Drinking And Dieting Seldom Work Together
Many diets call for drinking plenty of water to help make a person feel full while helping to cleanse the system. However, some persons may counteract their attempt to lose weight by eating foods that tend to help the body retain water, and drinking water may actually make them gain weight. When it comes to alcoholic beverages, drinking and dieting never goes together as the calorie count in most drinks is fairly high.
Since almost all alcoholic beverages contain calories, even lite beers can contain as much as 100 calories per 12-ounce serving, consuming drinking and dieting may actually hinder weight loss efforts. Additionally, it is recommended that when a person drinks it not be on an empty stomach and from the influence of the alcohol their choice in food may not always be consistent with their dieting efforts.
Many believe that the calories contained in alcohol is insignificant and by mixing it with diet drinks will improve their chances of losing weight. It has been found that drinks made with artificial sweeteners can make a person drunk faster, drinking and dieting with diet mixes may unintentionally cause them to drink less. Although a single shot of most hard liquors can have as much as 100 calories, some almost twice as high.
Additional Ingredients Adjust Caloric Content
As with all food and drink items, the calorie count in a product is usually increased when other items are added to it, such is the case with mixed drinks. A shot, three-quarter ounce of tequila, for example contains about 115 calories. Adding in the grenadine and other ingredients, increase the calorie count for a four ounce tequila sunrise to about 200 calories, shining a new light on the effects of drinking and dieting.
Even low-carb alcoholic beverages will contain about the same number of calories, they are just attributed to different sources. Whether the calorie is from fat, from carbohydrates or from sugar, the calorie will still hinder weight loss efforts. The effects of drinking and dieting can be obvious with those who exhibit the classic signs of too much drinking with a larger, protruding stomach. Although, the same effect can be seen on someone who has been know to drink substantial amounts of water and whose body tends to retain the water.
As with anything, moderation is the key and while drinking and dieting will not necessarily negate the dieting efforts, it must be in moderation if, for no other reason, than to limit the number of calories being consumed.