What does alcohol really do?

uwhuskygirl

I know this has been brought up in the past and I read some old posts about it, but still can't find a good answer...

But what does alcohol really do to your body and how does this effect trying to lose weight?

I accidentally polished off a bottle of wine with my BF last night and now I feel yuck.y
I just need someone to tell me it's awful and that I should say no to alcohol all together now.

:sick:

uwhuskygirl

I know this has been brought up in the past and I read some old posts about it, but still can't find a good answer...

But what does alcohol really do to your body and how does this effect trying to lose weight?

I accidentally polished off a bottle of wine with my BF last night and now I feel yuck.y
I just need someone to tell me it's awful and that I should say no to alcohol all together now.

:sick:

shorerider

Ok--you asked for it.

It's bad for you and you should stay away from it altogether.

Personally, I feel alcohol is nothing but empty calories. Not worth it at all!

eriny

:drinker:

riotthyme

You probably should say no, but I wouldn't be able to do it.

I've had a few nights where I've drank one too many, felt crap when I logged the calories, and felt crap in the morning.

I would say just account for it and exercise and take it in moderation!

teetsel4

ok, this is nothing offical, just my personal experience and oppinion.

I love to drink. There I said it, lol. But it's true, I love to drink red wine and light beer. I drink every night. I don't get wasted, just a glass or two. I don't drink hard stuff, I just don't have a taste for it. Anyhow, I find that if I drink wine it either halts my weight loss or I gain. But with light beer, it doesn't seem to effect me that way. With both beer and wine, I include it in my calorie count, so I know I am not going over. I exercise almost everyday, but the wine will mess me up everytime!:frown:

So here's my unoffical oppinion: Alcohol slows down your metabolism. Period. Doesn't matter if you include it in the calorie count or not, if you exercise regularly or not. If you drink your weight loss will be slower.

So I choose to drink, knowing that my weight loss will be slower. But hey! At least I'm enjoying myself!
:drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker:

lilmandy89

Is it still really bad for you if you fit it in to your calories for the day??
Does it have any affect on your metabolism??

lilmandy89

So I choose to drink, knowing that my weight loss will be slower. But hey! At least I'm enjoying myself!
:drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker:

:drinker:

5KNohno

I just need someone to tell me it's awful and that I should say no to alcohol all together now.

:sick:

It's awful and you should say no to alcohol all together!

Katy009

It's awful and you should say no!!!

Actually, I used to drink quite often, but have not had even one drink for almost a year....since I quit smoking for fear that I would want a cig with it. But sometimes now when I think of how I used to feel when I "accidentally polished off a bottle of red wine" I know that I am better off because I don't miss how I felt the morning after!

leblancb

I drink socially but I make better choices with that too. One glass of wine , or rum and diet coke, vodka with diet lemonade.............

I have enjoyed a couple of drinks at the cottage on the weekend and I am still loosing weight, just make sure you account for the calories.

LightenUp_Caro

I'm slightly hungover at the moment.:noway:
With that being said, I guess it would be redundant to say that I do drink on occasion.
I have cut back on my alcohol intake since January, and I must say that I think its part of what is helping me lose weight.

The truth is, EVERYTHING in excess is bad for you. If you keep things in moderation, then you will have absolutely no problem. Alcohol does have a tendency to slow down your metabolism, but if you don't drink daily, it shouldn't be too noticable.
:drinker: :drinker: :drinker:

laurenk182004

Ugh I was SOO hungover the other day, I need to quit altogether! I drank 15 budlights and got violently ill the next day..sooo not worth the laughs i had while trashed, or the thousand and then some calories I added on. I cannot drink just a few, I'm an alcoholic at heart and need to give it up! SOOO I'm working on it, and quitting smoking too b/c I can't drink and not smoke, so i might as well do it all at once! YAY for me! lol Anyways, back on track here, alcohol dehydrates u and pickles your liver..yummy huh?

jlauren6

HOLY CRAP!!!!!! I have not been putting in those alchi drinks, but I just entered to couple long islands I plan on drinking tonight and I'm over 1000cals over!!!!!!!!!!! Man I wish I hadn't done that, I'd rather not know! I'll have to do a few laps around the restaurant to burn at least a few sips! Well, I don't do it that often so...:drinker:

sindyb9

I have a social drink once and a while when I go out. So if it is not an everyday thing my feelings are go for it. :drinker: :drinker:

Helawat

There are health benefits to drinking red wine. Here is an excerpt from WebMD:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/red-wine/HB00089

Red wine has long been touted as heart healthy. Some have suggested that the apparent health benefits of red wine, namely reducing your risk of heart disease, are behind the so-called French paradox. The French are regular drinkers of red wine and have relatively high amounts of saturated fat in their diet. Despite this fat intake, the French have lower rates of heart disease.

How does alcohol help the heart?

Various studies have indicated that moderate amounts of all types of alcohol benefit your heart, not just alcohol found in red wine. Some heart-healthy benefits of alcohol include:

* Raises high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol
* Lowers blood pressure
* Inhibits the formation of blood clots
* Helps prevent artery damage caused by high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol

The pro-red wine studies suggest antioxidants in red wine called polyphenols help protect the lining of blood vessels in your heart. These antioxidants come in two main forms: flavonoids and nonflavonoids.

* Flavonoids. These antioxidants are found in a variety of foods, including oranges, apples, onions, tea and cocoa. Other types of alcohol, such as white wine and beer, contain small amounts, too, but red wine has higher levels.
* Nonflavonoids. These antioxidants found in red wine have recently been of particular interest because they appear to help prevent arteries from becoming clogged with fatty blockages. However, these studies mostly involved mice — not humans. Resveratrol is the nonflavonoid that researchers are most interested in


Drink in moderation — or not at all

The American Heart Association doesn't recommend that you start drinking alcohol just to prevent heart disease. Alcohol can be addictive. Too much increases your risk of high blood pressure, high triglycerides, liver damage, obesity, certain types of cancer, accidents and other problems. In addition, even small amounts of alcohol can cause cardiomyopathy — weakened heart muscle — and heart failure in some people. If you have heart failure or a weak heart you should avoid alcohol completely.

If you already drink red wine, do so in moderation. Moderate drinking is defined as an average of two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women.

* A drink is defined as 12 ounces (oz.) of beer, 5 oz. of wine or 1.5 oz. of 80-proof distilled spirits.

The limit for men is higher because men generally weigh more and

mkeithley

Your body processes alcohol first, before fat, protein, or carbs. Thus drinking slows down the burning of fat. Check out this link for a pretty good article:
http://www.thefactsaboutfitness.com/research/alcohol.htm

beep

So, my one glass of red wine a week is a good thing

beep

Your body processes alcohol first, before fat, protein, or carbs. Thus drinking slows down the burning of fat. Check out this link for a pretty good article:
http://www.thefactsaboutfitness.com/research/alcohol.htm

GREAT article. So, one glass a week is okay, but if I really really really want to burn fat, don't drink alcoholic drinks.....

fynendandi1

I have no answer to the question, I am just happy to see so many of you talking about your drinking habits,.... I thought I was the only one!! I too accasionally go overboard, like this friday, it was the first time in months both my kids were gone so I went out with some friends...had way too many light beers woke up the next morning and I gained 4 pounds. I thought, maybe it is water so sat. and sun. I drank tons of water, today.....no changes!!! Was it worth it? I think so, I don't really remember!!!:laugh:

2catowner

The wine ALWAYS messes me up. I cannot control the amount of wine I drink, and then I can't seem to control the eating at that point. Definitely makes me think maybe I shouldn't drink at all after reading all this. :glasses:

FitJoani

moderate I mean no more than THREE drinks a week is good for your heart and cardiovascular sysytem, but NOT during the initial industion to wt loss phase it is just empty calories with wine(AOX) and Beer(Cromium and AOX) being exceptions, and when your body can have that treat do it!!!! Just beware the BOOZE MUNCHIES!!!!!!!!!!!!

dujennifer

I have changed everything about my life. Much healthier eating, working out 6 days a week, and while I have gained some nice muscle so far, I haven't lost a pound or my tummy. The only thing I haven't given up is my drinking...guess there is some truth to it being REALLY bad to a diet even if you count the calories.

plantlady99

I was going to have a glass of wine. Not sure now????
:drinker: :explode: :drinker:

ChubbyBunny

Here is an interesting article about alcohol:
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=563

Not from a doctor but it's good info just the same.

GreggChr

Obviously how your body responses to alcohol is different with each individual.

I was on a similiar calorie counting diet about five years ago. I drank wine throughout my dieting efforts and lost twenty pounds. The trick for me was to be sure to consume less calories on the day that I drank. Personally for me, I was still successful on my diet!

lilmandy89

For every article you read about the benefits of alcohol consumption, another seems to warn you of its risks. You might find such conflicting information confusing and frustrating.

Though moderate alcohol use seems to have some health benefits, anything more than moderate drinking can negate any potential benefits. Moderate drinking is defined as two drinks a day if you're a male under 65, or one drink a day if you're a female or a male over 65.

So should you avoid alcohol? Or can you continue to enjoy your glass of wine with dinner? It's up to you and your doctor. Here are some points on alcohol consumption for you to consider.


Health benefits

Moderate alcohol consumption may provide some health benefits. It may:

Reduce your risk of developing heart disease, peripheral vascular disease and intermittent claudication
Reduce your risk of dying of a heart attack
Possibly reduce your risk of strokes, particularly ischemic strokes
Lower your risk of gallstones
Possibly reduce your risk of diabetes

Health risks

Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to serious health problems, including:

Cancer of the pancreas, mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus and liver, as well as breast cancer
Pancreatitis, especially in people with high levels of triglycerides in their blood
Sudden death in people with cardiovascular disease
Heart muscle damage (alcoholic cardiomyopathy) leading to heart failure
Stroke
Brain atrophy (shrinkage)
Cirrhosis of the liver
Miscarriage
Fetal alcohol syndrome in an unborn child, including impaired growth and nervous system development
Injuries due to impaired motor skills
Suicide

What counts as a drink?

A drink is defined as 12 ounces (oz.) of beer, 5 oz. of wine or 1.5 oz. of 80-proof distilled spirits. Again, keep in mind that people age 65 and older shouldn't drink more than one drink a day. With increasing age, adults break down alcohol more slowly, leading them to become intoxicated more quickly and increasing alcohol's damaging effects.


Who shouldn't drink alcohol?

People with certain health conditions shouldn't drink any alcohol, as even small amounts could cause problems. Don't drink alcohol if you have:

A history of a hemorrhagic stroke
Liver disease
Pancreatic disease
Evidence of precancerous changes in the esophagus, larynx, pharynx or mouth
If you have a family history of alcoholism, be particularly cautious when it comes to drinking, as you are at higher risk of alcoholism. And if you're pregnant, avoid alcohol entirely because of the health risks for your unborn baby.

In addition, alcohol interacts with many common prescription and over-the-counter medications. Check with your doctor, if you take:

Antibiotics
Anticoagulants
Antidepressants
Diabetes medications
Antihistamines
Anti-seizure medications
Beta blockers
Pain relievers
Sleeping pills
If you combine alcohol with aspirin, you face an increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. And if you use alcohol and acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), you increase your risk of liver damage. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration requires all over-the-counter pain relievers and fever reducers to carry a warning label advising those who consume three or more drinks a day to consult with their doctors before using the drug.


What to make of all the evidence

Weigh the pros against the cons of moderate drinking and decide whether drinking is OK for you. Be sure to consult your doctor if you have questions or are unsure.

Above all, don't feel pressured to drink. Few medical experts, if any, advise nondrinkers to start drinking. But if you do drink and you're healthy, there's no need to stop as long as you drink responsibly and in moderation.

sr2000

Just beware the BOOZE MUNCHIES!!!!!!!!!!!!

:drinker: Munchies.That's why I can't drink! Ok, I do drink on weekends sometimes anyway, but any and all will power fly out the window and don't come back till Tuesday. When I know we're going out for a drink or two or four, I am very careful with what I eat that day, I eat much less and try to be extra healthy to make up for what I'm about to do! And you can bet I'm dragging my butt out for a long walk the next day.