Like many, I enjoy the occasional adult beverage. It’s very occasional for me, for various reasons, but sometimes, after a stressful day, sometimes a nip of something seems appropriate. Where I live, you can buy alcoholic beverages everywhere, even in convenience stores. Why go to the liquor store to buy whiskey or vodka or whatever your tastes are when, just down the street, there’s a convenience store with a license to sell liquor.

A lot of people I know try to limit what they drink to low or no carbohydrate beverages believing that it helps them maintain their weight. It doesn’t. People often forget that alcohol has calories as well, not to mention other effects on your body that will do nothing for weight maintenance. I recall a few years ago where a vodka distiller (I don’t remember which one) advertised their brand as “no carbohydrates”, meaning if anyone on a low carb diet at the time (kind of the craze then) then by drinking their product, would not affect that diet – as to carbohydrates.

I was thinking about this earlier, as I will be alone this evening and desiring to have a sip or two. So I went to (where else?) Google to get more information and found this article that I found very informative. Well, many spirits have no carbohydrates, whiskey and vodka being two of the most popular, but they do contain calories. The article goes into the issues with drinking if a person is trying to lose or maintain weight. Here’s some of the effects on the body (from the article):

• Alcohol will always be metabolised before anything else in the liver because it is a toxin.
• Alcohol is not your friend if you are trying to lose belly fat.
• You may be able to drink in moderation but make no mistake, it will stop weight loss and even cause weight gain.
• If you want to breakthrough a weight loss plateau, stop alcohol completely until you see the results you want.
• Alcohol lowers your self control when it comes to eating healthy foods.
• Alcohol will increase your cravings and appetite (you get the ‘munchies’).
• Alcohol can cause fatty liver disease.

The bolding of some list items is mine. I think I knew about these, subjectively, but it was interesting to see them in print.  I’m now thinking, “maybe not” to having a drink tonight. I’m not attempting to discourage anyone here, just pointing out some information that some may not be aware of.

As I get older, I find it more difficult to lose or maintain weight. The exercise I used to do isn’t enough anymore. Some people I know don’;t have that problem at all. They can eat and drink whatever and as much as they want and never seem to add a pound. I stay away from these people as much as I can (yes, I’m jealous). But as I get older, it’s yes, weight, but also overall health that is on my mind. I tend to think that the less I consume of certain food or drink items, the better my health will be.

I’ve been doing this now for a couple of months. Yes, there’s another person in my house so I still prepare the same types of meals, but there are some I limit myself on and overall, I have to say, I’ve felt better. I don’t know if it’s psychological or actual a change in my body, but it is happening.

Maybe I’ll have a drink tonight to celebrate! (joking!)