DR. MIKKI WILLIDEN: DOES DRINKING ALCOHOL REALLY BLUNT FAT LOSS? SEPARATING THE PHYSIOLOGY FROM THE BEHAVIOR | EP. 227

Alcohol might be the most misunderstood topic in all of fitness. On one side, you have people who will tell you that a single drink torches your progress. That one night out shuts off fat loss, kills your gains, and undoes a week of hard work. On the other side, you have people who insist that calories are all that matter, so you can drink whatever you want as long as it fits your macros. Here’s the reality. Both of those are oversimplifications, and the truth lives in a much more nuanced middle. Because the way alcohol actually affects your body composition has very little to do with some magical fat-storing property, and almost everything to do with the calories it contributes, what it does to your appetite and restraint, how it impacts your sleep, and the behaviors that tend to come along with a night of drinking. Separate the physiology from the behavior, and the entire conversation changes. In this episode, I’m joined by my good friend Dr. Mikki Williden, host of the Mikkipedia podcast, who holds a masters in human nutrition and a PhD in public health. Together we break down what the science actually says about alcohol, fat loss, and body composition.  HERE’S WHAT WE COVER:  WHY ALCOHOL IS THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD TOPIC IN FITNESS & THE TWO EXTREMES TO AVOID HOW ALCOHOL IS METABOLIZED & WHY THE BODY TREATS IT AS A PRIORITY FUEL WHY ALCOHOL TEMPORARILY SUPPRESSES FAT OXIDATION THE THREE MECHANISMS THROUGH WHICH ALCOHOL MAKES FAT LOSS HARDER  HOW QUICKLY ALCOHOL CALORIES ADD UP & ERASE A WEEK’S WORTH OF DEFICIT  WHY POOR SLEEP AFTER DRINKING DRIVES UP HUNGER & LOWERS RESTRAINT THE NEXT DAY  WHAT THE RESEARCH SAYS ABOUT HABITUAL DRINKING & BODY WEIGHT WHY WINE LOOKS “HEALTHIER” THAN BEER & WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON  WHY LIQUID CALORIES & ALCOHOL LEAD TO INCOMPLETE DIETARY COMPENSATION  THE PRACTICAL PLAYBOOK FOR BUDGETING ALCOHOL INTO A FAT LOSS PHASE  WHAT TO DO BEFORE, DURING & THE DAY AFTER DRINKING TO PROTECT YOUR PROGRESS  WHERE TO CONNECT WITH DR. MIKKI WILLIDEN: https://www.instagram.com/mikkiwilliden WHERE TO CONNECT WITH ME: Follow Brandon on IG: https://www.instagram.com/brandondacruz\_/ For Info on Brandon’s Coaching Services: https://form.jotform.com/bdacruzfitness/coachinginquiry Email: [Bdacruzfitness@gmail.com](mailto:Bdacruzfitness@gmail.com) My Reading Recommendations: THE MUSCLE & STRENGTH PYRAMIDS https://getdpd.com/cart/hoplink/25469?referrer=1l54og96lf1ccw