If you’re looking to lose weight, eliminating alcohol from your diet is an essential first step. As recent news stories have reported, a glass of wine can be beneficial. But people who regularly drink beer, wine or liquor have a more difficult time losing weight, and here’s why: alcohol consumption inhibits fat burning. When the liver is processing alcohol, it doesn’t effectively metabolize fat. Alcohol is also a sugar, and often triggers carbohydrate cravings. A drink or two can undermine our willpower and lead to eating food we’d normally avoid. What’s more, alcohol is a depressant, so the odds of being active after a couple of drinks are greatly diminished. Instead of using alcohol to unwind, find new ways to relax, such as going for a walk, meditation, enjoying a hobby, or maybe taking a yoga class. Old habits can be hard to break, but the results are worth