Alcohol on the Military Diet

Alcohol and Weight Loss

Some people wonder if they have to forgo alcohol completely when they’re trying to lose weight on the Military Diet. Just like all the good things in life, moderation is key. We don’t expect anyone to stop drinking completely. If losing weight is no fun at all, where’s the motivation?

If you’re a professional swimsuit model, we advise kicking the habit completely. But for the rest of us, there are a few strategies to drink smarter and leaner. Alcohol increases your fat storage, making it harder to lose weight. And your main fat loss hormone, growth hormone, can be completely shut down by hitting the sauce. But fear not, there are a few ways to limit the damage.

Don’t Mix fatty foods and alcohol

If we’re out on the town, food and alcohol are a natural match. It’s important to eat if you’re drinking alcohol, but you need to eliminate fatty foods while you’re drinking. Alcohol shuts down the body’s ability to oxidize fat, meaning when you’re drinking, the body won’t use fat for fuel. It goes straight into fat cells instead. Just say no to that cheeseburger at the end of the night. Think steak and salad instead. You may not wake up without a hangover, but you’ll wake up leaner.

Avoid sweet drinks

Say no to sweet drinks.

Sugar sends your insulin into a big upward spike. And that translates into more fat storage. Those long island ice teas go straight to your muffin tops. Enjoy vodka with soda water and lime. Or a glass of red wine instead of a margarita.

Sorry, but beer is bad

We know everyone loves beer, but if you’re trying to lose weight, it’s a definite no-no. Beer contains “phytoestrogens” that mimic estrogen in your body, an important hormone directly responsible for belly fat. If you simply must drink beer, try darker beers like Guiness, full of anti-oxidants.