Does Alcohol prevent you from losing weight?

TooMuchChocolate88

Hi,

So i have a friend that told me that I need to stop drinking all alcohol while I'm losing or I apparently won't lose weight. I thought that it was pretty funny because I've still consumed alcohol over the past month (Within my calorie limits) and I'm down almost 10lbs. So obviously the alcohol isn't hindering my loss. She calms that's only because I don't drink every day.

She ended up showing me some crazy video that said your liver can't process your fat if it's too busy processing the alcohol.

So my questions are.. Is this true? I thought so long as you have a deficit you will always lose weight. So far I've just dismissed it as false. Any info or insight would be much appreciated. =D

dewd2

Alcohol will not prevent you from losing weight. You are correct that as long as you stay in a deficit you will be fine.

Alcohol my prevent you from getting the nutrients you need to be healthy if you drink too much (as well as the other issues it causes). Assuming the rest of your diet is in order and you're not compromising nutrition, have a drink and be happy.

kimny72

My non-scientific understanding is that your body will prioritize metabolizing alcohol and using it for energy to get it out of your body as quickly as possible, then go back to burning other fuel as usual. Regardless, if you log the alcohol and are still in a deficit, your body will end up having to burn stored fat, ie lose weight.

I think

lorib642

The video may have been accurate, but your friend is wrong. You will burn off alcohol before you burn macros, but you still will lose if you are in a deficit.

TooMuchChocolate88

Awesome! Thank you all. She was trying to tell me that because I'm so big, I will see loses with almost no effort which is why I'm still losing... but she thinks eventually I will come to a stall because my liver will spend days processing the alcohol, which from reading online sources is completely false.

It's nice to know I can have a glass of wine with a meal and not feel to bad about it

emmamcgarity

I've lost 13 lbs so far out of the 50 total I need to lose. I have alcohol within my calorie limits about once per week. No issues for me other than some social situations where I want to eat higher calorie foods while consuming the alcohol. But even then, one day in the scheme of a sensible diet over time does not prevent me from reaching my goals.

Dee_D33

TooMuchChocolate88 wrote: »

Awesome! Thank you all. She was trying to tell me that because I'm so big, I will see loses with almost no effort which is why I'm still losing... but she thinks eventually I will come to a stall because my liver will spend days processing the alcohol, which from reading online sources is completely false.

It's nice to know I can have a glass of wine with a meal and not feel to bad about it

No effort? Weight loss takes effort at any level, good job and enjoy your glass of wine!

dewd2

Well.... That's sorta correct that when you are very heavy it is easier to lose. You can eat more and still drop fat quickly. As you weigh less your metabolism slows down and your losses slow as well. That is nature and nothing to do with alcohol.

Good luck.

AmyOutOfControl

My personal experience:

I had to cut out most alcohol to loose weight (except for very special occasions). Every time I add it back I end up gaining. I think this has more to do with having lowered inhibitions and wanting to snack with my drink. I also find I am much less motivated to go for a run in the morning after a drink or two in the evening. Plus, it makes me weigh more the next day due to water retention.

lynn_glenmont

TooMuchChocolate88 wrote: »

Awesome! Thank you all. She was trying to tell me that because I'm so big, I will see loses with almost no effort which is why I'm still losing... but she thinks eventually I will come to a stall because my liver will spend days processing the alcohol, which from reading online sources is completely false.

Only if you typically down thousands of calories of alcohol in a session. If your TDEE is 2000 and you drink 20 glasses (roughly 4 bottles) of wine at 120 calories a glass (about 107 cals from alcohol per glass) in a day, then yes, your body would still be using the energy from the alcohol the next day, and if downed another 4 bottles of wine on each consecutive day, your body would never catch up, and the energy from any carbs (including the carbs in the wine), protein, or fat you're consuming would have to be stored.

But in that case, you wouldn't be in an energy deficit.

dsboohead

Yes alcohol does not help my weight loss. Unfortunately one drink leads to another...another and eventually munching! No Thankyou for me

Leslierussell4134

Gaugegirltraining is a great resource on YouTube. Her name is Christine, a food scientist and chemical engineer, and she discusses in great detail body type and alcohol consumption during weight loss. I still believe you can lose weight while drinking alcohol, but I guess some body types do it more efficiently.

rj0150684

lynn_glenmont wrote: »

TooMuchChocolate88 wrote: »

Awesome! Thank you all. She was trying to tell me that because I'm so big, I will see loses with almost no effort which is why I'm still losing... but she thinks eventually I will come to a stall because my liver will spend days processing the alcohol, which from reading online sources is completely false.

Only if you typically down thousands of calories of alcohol in a session. If your TDEE is 2000 and you drink 20 glasses (roughly 4 bottles) of wine at 120 calories a glass (about 107 cals from alcohol per glass) in a day, then yes, your body would still be using the energy from the alcohol the next day, and if downed another 4 bottles of wine on each consecutive day, your body would never catch up, and the energy from any carbs (including the carbs in the wine), protein, or fat you're consuming would have to be stored.

But in that case, you wouldn't be in an energy deficit.

And another downside to this plan is that you’d probably die

tennisdude2004

amymoreorless wrote: »

My personal experience:

I had to cut out most alcohol to loose weight (except for very special occasions). Every time I add it back I end up gaining. I think this has more to do with having lowered inhibitions and wanting to snack with my drink. I also find I am much less motivated to go for a run in the morning after a drink or two in the evening. Plus, it makes me weigh more the next day due to water retention.

+1

VUA21

It's not necessarily the alcohol, CICO still applies. But.... The effect alcohol has on judgement
Example: when sober a bucket of fried chicken is probably a bad idea, when drunk it can sound perfect!

ccsernica

Pure ethanol has 7 cal/gram, not as much as fat but more than carbs or protein. That, more than anything else, is why some people can't lose weight if they drink.

motivatedmartha

Agree with most of what has been said. Just curious though - was the friend doling out the advice a good example of healthy living? I have noticed that most (not all) of those offering unsolicited advice are not really in a position to do so

JBApplebee

TooMuchChocolate88 wrote: »

Hi,

So i have a friend that told me that I need to stop drinking all alcohol while I'm losing or I apparently won't lose weight. I thought that it was pretty funny because I've still consumed alcohol over the past month (Within my calorie limits) and I'm down almost 10lbs. So obviously the alcohol isn't hindering my loss. She calms that's only because I don't drink every day.

She ended up showing me some crazy video that said your liver can't process your fat if it's too busy processing the alcohol.

So my questions are.. Is this true? I thought so long as you have a deficit you will always lose weight. So far I've just dismissed it as false. Any info or insight would be much appreciated. =D

As long as you aren't binge drinking every night, you'll be able to lose weight & drink. I'm down 50 pounds since the end of January & I like my tasty adult beverages.

cwolfman13

TooMuchChocolate88 wrote: »

Hi,

So i have a friend that told me that I need to stop drinking all alcohol while I'm losing or I apparently won't lose weight. I thought that it was pretty funny because I've still consumed alcohol over the past month (Within my calorie limits) and I'm down almost 10lbs. So obviously the alcohol isn't hindering my loss. She calms that's only because I don't drink every day.

She ended up showing me some crazy video that said your liver can't process your fat if it's too busy processing the alcohol.

So my questions are.. Is this true? I thought so long as you have a deficit you will always lose weight. So far I've just dismissed it as false. Any info or insight would be much appreciated. =D

To the bolded...your body cannot metabolize any nutrients when alcohol is in your system. When alcohol is in your system, your metabolism is 100% metabolizing the alcohol and nothing else...this part is true. But this doesn't really matter if you are in a calorie deficit.

I personally find it easier to limit alcohol when I'm trying to lose weight...I still drink, but I drink less and tend to stick to vodka and a diet mixer...I pretty much drop beer or wine altogether save for maybe a glass or two on the weekend.

CSARdiver

The prioritization in metabolic pathways occurs at a molecular level and occurs simultaneously, so while this may technically be true, the level of impact is undetectable by instrument and meaningless.

Have a beer. Put it on your friend's tab.

darharmar

If you're miserable when you're living healthily. And can't have anything fun. Chances are the changes won't be permanent. Managed (back in the day like 4 years ago) to lose a significant amount of weight. While still calculating the calories and drinking. I drink WAY less now. And losing weight is a $&*[ now. So. No. Alcohol had nothing to do with it.