Can You Drink Alcohol and Lose Weight?

Written by Jonathan Fletcher

Does alcohol cause weight gain? It can.

Can you still have alcohol and lose fat? Yes.

Can alcohol keep you from losing fat? Yes.

Click through the slides below and let us to explain…

What to pay attention to when you have alcohol

If you’re trying to lose fat (or just not gain any) you need to be paying attention to how many calories you’re drinking. After all, all fat gain is caused by eating (or drinking) too many calories.

No matter what diet approach you choose, you’ll only lose weight if you create a calorie deficit. That’s the thing that tells your body to burn your existing body fat for energy.

If you’re eating your normal meals and snacks throughout the day, and then drinking a few hundred extra calories at night, it’s going to be tough to stay in a calorie deficit.

Think about it this way: a large slice of pizza is about 350 calories. Would you expect to lose fat if you had a slice for dessert every night?

Even your fancy-ass 2g of carb seltzer has 90-100 calories, which is the same as a light beer and not much less than a glass of red wine.

The other biggie when it comes to booze and fat loss is its magical ability to lower your inhibitions.

Taco Bell and Little Caesars aren’t staying in business because their food is so amazing.

If you want to keep alcohol from ruining your progress, quantity, and frequency are key.

Don’t let it put you over on calories, and don’t let it make you wake up next to an empty pizza box.

How about “hacks” for drinking alcohol when losing weight?

One thing to consider is relying on low-calorie, non-alcoholic substitutes. Not only will you drink less calories, but your inhibitions won’t vanish.

Athletic Brewing makes the best non-alcoholic brews in the world, and we can save you 20% off your first order.

www.digitalbarbell.com/athletic

If you need help with your nutrition, we’ve got you covered. Try our free calorie and macro-nutrient calculator! Better yet, we’d love to welcome you to the Digital Barbell team. Start the conversation here. 

All our best,

Jonathan & Blakley