Introduction

How Cutting Back on Alcohol can Help you Get in Shape for Summer?

Whether you’re planning a trip to sunnier climes or enjoying the British summer, the hot weather provides the perfect opportunity to catch some rays.

Inevitably, this involves showing off our bodies a little more and squeezing in to last year’s swim suit. Unfortunately, if you’ve spent the winter months snuggling up with a hot chocolate on the couch, it’s possible your body won’t be as beach ready as you had hoped.

Most of us know that eating well and exercising regularly will help shift those winter pounds for the summer months. But it’s worth noting that what you drink could also have a big impact on your appearance.

Calorie Controlled Diet

Research shows that the best way to lose weight is through good old fashioned diet and exercise. A vital element of this is keeping track of the number of calories you consume. According to Claire Williamson from the British Nutrition Foundation, alcohol can contain even more calories than food.

“Alcohol is a significant source of calories,” she says.

“Each gram of alcohol you consume contains seven calories. In contrast carbohydrates, such as bread, only contain four.”

Surprisingly, just one pint of beer can have up to 250 calories. It’s easy to see how drinking to excess can add up and cause weight gain. Claire explains that people’s regular drinking habits can have a big effect on their appearance.

“The calorie intake from alcohol tends to be in addition to the rest of our diet,” she says.

“For instance, if you eat a big breakfast, you’re likely to feel fuller and so eat less at lunch. However, many people will drink wine with a meal even if they already feel full – adding to the number of calories they’ve already consumed.” Alcohol can also increase your appetite.

Getting Active

Running to work or taking classes at the gym can be a great way to get your body looking toned for the summer sun. Working up a sweat can be hard work and, more often than not, drinking too much alcohol can undo the benefits of exercising.

Our bodies work by storing nutrients, protein and carbohydrate; however we do not store alcohol in the same way. As a result, burning alcohol takes priority over burning fat. Not good news if you’re hitting the gym to shed some pounds.

Whilst working out at the gym could help shift some excess weight, it won’t help curb the long term effect s of drinking alcohol. Choosing to drink less alcohol lowers the risk of developing liver disease, contracting cancer and developing heart disease later in life.

Getting a Beach Body

If you’re planning on getting in to shape for the beach, it’s best to start by setting achievable goals and keeping track of the alcohol you drink on a regular basis. Starting with the recommended daily guidelines will help. The guidelines recommend that women should not regularly exceed 2-3 units daily and that men should not regularly exceed 3-4 units daily. A glass of wine, or a pint of 5% lager, is around three units.

Keeping track of your drinking as part of a healthier lifestyle can help you look great for summer and in the long term. Claire recommends making a long-term healthy lifestyle change, rather than trying crash diets or intense periods of exercise.

“Dieting to lose weight is relatively difficult,” she says.

“It may sound boring, but a balanced diet along with regular exercise is much more likely to have a beneficial effect.”

Author Bio: Drinkaware – for the facts about alcohol Use Drinkaware’s free calculator to calculate the number of alcohol units in your drinks.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: alcohol, alcohol calories, calories in alcohol, losing weight, weight loss, beach body, keeping fit