Alcohol: The Simple Science And Effects On Fat Loss

Caitlyn Davey • May 6, 2025

Whether it’s a wedding, casual hangout, or just a night to unwind — alcohol tends to make an appearance. It’s part of our culture, part of how we connect, celebrate, and sometimes escape.

But while it may help us relax or feel more social in the moment, the downsides of drinking often outweigh the upsides — especially when it comes to your health, sleep, and training progress.

In this week’s episode of the Rebuild Health and Fitness Podcast, Sean and James break down what alcohol actually does to your body and how you can make smarter choices — not to eliminate drinking entirely, but to make it less bad.

Alcohol as a Social Connector

“It’s a drinking culture,” says James. From playing rugby at 16 to joining social clubs in adulthood, alcohol has been a common thread in social connection.

“You play sport, then you drink. That’s the nature of sport all around the world. When I moved to Australia, how did I connect with people? I joined a rugby club and went out for drinks. It becomes so ingrained in what we do.”

Sean adds, “Like any drug, alcohol allows for a form of escapism. You have all these walls set up, and it helps them come down.”

But behind the social mask, alcohol is still a toxin. And your body knows it.

What Happens in Your Body When You Drink?

“When you drink, your body stops metabolising everything else to prioritise getting the alcohol out of your system,” explains James.

Alcohol can’t be stored — the body sees it as poison. Your liver gets to work, using enzymes like alcohol dehydrogenase to break it down into other compounds. One of these is acetaldehyde — a toxic substance thought to be responsible for hangovers.

“Everything goes through the liver. If you're drinking heavily over long periods, this process gets overwhelmed. That’s when health problems start to stack up,” says James.

The Impact on Sleep

While a nightcap might help you drift off faster, it doesn’t give you quality sleep.

“When you’re sleeping without alcohol, your brain is doing important maintenance — repairing the body, consolidating memories, processing stress,” Sean says.

“But alcohol knocks you out more like an anaesthetic than true sleep. You’re sedated, not resting. You’ll wake up during the night, feeling unrested, groggy, and more stressed.”

James shares his personal experience: “There’ve been times in my life where alcohol hit me hard. I hate not remembering things. That’s why I take sleep seriously now — everything got worse the more I drank.”

Alcohol and Fat Loss

If you're trying to lose weight, alcohol might be the hidden saboteur in your plan.

A bottle of red wine? Around 600 calories. Beers can range from 80 to 400 calories. And that’s before the late-night snacks.

“There’s a 2020 paper that found even one standard drink a day increases your health risks,” says James. “One gram of alcohol has seven calories — ten beers can be nearly 2,000 calories. That’s a lot, especially if you’re training hard and watching your food.”

Your body also puts all other metabolic processes on hold while dealing with alcohol — so fat-burning and recovery take a back seat.

How to Make It “Less Bad”

Sean and James aren’t here to tell you to quit drinking — they enjoy a drink too. But their approach is about making better choices and reducing the impact alcohol has on your health.

Some ideas:

  • Switch to low-calorie options: “If my clients enjoy beer or cider, I encourage them to try spirits with low-cal mixers,” says James. “A vodka and soda is around 67 calories — that’s a big difference from a 300-calorie pint.”
  • Try non-alcoholic alternatives: “There are so many great alcohol-free beers and spirits now,” Sean says. “Bring one to a party and see how it feels. Sometimes the placebo is enough to get you through the social side.”
  • Support your recovery: Hydrate, move your body, and prioritise sleep. “You don’t need to earn the right to drink,” Sean says, “but you do need to manage the habits around it.”
  • Challenge your defaults: If you're using alcohol to destress, it’s likely doing the opposite. “Poor sleep from alcohol makes it harder to handle stress the next day,” Sean explains. “If you sleep better, you'll deal with life better.”


This isn’t about perfection. It’s about doing what you can to improve your health — or at least avoid making it worse.



As Sean puts it: “If you can't make it better, how do you make it a little less worse?”


By understanding how alcohol affects your body and making small, sustainable changes, you can still enjoy the moments that matter — without sacrificing your progress.

Previous Blogs

July 22, 2025
If you live in Wynnum or Capalaba , chances are you’ve seen a bootcamp in action — high-intensity sessions in parks, with lots of burpees, sprints, and shouting. While bootcamps can be a fun way to get sweaty, there’s a reason more people are choosing structured strength training instead. At Rebuild, we often meet people who’ve jumped from one bootcamp to another, chasing results they never quite achieve, or can’t maintain. Here’s why strength training, not bootcamp-style fitness, is the smarter long-term approach for your health and body. 1. Progress Over Punishment Bootcamps often focus on burning calories and pushing people to their limits every session. It feels intense — but it’s usually random. There’s no plan beyond “go hard”. Strength training is different. It’s measured, progressive, and adaptable . Whether you’re lifting a barbell or doing bodyweight movements, the goal is to build skill, strength, and confidence over time. You're not punished for where you're at — you're coached toward where you want to be. 2. Stronger Muscles = Better Results Cardio-heavy bootcamps might help you lose weight quickly, but they rarely help you build muscle, and muscle is the key to long-term fat loss, strength, and mobility . When you train with resistance (weights, bands, or bodyweight), your body becomes more efficient. You burn more calories at rest, move better, and feel more capable in everyday life. And unlike bootcamps, strength training actually preserves lean mass while you're in a calorie deficit — which matters if your goal is body composition, not just weight loss. 3. Individual Coaching Matters Most bootcamps have one instructor yelling instructions to a big group. There’s rarely time to check your technique, let alone adjust for injuries, experience, or confidence levels. At Rebuild, our group sessions are coach-led and purpose-built . We take time to teach proper form, scale movements to your ability, and track your progress. You're not just surviving a workout — you’re learning how to move better and train smarter. 4. It’s Not Just About Today’s Workout Bootcamps often lack structure. You show up, do something exhausting, and leave. There’s no continuity or long-term planning. Strength training follows a programmed approach , meaning each week builds on the last. You’ll have sessions designed to improve specific movements and outcomes — whether that’s lifting more weight, increasing core strength, or mastering your first pull-up. That structure keeps you consistent, motivated, and injury-free. 5. Sustainability Over Shock Tactics If you’re tired of the “go hard or go home” mentality, strength training is for you. It’s adaptable to all ages, bodies, and goals . You’ll get fitter, stronger, and more confident — without burning out or breaking down. Ready to train with purpose? If you're looking for something better than a bootcamp in Wynnum or Capalaba , join us at Rebuild. We coach real people — not fitness models — to get real results. 📍 Structured training 📍 Expert coaches 📍 Community that has your back You don’t need to be fit to start. You just need to start.
July 22, 2025
A lot of people have completed a marathon but how many people have collapsed at 40km?

Sometimes you do everything right, and shit still doesn’t go to plan.
 Last weekend I ran in the Gold Coast Marathon, my first ever marathon. I trained properly, my body felt relatively good (all things considered when preparing to run 42.2km), I carb-loaded, and my race day nutrition was dialled in.
 I was ready.
 We set off. Jess and the kids met me at different points on the course with signs, the atmosphere was great. I loved seeing the kids with their signs. Pacing felt on point. The first 21km? Easy. I felt great. Maybe I should’ve drunk more water, but I didn’t think too much of it at the time.
 At 25km, I felt slower, but pace wise I was still holding well. I’d kept telling myself throughout the day "The race starts at 30km." And let me tell you, it does.
 By 30km, the sun was out, and I was starting to struggle. My watch started glitching so I had no real idea of my splits. I thought I was slowing down a lot (turns out I wasn’t), but the effort to keep the same pace suddenly felt 10x harder.
 I hadn’t taken on enough water. Usually, I can get away with lower fluids. Not this time. Dehydration crept in. hard.
 At 35km I was in survival mode, one foot in front of the other, flicking between moments of pain and little short lived waves of “let’s go.” But by 39km I was delirious. I could see the finish line, I hit the 40km mark (where I thought enjoyment might return to finish), and I collapsed.
 I was gone. Scary stuff.
 The last few hundred metres were a complete blur. All I remember is the crowd, the medics, and about five paramedics suddenly around me. I was vomiting, shaking, confused, in and out of it. I had this overwhelming, indescribable feeling, and honestly, for a moment, I thought I could die.
 My memory went. I couldn’t recall the day, the year, where I lived, or how to spell. I only knew who Jess and the kids were, and that I didn’t want them to see me with wires in me. 
 My temperature had hit 40°C. Blood pressure crashed. Thankfully, the medics and paramedics were incredible, I had a drip running into me within 10 to 15 minutes.
 As I already knew, I’m stubborn. I wanted to run it all. Not walk. Not stop and breathe and In hindsight, I should have. 
 Seems like my mind was just a bit stronger than my body on the day. I never thought I could push myself there in all honesty. 

Am I gutted? Of course, I was only 2km away but I gave it everything I had on that day. Heat stroke, exhaustion, and dehydration got me. 

I am always reminded here of the quote ‘The man in the arena’ look it up if you need. 
 Will I run 42.2km again? Yes, I feel I need to. 

Would I do things differently, now I’ve run 40km under race conditions? You bet, lessons learnt. Always lessons. Never be scared to not succeed. Be scared to never try in the first place. 
 We go again.
By Caitlyn Davey July 8, 2025
You Need To Earn The Right To Be Good At Something
More Posts