How to Drink and Stay True To Your Diet and Enjoy a few Drinks

(Especially over the Holidays)
By, Vanessa Van Overmeer
(ISSA, CFNS)

Alcohol is metabolized as a fat in the body with little to no nutritional value.

The liver breaks down alcohol into acetaldehyde by the enzymes, and then into acetic acid. Next, the acetate is converted into fats or carbon dioxide and water. Although alcohol is typically thought of purely as a depressant, at low concentrations it can actually stimulate certain areas of the brain. Another one of alcohol's agreeable effects is body relaxation, possibly caused by heightened alpha brain waves surging across the brain Heightened pulses are thought to correspond to higher levels of enjoyment.

So how do we enjoy our weekend cocktails or an occasional happy hour without totally destroying our hard-earned physique? We can learn to make low cal choices and learn how alcohol effects our metabolism and make the necessary adjustments.

Know that:

• One shot = ~70-80 kcals

• One 12 oz. Beer = ~120-150kcals

• One 5 oz. Glass of wine = ~ 100kcals

When choosing a mixer make sure it has no sugar and even better no calories.

• Diet soda

• Soda water

• Cyrstal light

• Sugar free energy drinks

Your body mechanism is like that it processes alcohol even before fats, proteins and carbohydrates and this tends to slow down fat burning process, thereby slowing your weight loss program.
To help stop these processes then try to consume mainly lean protein and less carbs and fat.

“But for those who can drink moderately some clinical research indicates that replacing dietary carbohydrates with alcohol causes body weight loss, and adding a moderate amount of alcohol to an adequate diet causes little weight gain”, according to Richard Mattes, Ph.D., RD (registered dietitian), associate professor at Purdue University.

Stay in shape through out the Holidays!

Most people wait until they have filled up on holiday eating until they make a New Year's resolution to hit the gym and focus on nutrition.
But why not get a head start!
I am offering 20% off your first month of training until Dec. 31rst.
I only have a few hours available so jump on this opportunity to get started now.
E-mail me @ vvanovermeer@gmail.com to set up a FREE consultation.