Can You Lose Weight and Still Drink Beer?

The short answer

Yes. Beer doesn’t stop fat loss by magic. It just adds calories, lowers your guard around food and wrecks your sleep. Manage those three and you can still enjoy a few.

How much is in your beer?

A regular pint has roughly the same calories as a bagel or a slice of pizza. Four pints on a Saturday arvo is close to an extra meal or two. And it rarely stops at the beer: the chips, the kebab and the next-day fry-up come with it.

How to keep beer in your life

1. Pick your nights. Decide ahead which nights you drink. Two nights a week works for most blokes.
2. Set a number. Two or three, not “we’ll see”.
3. Go lighter. Mid-strength or light beers cut the calories. Non-alcoholic beer is even lower.
4. Alternate with water or soda water.
5. Eat protein first. A proper meal before you drink means less grazing later.
6. Plan the food. Know what you’ll eat so the kebab doesn’t decide for you.
7. Don’t drink right before bed. Alcohol makes sleep worse, and bad sleep makes you hungrier tomorrow.

Will I lose weight slower?

Probably a little. That’s a fair trade if it means you stick with it. Watch your weekly weight trend. If it stalls, the beer is usually the first thing to trim.

A note on health

Australian guidelines suggest no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than 4 on any one day. If you’re worried about how much you drink, talk to your GP.

FAQ

Is beer worse than spirits for weight loss?

Calories are what matter. Spirits with soda water are lower than most beers, but sugary mixers add up.

Does beer cause a beer belly?

Extra calories from any source cause fat gain. Men tend to store it around the middle. Beer just makes it easy to overdo.

Should I quit drinking completely?

You don’t have to. Many men find cutting back is enough. If quitting suits you, it will help.

Read next

• The Weekend Undo: How Friday to Sunday Wipes Out Your Week
• How to Lose the Dad Bod Belly
• 1,000 Calories of Salad vs 1,000 Calories of Burgers

This article is general information only. Check with your GP before changing your diet, drinking or training if you have a medical condition.