Alcohol while dieting - the effect of alcohol on excess weight

There are two diametrically opposed points of view: some experts argue that alcohol should not be consumed while on a diet, others recommend drinking a glass of dry red wine or beer from time to time to maintain normal weight. Even eminent nutritionists were divided into two camps. Professor V.G. Zhdanov was an opponent of alcohol in all forms; Michel Montignac defended the benefits of red wine. It's time to find out the arguments of each side.

Diets can be divided into three categories:

• therapeutic medications prescribed to patients with various diseases;
• a variety of diets designed for emergency weight loss;
• reasonable dietary restrictions followed by supporters of a healthy lifestyle.

Is it possible to drink alcohol during PP?

Following a diet involves food restrictions. Fatty, fried, large amounts of flour are prohibited and, of course, alcohol is prohibited.

If the diet is prescribed by a doctor for medical reasons, then alcoholic beverages should be excluded from the diet. They affect not only the progression of the disease, but also the effectiveness of medications taken. Some drugs are completely incompatible with ethyl alcohol.

In other cases, drinking “reasonable doses” of alcohol with proper nutrition (PN) will not harm. Although these two concepts are not very compatible, if you combine them correctly, there will be no harm. This means:

• choose the “right” strong drinks, that is, the least high-calorie drinks;

• do not abuse alcohol;
• Don’t overwhelm it with huge amounts of food.

Do you drink alcohol while training?

Not really

If you manage to follow these rules, then alcohol will not harm you; giving it up is not necessary. Otherwise, you can get fat.

How alcohol affects weight

Nutritionists and fitness trainers forbid drinking alcohol for a reason, since it does not reduce, but increases weight. Reasons why this happens:

• high calorie content of alcohol;

• violation of metabolic processes;

• increased snack consumption.

Alcohol breaks down in the body, releasing toxic substances. That is why its metabolism becomes a priority, and the digestion of fats, proteins and carbohydrates fades into the background. This is not good for metabolism.

Fans of beer and high-calorie alcohol risk becoming the owners of a rounded belly, fat deposits in the waist, hips, and chin.

How harmful is alcohol when losing weight?

Strong drinks reduce the effectiveness of training and, accordingly, slow down the process of weight loss. The reasons are as follows:

• alcohol is high in calories, one glass of fortified wine contains up to 250 kcal;
• alcohol does not retain water in the body, but on the contrary is a diuretic, but “dry” during a hangover forces you to drink large amounts of liquid;
• contains fast carbohydrates, which instantly increase blood sugar and are deposited in subcutaneous fat on the abdomen;

• causes a feeling of hunger, so you want to “snack” it;
• a person in a state of alcoholic intoxication has less control over himself, which is why he may allow himself to eat too much;
• alcohol inhibits fat oxidation by 87%, so it is not converted into energy, but turns into fat deposits.

If you lack self-control and consume large doses of high-calorie alcohol, you will not be able to lose weight.

Time correction

Sometimes people just can't have a glass in the evening, but have time during lunch. This is not a problem, since the main rules for drinking wine are:

• Don't drink right before bed. This will make it difficult for the body to relax, as it will be overloaded with work. In addition, there will be a surge of energy, which will obviously interfere with sleep.
• The drink should be taken with food. The problem is that good red wine causes appetite. And if you drink a glass in half an hour, then you can significantly exceed the permissible portion. Also, you should not drink alcohol immediately after, as the feeling of fullness will be dulled.
• You can't drink on the go. You need to set aside half an hour of time a day to enjoy a glass of wine and not rush anywhere. In a hurry, a diet on dry red wine will not bring results, since the body will not fully understand what is happening to it.

On the topic: Is it possible to lose weight with diabetes? In addition, you need to pay attention to the time of day. Whatever regime a person has, the body automatically begins to “turn off” at night for the little rest that it needs every day. Of course, the systems continue to work, but in peace and quiet. If you drink a glass of wine at 8 pm and go to bed at 9-10 o’clock, that’s normal. But if you do this at 11, then the benefits for the body will obviously be much less.

Which alcoholic drink has fewer calories and sugar?

Low-calorie drinking does not lead to weight gain. If you count calories and try to reduce the calorie content of your daily diet, then alcohol will not harm your figure. But for this you need to have information about which alcohol will be less calorie when dieting.

Sugar and calories in alcohol

The most calories are in rum, whiskey, brandy, cognac, liqueur, liqueur, cocktails, and fortified wines. The higher the sugar and ethyl alcohol content, the higher the calorie content of the alcohol.

The least dangerous unsweetened drinks for your figure are dry champagne or wine, beer.

Calorie table for alcoholic drinks

When choosing alcohol, consider not only the calorie content, but also the volume of alcohol consumed. It is better to drink 100 g of cognac than 300 g of dessert wine.

The stronger the drink, the more calories it contains. The caloric content of 1 g of alcohol is 7 kcal, this is more than that of protein and carbohydrates, in which each 1 g contains 4 kcal.

For 3 days

The wine diet is difficult for those who are used to eating a lot. The alcoholic product obtained by fermenting grapes stimulates the appetite, so you will have to take your will into your fist. Drink as much clean water as possible during the day - it will remove harmful substances faster. The menu is the same for the entire weight loss period:

• morning: wine – 150 ml, sweet apple;
• snack: red alcoholic drink – 200 ml;
• day: whole grain loaf – 200 g, wine – 150 ml.
• afternoon snack: 2 apples;
• evening: alcoholic drink – 250 ml.

The diet is low-calorie, so the feeling of weakness and intoxication will haunt you throughout the wine diet. If the presented menu does not suit you, choose one of the options below:

The benefits of alcohol for weight loss and PP

It would seem impossible, but alcohol is beneficial if taken correctly. Alcohol helps you cope with stress, emotional stress, and nervous tension caused by food restrictions. In other words, it can replace sweets, since it is sweets that cause problems.

The second advantage is that it reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension.

The third benefit is that alcohol increases appetite because it speeds up metabolism. As a result, the calories consumed are burned faster. If you don’t eat new ones, it will lead to weight loss.

Certain types of alcohol also have unique beneficial properties. For example, dry red wines contain enzymes that help in the digestion of fatty foods. Cognac is useful for the following:

• contains tannins that enhance immunity;
• relieves tension, is effective for insomnia, thereby strengthening the nervous system;

• improves digestion, reduces stomach cramps;
• prevents the development of atherosclerosis or coronary heart disease.

But only a natural drink brings benefits.

Vodka is used as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-infective agent. Another valuable property is lowering cholesterol levels. But more than 30 g of vodka per day is harmful to the body.

For 12 days

If you want to lose more than 5 kg, a wine diet for a week or longer may be right for you. The first nutrition option is simple - stick to the right diet and add a glass of good alcoholic drink to it. Forget about junk food, eat smaller meals, and exercise. Systematize your meals and record everything you eat, then you will see your total daily calorie content and gradually eliminate foods that are not beneficial. For those who like specific nutrition programs, experts have developed a wine diet for 12 days.

In almost two weeks you will lose up to 10 kg of weight. The diet is strict, so it is advisable to take vitamin complexes during it. The proposed program reduces efficiency, which is why it is better to implement it during the vacation period. The system includes four mono-diets that last three days:

• days 1-3: low-fat kefir up to 1.5 liters per day;
• day 4-6: apples;
• days 7-9: boiled, stewed, baked chicken;
• day 10-12: dry red wine and hard cheese (30 g of cheese for 1 glass).

What alcohol can you drink while dieting?

The answer is simple - low-calorie and in limited quantities. How much alcohol you can drink depends on its strength and calorie content.

Dry wine

The lowest calorie is dry white wine, so a glass of alcohol will not harm your figure, of course, if you don’t snack on it with chocolate. The ideal snack option is apples, pears, kiwis, oranges, lemons.

Dry wine while losing weight

The calories contained in wine are easily broken down and contribute to the destruction of fats. In addition, the drink contains useful substances that preserve youth and beauty.

Wine is drunk with dinner, so it is advisable to eat food 3 hours before bedtime so that calories do not go into fat.

Champagne brut

This type of champagne is the best for weight loss. Its calorie content is the lowest of all. For example, sweet and chardonnay contain 90 kcal, semi-sweet - 80 kcal, brut - 55 kcal.

There is practically no sugar in this drink, the level is about 0.3%, so a glass of alcohol with dinner will not break your diet.

Light beer for weight loss

This is the most favorable type of alcohol for PP, but at the same time the most controversial option. Beer is low-calorie, so it does minimal harm to your figure, but you can drink an unlimited amount of it and eat a lot of extra calories.

In order not to get a “beer belly”, know when to stop and take care of healthy snacks. No chips, crackers, nuts. They are high in calories, cause thirst, and the desire to drink more intoxicating drinks. If you want to have a snack, then eat vegetables.

Choose weaker beers. The higher the strength, the higher the calorie content:

• beer 1.8% vol. – 29 kcal/per 100 g;

• 4.5% vol. – 45 kcal/per 100 g.

Light beer and calories for weight loss

Give preference to light beer, dark beer is very harmful to the liver.

Following these tips, a glass of beer of 300-500 g per week will not lead to obesity, will not harm the gastrointestinal tract, and will not affect hormonal levels.

Rules

Drink white or red dry wine for weight loss during periods when you feel best . Stock up on 3-4 bottles of high-quality dry alcoholic beverage. Basic rules of the wine diet:

• Completely eliminate table salt from your diet. This way, excess water along with toxins will leave the body faster.
• There is no sugar in any form or fast carbohydrates in the menu. Include protein foods, healthy fats, apples and oranges, cucumbers, tomatoes, and herbs into your diet.
• Do not drink tea, coffee, juice, carbonated drinks. Your choice is pure water in unlimited quantities and dry wine.
• Eat homemade, fresh food. Eating fast food and semi-finished products is not allowed.
• If you feel unwell, stop wine days. Choose a different way to lose weight.
• Avoid physical activity.

How to drink alcohol correctly when losing weight

Alcohol can be consumed without harming your figure. To do this, follow these simple recommendations:

• Never drink on an empty stomach. Firstly, it is harmful, secondly, alcohol intoxication quickly sets in and self-control is lost, thirdly, a brutal appetite awakens, you want to eat and drink as much as possible.
• Do not snack on chocolate, cakes, flour products, chips, or other high-calorie foods. As a snack, choose the most healthy dietary products, for example, vegetable salads, sauerkraut, fruits, but not grapes, melon or watermelon.
• Give preference to dry champagne and wines. They contain minimal sugar.

• Avoid alcoholic cocktails. In addition to alcohol, they may contain sugar, syrup, cream and other components.
• Drink water. Consume it immediately after drinking alcohol to avoid dehydration.
• Know your limits. If you are on a diet or adhere to the principles of PP, then 50-70 ml of strong alcohol, for example, cognac or vodka will be enough. You can afford about 150 g of dry wine or brut champagne, 100 g of semi-sweet champagne, and no more than 300 g of beer.

When losing weight, you should not drink alcohol regularly. The maximum you can afford is 1-2 times a week.

Some tricks

If you can’t decide which alcohol is best to drink when losing weight, then you can try using the following tricks in the fight against extra pounds:

• if possible, you should try to go to the celebration by car, this way you will be able to suppress even the strongest desire to drink alcohol;
• when refusing alcoholic beverages, so as not to be persuaded to drink, you can refer to taking medications or health problems that are incompatible with alcohol;
• you need to maintain normal water balance (1.5-2 liters of water per day), and immediately before the feast drink 1-2 glasses so as not to feel thirsty;
• preference should be given only to unsweetened drinks;
• you need to pour water into a glass and wash it down with food;
• if there is no desire to drink, then you need to be able to respond to persuasion with a firm refusal. As a rule, the problem of coercion is relevant only at the beginning of the feast; in the second half, no one will pay attention to other people's glasses. Therefore, you can safely pour water into a glass and juice into a glass.

Is it possible to get better from vodka?

Vodka is a high-calorie strong drink. 100 g contains 250 kcal. If we take into account that the average daily calorie content of food is 2200 kcal, then this is more than 10% of the diet, which is quite a lot. In addition, vodka is always enjoyed as a snack, and more often with fatty foods - sausage, lard, meat, salads with mayonnaise. The calorie content of one drink with a snack can reach 500-1000 kcal.

Vodka makes you feel better if you drink it in large quantities, since it provides a lot of extra calories. Weight also increases due to snacking, slowing metabolism, and decreased physical activity. It is the uncontrolled consumption of alcohol and the changes in the body that occur against this background that lead to obesity.

Contraindications

The wine diet is a difficult test for the body, so you should try it again no earlier than after two months. It is unacceptable for pregnant, breastfeeding, minors, men and women addicted to alcohol and drugs to observe it. If a person has severe depression, drinking alcohol will aggravate the condition and lead to rash actions. You should not drink wine for weight loss if you have the following diseases:

• acute and chronic diseases of the liver, kidneys;
• stomach ulcer, gastritis, other gastrointestinal diseases (pancreatitis, colitis, etc.);
• caries, oral diseases;
• diabetes;
• arterial hypertension, diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• osteoporosis;
• asthma;
• gout;
• migraine.

For women, the critical dose of wine is 300 g, for men – 600 g. If a person drinks so much alcohol in a short period of time, the body receives a serious blow. All the benefits of wine are negated by the harm of alcohol, which affects the brain and internal filter organs. Smokers should refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages, since the combined effect of ethanol and tobacco is harmful to the cells of the oral cavity and larynx.