Alcohol and Weight Loss: What College Students Should Know
For many college students, weekends often mean late-night parties and drinks with friends. While it can feel harmless, alcohol has a bigger impact on your body than most realize. In fact, managing alcohol is one of the hidden keys to staying fit in college. If you’re serious about balancing fun with health, pairing your efforts with this list of student-friendly fitness hacks can keep you on track without cutting out everything you enjoy.
Alcohol Calories Add Up Fast
A single beer, cocktail, or glass of wine can hold as many calories as a small meal. The tricky part is that most people don’t stop at just one. Multiple drinks quickly push your calorie count way above what you expected. This makes fat loss harder, even if your meals are balanced. The other issue is that alcohol calories are “empty.” They provide no vitamins, protein, or fiber to support your body. Instead, they leave you sluggish while storing excess energy as fat. When it becomes a habit, these calories stack up faster than you think.
Alcohol Slows Down Fat Burning
When you drink, your body treats alcohol as its top priority. It pauses fat metabolism to process the alcohol first. This means your body delays burning stored fat, which can stall weight-loss progress. Even one night out has the power to interfere with fat-burning for hours. That delay adds up if drinking is frequent. Instead of steady progress, you’re constantly hitting the brakes. Your efforts in the gym or with diet …