Alcohol, Weight Loss and Fitness?

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I received a phone call from one of my weight loss clients last night. She was irate about local talk show host Steve Corbett going on and on about consuming beer and wine and then having the nerve to talk about how healthy he eats and his current fitness level. I didn’t hear the show yesterday, actually I haven’t listened to the show in months, but I have heard him make similar comments in the past.  Just for full disclosure, I happened to receive an email from Steve taking me to task about criticizing his negativity based talk show.  He made some comments which demonstrated that either he didn’t read the entire posting(s) or Steve the writer and the master of single sentence paragraphs, has difficulty  comprehending fully composed paragraphs.

But, I digress.

This particular client has encouraged me to write about alcohol consumption in the past.  She has been upset by various programing that glorifies drinking while ignoring the deleterious effects of spirits on the human body.  It is a topic that I always intend to write about, but other topics jump ahead to my attention.  I apologize for the delay.

When it comes to weight loss and/or a fit and healthy life, alcohol has no place.  There I said it!   However, no matter how factual my statement is, I live in the real world and realize that, for whatever reason, people like to consume wine, beer or the harder stuff.  When I make the statement I get the following questions:

-  Do you drink? Yes, I do, on very rare occasion.  I think in the last year I may have had two mixed drinks, perhaps six or so beers and a few glasses of wine.

-What do you drink when you’re out?  I usually have either unsweetened iced tea or water.  I used to drink diet soda, but I have gotten away from artificial sweeteners.  (More on that topic another posting.)

-What about the studies that claim alcohol has preventative properties?  There is some research that infers that a glass of wine or a beer may be healthful, but in general, the negative effects far outweigh any possible benefit.

When people come to me for help I vigorously discourage any alcohol consumption for the first month or so.  Alcohol is a system wide depressant.  When you are trying to drop weight and get fit, one of your desires is to increase your metabolic rate.  Well, isn’t it counterproductive to do all that work and put in all that effort just to counteract the effect by slowing your system with a drug?  Don’t you want to shed sluggish feelings?  If so, then simply stay away from booze.

Wine and beer are broken down into simple sugars.  On a low carbohydrate eating regime what is the point of avoiding starchy foods if you are simply going to drink them?  The other issue, especially when it comes to wine, is that few people ever has a single serving.  I have heard the outrage. What do you mean?  I only have a glass of wine each night?  To that I answer; an average serving of wine is about four to five ounces, not a balloon goblet filled to the rim.

Your best bet is to avoid alcohol as part of your daily regime.  Liquor is nutrient deficient, clouds the mind, makes one sluggish and will do nothing but hold you back from achieving your full fitness potential.


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Chiropractor, Dr. Joe Leonardi is the owner of the Leonardi Chiropractic and Wellness Institute and the author of the life changing book; Fat Then Fit Now;  A life beyond wight loss.

He is available to speak  to any school, association or group. He will make himself available to any talk radio, internet podcasting or television outlet. He has appeared on Public Television WVIA’s State of Pennsylvania and Call the Doctor; 94.3 FM’s Tough Talk With Joe Peters; Lisa Davis’ Your health radio; Jimmy Moore’s Livin’ La Vida Low Carb podcast; Hank Garner’s Podcast among many personal speaking engagements.

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