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Habits - good or bad, we all have them. It's the bad habits that get us into trouble, and, sadly, most people will admit they probably have more bad habits than good ones. So as the new year rolls in, we start thinking about making resolutions. I'm not the biggest fan of resolutions, simply because they generally tend to end in guilt and self-defeating attitudes. I propose we do away with resolutions for 2012. Instead, let's just work on changing habits, one step at a time. No deadlines, no pressure.

Contrary to popular belief, alcohol does not turn to sugar in your bloodstream. However, it it is carbohydrate-derived; alcohol is what yeasts pee out after eating sugars. Doesn't that sound yummy? Hey, it doesn't stop me. Alcohol does behave like a carb in one important way: your body burns it preferentially. Just as eating carbohydrate shuts down fat burning, so does drinking alcohol. Or as a medical journal article I read donkey's years ago phrased it, "Alcohol profoundly inhibits lipolysis." Furthermore, at 7 calories per gram, nearly twice the calorie count of carbs, it can take you longer to burn through the booze. This is why alcohol, despite some genuine benefits, is always an indulgence when you're trying to lose weight.