A long day follows, but no feeling beats drinking a cool beer. Many people think that drinking beer quickly leads to gaining weight. The weight gain and beer debate has been on for years, leaving many people perplexed. There is a story behind that, and it is not just beer. In this article, I will dive with you and correct the many misconceptions in a straightforward and fun manner.
The Beer Belly Myth: Is Beer the Problem?
We’re all familiar with the term “beer belly,” but does drinking one pint of beer really lead to inches growing around your midsection? Not quite. A normal beer has around 150 calories in a 355 ml serving. That’s not a lot of calories. The issue arises when one drink becomes three or four, and is then paired with high-calorie snacks such as fries, pizza, or nachos.
Here is the bottom line: the beer/wait gain connection is only an issue when you over consume on a regular basis and don’t balance it out with your overall calorie intake. Living life in a certain manner is more important than drinking beer.
Calories, Cravings, and Choices
Beer is a silent killer. It takes over your appetite hormones and reduces your self control which results in an unacceptable urge to consume salty, fried or cheesy foods. I wonder why 2 or 3 beers will suddenly make you hungry? That’s the magic! It’s not the content of the bottle alone but what comes with the bottle.
Let’s analyze it further:
- Drinking beer and eating high-carb snacks adds up to a lot of calories.
- Late-night drinking sessions are usually substituted with healthy meals
- Less movement after drinking results in the storage of the leftover calories as fat
If your goal is to lose weight, it would be more helpful to recognize these patterns and not just point the finger of blame at beer.
Best Diet Plan for weight loss and Drinking Beer
Yes, you heard it right! It means that you can drink a beer or two and achieve your fitness targets! Moderation and balance are the most important parts. Here is a simple plan:
1. Drink Light Beers: Light beers and low-carb beers are easier on your waistline. Light beers typically have fewer calories without any major loss in taste.
2. Use the 80/20 Rule: Choose to eat nutritious and healthy 80% of the time, while indulging yourself and enjoying food that may not be healthy or nutritious but makes you happy, 20% of the time.
3. Choose Thick Protein and Fiber Foods: It is hard to overeat after you enjoy beer when you first fill yourself with thick protein and high-fiber foods.
4. Drink Water: Alcohol dehydrates your body. Simple as that. If you drink beer and the lack of water re-hydration, you increase the likelihood that you are drinking beer because you are hungry. Take this from me, drink a glass of water between pints to kill cravings so that you can enjoy your drink.
Enjoying a drink needn’t set you back in your fitness journey if you follow these four simple steps.
Final thoughts: What’s true and what’s not
Most people like to immediately associate weight gain with drinking beer; however, the relationship between the two isn’t exactly black and white. Beer itself is not going to automatically cause weight gain, but over consumption as well as poor diet will. You can still have a favorite beverage without compromising on your health provided that you take it in moderation when feeding on a balanced diet and doing a lot of exercises.
Always keep in mind it is not about eliminating beer, but rather making conscious decisions. That way the next time someone accuses your stomach of that pint you will know otherwise!