those calories in my daily allotment and redoce in other areas to compensate.

Seems to work fine, and by eating less and weighing less, I drink much less beer to get a buzz.

Yes, alcohol is very high in Calories. I emailed Chili's for the Calorie count on one of their margaritas (I love me some margaritas) and they were nice enough to supply it (within 24 hours)

Isn't it like, alcohol has 7 Calories per gram, compared to 4 for carbs or protein?

Definately have to minimize my alcohol intake if I'm trying to lose weight--- and eliminate the parties that all my friends want to drag me to (I'm 21)... but, it's worth it really, since alcohol has no long term good, and definately doesn't help training the next morning.

I have seen and know many beer drinkers with nothing more than large beer bellies. Skinny arms, legs, face etc. I have come to learn that the 'Beer Belly' is more than just fat, but an enlarged liver from excesive drinking. Beer bellies are more than just a weight and fat issue.

I say, No alcoholic beverages at all. I take a little sip during communion at church and a sip of champhain, but otherwise, I don't drink any alcoholic beverage.

Wine, bear, ale, rum, whiskey, and champhain just wrecks up your liver and excretes water out of your body. Best of all, when it comes to alcoholic beverages, avoid them. If you want something that contains antioxidents, try açaí, pomogranete, or goji juice.

My husband is a "skinny fat" beer drinker...he'll easily drink 3-4 cans a night. That adds up pretty fast: 500 extra calories, easily. I also like beer and drink it regularly. The difference is, I drink only one per day (two max) and I count it towards my daily intake of calories. I have hardly any visceral fat and am very lean, so I think it's more about the calories in the beer and not so much the beer itself. Booze drinks can also really pack in the calories. Some of those jumbo margaritas and pina coladas can have 500-700 calories each. Yikes!

You calorie watcher amaze me!

Something can only be too high in calories if you eat to much of it. Yes alchohol and fat have more calories per gram than protein or carbs.

But a 100 calories of alcohol, has the same calories as 100 calories of fat, carbs or protein!

The important thing is what your body does with those calories when mixed together!

When you drink alcohol, which is a prefferred fuel over everything else, your body will only burn this alcohol for energy until it's gone from your system.

Meaning you won't burn your body fat!

Same goes from eating heaps of carbohydrates! You burn the sugar, you ain't burning the fat!

The one huge group that I would say are both in "peak physical condition" and also regular beer drinkers are the beer drinking runners. Their numbers are many- peep any running website and do a search for beer.

Most athletes that I encountered who maintained an exercise routine even when they were not training also seemed to drink beer on a fairly regular basis.

I'm biased, though. I love the way it tastes!

But a 100 calories of alcohol, has the same calories as 100 calories of fat, carbs or protein!

Alcohol's calories ARE carbs. ;>)

The above quote reminded me of the question 'which is heavier, a pound of feathers or a pound of (whatever)...yes, a pound is a pound. However, a calorie is a calorie is technically correct but the body (as someone pointed out) doesn't quite see it that way.

Very true - the liver must first deal with the alcohol carb calories first before dealing with the other carb, fat or protein calories.

But the calories in a glass of beer or wine with the meal gets metabolized rather quickly compared to the rest of a meal's calories.

Key though, is moderation since the calories DO add up and the more alcohol in the system, the slower the rest of the meal is 'processed' by the body.

Very interesting article from many aspects.

About the beer belly: in all my travels I have never seen a 'wine belly'. Overweight excessive wine drinkers tended to be overweight all over, but not so viserally. Exceptions do exist, yes...as with all things.

European studies have also shown that it is the way the two drinks are drunk that is often not considered. Beer often to 'quench thirst' and guzzled/drunk faster and often without food. Wine is something one savours or accompanies with food. And a typical GLASS of beer is not the same as a properly served 'glass' of say red wine - filled a little over half the wine glass.

I think it significant to point out that here in Europe, beer is generally not downed like in N. America. It is much stronger and not so watery (as many Euro tourists to N. America report) as in N. America hence generally consumed slower and less.

Here is another link with interesting info:
http://www.thefactsaboutfitness.com/research/alcohol.htm

Personally, I can't stand the smell of beer and use it only in cooking. I enjoy our great Spanish wines in moderation and not every day.

I don't drink at all anymore, but when I did, it seemed that everytime I had more than a couple of drinks, I always felt ravernously hungry, and ate huge amounts of food. Don't know if it affects others that way, but is sure did me!

Body fat should not be a measure of internal health. The only connection is in an in-direct connection in a negative way. Obese people tend to have correlating health issues.

But assuming someone is healthy because they exercise a lot and have a low body fat is inconclusive.

Fatty Liver syndrome is one negative consequence of alcohol consumption, and some people are more susceptable than others.

Just checking if this post will be accepted. I don't understand why, but yesterday my post was not accepted. Was it because of a link I added in it (refered to similar info as in this posting on alcohol)?

the way you eat really effects your liver, and we all need to keep the old liver healthy. Drinking stresses the liver out (read again what low carb Dave says)
your liver has to "deal" with the alcohol you drank before it can deal with all of the other stuff it needs to deal with.

Youth factors in--you cannot drink at 60 they way you did at 30, (assuming you luvved to drink) and at 60 you may well still be working long hours, traveling the world over on business and putting kids thru college-- you will benefit by having a healthy liver.