Man Boobs, Beer, Peanuts and Soy; whats the link?

Its 6 weeks to Christmas! As we approach the countdown to the festive season I thought it would be a good opportunity to discuss the subject of alcohol and its effects on your fat loss program. When a client embarks on a fat loss program I stress how important it is to make lifestyle changes. If my clients are serious about getting lean one of the lifestyle factors that must be reviewed is the consumption of alcohol.

The reality is that people kid themselves about how much they drink. Those trips to the bottle bank can be a sobering experience when you are faced with the evidence of your weekly indulgences. The london social life revolves around bars, restaurants, corporate entertainment, golfing events, Ascot, Henley. Lords, Twickenham etc. So it is a significant lifestyle change that you are being asked to consider in pursuit of your goals.

I always recommend that my clients keep diaries of what they eat and drink. A common entry on my female clients' diaries is the obligatory glass (or glasses) of white wine at the end of a stressful day. Before keeping the food diary the same clients were convinced that they only drank one or two glasses a night when in reality they are consuming on average half to three quarters of a bottle of wine a night. It's all very well sitting on the veranda sipping that glass of wine that you heard is good for you but what is good for you is a single glass of red wine (Pinot Noir, Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon).

These wines are rich in resveratrol, which is reputed to have anti-aging properties. So Ladies, if you are wondering why you can't lose weight, remember that alcohol is high in calories, which are generally in excess to your needs. This results in these excess calories being stored as fat, primarily on your love handles.

Alcohol is no friend to men either despite the fact that it gives you an increase of confidence! Beer contains xenoestrogens that mimic the estrogens in your body. The same toxic compound is found in peanuts and soy!

Your body recognises these and it doesn't excrete them, which lead to an estrogens overload and the conversion of your testosterone into estrogens. This results in that "He-She" look that is currently in vogue. The increase in sightings of man boobs is not helped by the fact that Man boobs develop because alcohol lowers testosterone that builds fat burning muscle for the next four days . If you are fat, know that fat stores toxins and so the more body-fat you have the more toxic you are and the more prone to diseases you will be.

If you are serious about your fat loss or a strength-building program, you need to curtail your intake of alcohol. Alcohol can affect your body's perception of hunger and drinking can also stimulate additional eating.

You either stop off for the kebab on the way home or comfort eat on the couch the next day. It also affects your ability to train. If you have over indulged at the weekend you will notice that it will take you a few days to get back to being able to lift the heavy weights that you lifted the previous Friday. Alcohol makes you weaker. It has a detrimental effect on the quality training needed for achieving fat loss.

You are 100% responsible for the position you find yourself in today and YOU are the only person who has the power to change it. There is no better time than today to make that lifestyle change. So drop the can or pint, pick up your pride and do something that isn't temporary like beer, get fit because fitness is for life."