Can I Drink Alcohol and Still Lose Weight?
It is a question that is on the minds of weight loss hopefuls at any cocktail party, but the answer is much more complicated than counting calories. Unlike carbohydrates, protein, and fat, alcohol is not an essential source of calories, nor is it significant source of vitamins and minerals your body needs to function. However, I know quite a few people that swear by a drink or two every now and then. Their alcohol consumption has not thwarted their svelte physiques, but are they the exception or the rule? All things being equal, if you continue to burn more calories than you consume, you will lose weight. And while drinking on its own may not inhibit weight loss, depending on the frequency and level of consumption, the effects of drinking alcohol could have a negative impact on your ability to eat good food, sleep well, and lead a healthy lifestyle.

Alcohol and Calories
Pure alcohol serves up 7 calories per gram, almost twice as many calories as carbohydrates and almost to the tune of the 9 calories in a gram of fat. That makes that cocktail, margarita or mai tai a heaping mound of calories in a small glass. Just a 1.5 oz shot of 80-proof gin, rum, or vodka can add 100 calories to any drink. Dark liquors such as whiskey or tequila have a similar calorie count. Wine is a little more forgiving, at an average 120 calories in a 5 oz. serving. When you think of the addition of fruit juice, soda, or grenadine, you’re looking at a calorie-infusion that could add up to meal-size calorie counts. If you want to save calories, have alcohol straight, or mixed with club soda or seltzer instead. Beyond the calories, something else to consider is alcohol's ability to lower inhibitions.

Alcohol and Metabolism
A beer belly is not caused by alcohol alone, but there are some direct correlations between alcohol and fat metabolism. Just as you feel yourself “loosen up” after a drink, your metabolism does slow down when alcohol is consumed. Specifically, the body can not digest alcohol. When consumed, your metabolism slows down its energy conversion of fat and carbohydrates to get rid of the alcohol in your body. Manuel Villacorta, MS, RD, CSSD, a national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics shares, “Drinking alcohol stops fat metabolism in the liver causing it to build up around the waistline.” Of course this "build up" only happens in the presence of excess calories. In addition to staying under your calorie limit, rev up your metabolism by staying active and not skipping meals after drinking.

Alcohol and Sleep
Even if you do control your alcohol calories, and keep your metabolism revved, consuming alcohol can have a major effect on your ability to have a good night’s sleep if you consume it right before bed. Michael Breus, PhD tells WebMD that even if alcohol helps you go to sleep, it’s detrimental to your sleep experience. “It will keep you in the lighter stage…it will also wake you up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, it will also dehydrate you which can affect your sleep.” He explains that alcohol consumption inhibits “deep sleep” stages 3 and 4, “where we see the increase in growth hormone, the cell repair, and the overall damage-from-the-day repair.” He continues that the resulting fatigued feeling can rob a person from feeling refreshed in the morning. Lack of sleep could affect not only your ability to workout effectively, but it could also hinder your well-intentioned eating habits. Just as you should aim to not eat 2 to 3 hours before bed, you should give up the glass or bottle within this time frame to enjoy a good night’s rest.