Now that it’s December, we’re deep in the holiday season, which means the alcohol will be flowing freely. If you’re like most of our patients, you’ll have several fun and exciting events to attend over the holidays which will of course, have plenty of alcoholic options.
While parties with alcohol can be that much more fun, bad things can happen when you drink the wrong kinds of alcohol, namely unwanted weight gain! How is this so? Usually, the weight gain comes from high-calorie alcoholic drinks, but it can also come from the overconsumption of food that occurs when your inhibitions are lowered by the...sauce.
How Alcohol Leads to Weight Gain
According to healthline.com, “Alcoholic drinks are often referred to as ‘empty’ calories. This means that they provide your body with calories but contain very little nutrients. Drinks that have mixers, such as fruit juice or soda, contain even more calories.”
Some of the reasons alcohol leads to weight gain:
- The body uses alcohol as the primary source of fuel before anything else.
- When you consume too much alcohol, it can lead to “alcoholic fatty liver,” which damages the liver and affects metabolism.
- You’ve heard of “beer gut” before; it’s NOT a myth. Since alcohol contains simple sugars, the body stores it as fat.
- Since alcohol has a way of affecting judgement calls, including those regarding food, you can end up eating too many calories.
Best Skinny Alcoholic Drinks
Alcohol doesn’t have to ruin the beach body you’re working on for this coming summer. Instead of reaching for sugary drinks or beer, reach for these skinny alcoholic drinks instead: vodka (100 calories for 1.5 ounces), whisky (100 calories for 1.5 ounces), gin (115 calories for 1.5 ounces), tequila (100 calories for 1.5 ounces), and brandy (100 calories for 1.5 ounces).
Next: Maintaining Your Plastic Surgery Results During the Holidays
We hope you have a safe and happy holiday season. To enjoy your alcohol without blowing your diet, follow these tips and don’t forget to avoid drinking and driving!