While enjoying the occasional glass of wine or pint of beer may seem harmless, regular or excessive alcohol consumption can significantly hinder your weight-loss journey for a few reasons:
1. CALORIES
Unfortunately, alcohol is quite calorie-dense, providing seven calories per gram. That’s almost as much as fat, which has nine calories per gram. A single glass of wine or a pint of beer can contain 150–250 calories and cocktails are often the worst culprit due to sugary mixers and syrups. Calories from alcohol are often referred to as ‘empty calories’ because they provide little to no nutritional value. For example, the average pint of beer contains about the same number of calories as a Mars bar, and a small glass of wine is equivalent to three or four Jaffa cakes. So, if you’re consuming these alongside meals, it’s easy to exceed your daily calorie needs without realising it.