Alcohol

Louisiana1577

Cutting alcohol was a gamechanger for me

Sand_TIger

I can imagine! A great choice too. It does so many things - Not only the calorie content a factor but it can also affect a person's judgement and cause them to eat more than they otherwise might. (It does that to me, for sure.) Then there are metabolic effects in some people. So, way to go!

DSpence1973

I have recently come to the same conclusion. I am two weeks into no alcohol. Before that I wouldn't consider myself a heavy drinker, but I would have an after dinner drink on most nights. Occasionally two, but almost never more than two. However, even just one-two drinks a night on most nights was probably 3500+ extra kcals a week. I am also giving up coffee as I tend to get an extra 20-30 grams of added sugar a day from cold brew coffee I like.

justanotherloser007

I encourage your in your new habit! For me it was wine, and now I don't even crave it which is nice. I would never say I am a teetotaler, but I have noticed it makes me feel unusually dehydrated - even just that one glass in the evening. So I use that as an excuse in the grocery store when I am tempted. I too had to change up my coffee game. I found some sweetleaf caramel drops which seem to work great. I usually hate stevia in tea, coffee, but for some reason getting the caramel flavor works. In fact if I would have known before I bought it I wouldn't have even tried it! Glad I didn't know! So now it is almondmilk and caramel drops, as I too like cold coffee. I brew it in my french press then put it in the fridge, as I never seem to have space in the fridge to do the proper cold brew -- romaine is a space hog in the fridge lols!!

MobiusRift

Agreed, for all the above reasons I need to abstain from alcohol for the duration of my weight loss. Beer and beer induced munchies are a weak spot for me. The conundrum will be how to manage it when I hit the maintenance phase.

WaterBunnie

I'm a great believer of everything in moderation, unless you have an addiction to it and it's taking up too much of your calorie allowance. A few units of alcohol a week won't slow progress.

and23rew4799

Great reasons to quit alcohol. Also, all alcohol is carcinogenic. You're lowering your chance of lip, tongue, mouth, esophagus, and stomach cancer. Don't believe the hype about that "healthy" glass of red wine. Cut the cancer. Here's an article from the National Institute of Health (NIH) about it: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/alcohol/alcohol-fact-sheet#:~:text=There is a strong scientific,as a known human carcinogen.

gmcastil

Something else that never gets mentioned is the effect alcohol has upon sleep quality, particularly on the time required to enter REM sleep. Even moderate alcohol intake in the evenings (e.g., after dinner) can really nuke that, which probably has some serious effects on cortisol levels. Matthew Walker has written extensively about this - a lot of people think of alcohol as "just empty calories" but there is a lot more to the story. Not that anecdotal evidence should be meaningful to anyone, but a huge factor for me in losing 50 lbs in less than five months was cutting alcohol out entirely. My sleep quality improved dramatically once I had eliminated it - the calories involved, largely from beer, were not the only major player here. Insulin sensitivity, liver function, and depression in HGH production were significant factors as well.

gmcastil

MobiusRift wrote: »

The conundrum will be how to manage it when I hit the maintenance phase.

You have to treat it as the toxic substance that it is and accept the effects that it has on sleep, insulin sensitivity, liver function, and probably other things as well. There really isn't another way, which is one of the reasons that looking at it as empty calories is quite an oversimplification.

wils5150

nothing wrong with having a few drinks if you fit them in your calorie goal. that being said i like to eat my calories not drink them.

dbanks80

Giving up alcohol makes a HUGE difference. I am now seeing the scale move in a positive way

AnnPT77

MobiusRift wrote: »

Agreed, for all the above reasons I need to abstain from alcohol for the duration of my weight loss. Beer and beer induced munchies are a weak spot for me. The conundrum will be how to manage it when I hit the maintenance phase.

Which is why I included some alcohol during weight loss, to experiment and practice how to handle it long term. Like any other occasional treat kind of thing, there was less of it during loss than during maintenance (where I am now).

Yes, alcohol is poison. Abusing it is a bad plan. People who can't limit it reasonably should probably give it up entirely. Drinking it reduces inhibitions, may increase snacking or torpedo good logging. Etc.

Moderate alcohol consumption is not the end of the world, or complete doom to health.

ON_A_DIET

Don't get me wrong... I love my choice of drinks. However, I am obsessed with mocktails for when I cannot drink. They are so good for other reasons. A designated driver, a pregnant woman, kid-friendly, large gatherings, an alcoholic, etc. Why am I discussing this with you? I am a group leader here on MFP for a group called Mocktails. My group is packed with mocktail recipes, otherwise known as non-alcoholic or virgin. Would you like an example? For a virgin whiskey, mix Mountain Dew with A & W root beer. Tastes just like the real thing! Message me or simply join the group! I look forward to your reply.

Rocketts81

The average modern wineglass holds 120 ml; that's 101 calories of red wine. If I open a bottle and have a glass it's never just one either, so I don't bother, preferring to spend my calories on a nice snack. Obviously there is also the risk of lowered inhibitions leading to snacking. And, research shows neurons in the front of the brain that deal with hunger are activated during intoxication. So, I'll save the champagne for when I hit my target weight, and as that's still another 20lb, it will be at least next week...

elizabethhoberg

Haven't had alcohol in 35 years. When asked what is the worst thing we can consume, a consortium of aging experts all answered at once: alcohol. I am looking at 60 and I still want to exercise as hard as I can and to keep my faculties for as long as I can. I am not sorry I made that choice.

willboywonder

Me too. I dropped my pounds so quickly and effortlessly when I cut out alcohol. Not only is the alcohol big on calories and adds lots of sugar to my diet, it caused me to crave unhealthy, high calorie snacks like chips, crackers, and caused me to lose my willpower. Alcohol was evil to me, and I'm glad to kick it far away.

xMrBunglex

elizabethhoberg wrote: »

Haven't had alcohol in 35 years. When asked what is the worst thing we can consume, a consortium of aging experts all answered at once: alcohol. I am looking at 60 and I still want to exercise as hard as I can and to keep my faculties for as long as I can. I am not sorry I made that choice.

Yeah I'm 52 and I quit almost 10 years ago. I started losing weight 14 years ago, and I used to factor in my alcohol calories when tracking "("Welp, if I want to party tonight, gotta skip lunch") but once I hit 40 the hangovers started getting too rough for me.

I'm the same as you - I'm building a healthy body foundation for my later years (went from 240 in 2007 to currently 160) and who knows? Once I'm retired I'll probably have the occasional beer.

Giving it up isn't for everybody, but man, I wish I did it years earlier. Just about everything in my life is better since I gave up booze.

Ghostofachance

I gained a lot of weight during 2020 and alcohol played a major role. I'm not a heavy drinker, but I found myself drinking more often while spending so much time at home. As part of my recommitment to my health, I cut out alcohol for the most part. Since January, I can count on one hand the number of times I've had a drink and I've only had more than 1 drink once during that time. I've noticed even one drink can mess up the quality of my sleep, cause my heart rate to increase and leave me feeling "off". I started the year thinking I would transition back to the occasional beer or two, but the longer I go without drinking, the more I think foregoing it altogether is the right decision for me.

justanotherloser007

Rocketts81 wrote: »

it's never just one either, so I don't bother, preferring to spend my calories on a nice snack. Obviously there is also the risk of lowered inhibitions leading to snacking.

It is that after one drink, whatever plans you had now you don't stick to. I think it is not just calories, it is the Home Shopping Network binges, the socializing... it is kind of a whole picture. I always was like just one drink it is such and such calories... but then after one I no longer find whatever it takes to stick to my guns.. well if just one is okay, then I can just have two, after two there is no reasoning going on in my head! It is eating whatever, and I will drink until I don't want to - as if that ever worked out well for me before!! So I do not regret giving it up, I do not think I will ever consider myself a teetotaler - but I can tell you it has been 2 years since my last drink, not that anyone is counting. But since I am Catholic, I remember because I always will be in the confessional before that hot minute is over. I have to be accountable, and it is just easier to not drink at all than to drink and play the "excuses game".

wils5150

elizabethhoberg wrote: »

Haven't had alcohol in 35 years. When asked what is the worst thing we can consume, a consortium of aging experts all answered at once: alcohol. I am looking at 60 and I still want to exercise as hard as I can and to keep my faculties for as long as I can. I am not sorry I made that choice.

Its working for you! You look much younger in your profile pic

golfchess6

Not only did you improve your health (beyond weight loss), but think of all of the drinking snacks that you skipped, too.

CenFlo7

elizabethhoberg wrote: »

Haven't had alcohol in 35 years. When asked what is the worst thing we can consume, a consortium of aging experts all answered at once: alcohol. I am looking at 60 and I still want to exercise as hard as I can and to keep my faculties for as long as I can. I am not sorry I made that choice.

+1 on this. Abstinence from booze is well worth it, IMO.

tablefor5now

gmcastil wrote: »

Something else that never gets mentioned is the effect alcohol has upon sleep quality, particularly on the time required to enter REM sleep. Even moderate alcohol intake in the evenings (e.g., after dinner) can really nuke that, which probably has some serious effects on cortisol levels. Matthew Walker has written extensively about this - a lot of people think of alcohol as "just empty calories" but there is a lot more to the story. Not that anecdotal evidence should be meaningful to anyone, but a huge factor for me in losing 50 lbs in less than five months was cutting alcohol out entirely. My sleep quality improved dramatically once I had eliminated it - the calories involved, largely from beer, were not the only major player here. Insulin sensitivity, liver function, and depression in HGH production were significant factors as well.

****Tongue in cheek****
Oh how I wish that were true for me...I don't drink, haven't since my teens, and am a chronic insomniac also since my teens. Considering taking up drinking to see if it improves my sleep quality, lol.

mjglantz

It is a game changer. Cut it out during the week while I was losing and only a little on the weekends. Now keep it moderate for health reasons.

FABRICWOMAN

Haven't had a drink of alcohol for quite some time now. I only curtailed consumption because I started having flare ups of GOUT (a hereditary gift from my dad). I'd rather do without alcohol than go through that pain. I did notice that when I stopped drinking alcohol the weight came off faster and the gout flares ceased along with medication. Imagine that!

joanthemom8

It was for me too! I went 9 months without imbibing, but then the pandemic hit. I drink, but not as much as I used to. But some weight has crept back on so I think I need to reevaluate this. I'm going to see what a dry September will do for me.

KatrenaLopes

I looooove my drinks, but decided that if I'm serious about losing weight, then there would have to be some changes. I used to have a vodka soda every night that totaled close to 500 calories. I have since replaced it with a light seltzer with 100 calories, barely and carbs and barley any sugar. I only allow myself ONE in the evenings.

I'm still seeing significant progress and enjoying my treat.

gorple76

I’ve cut back significantly on drinking alcohol. I now only have maybe a spirit or a single glass of wine a month - before I had half a bottle each Friday, each Saturday and a glass or two through the week. Even that might not seem a lot to some but the impact it has had on my well-being is huge. I get up feeling much more clear headed, I have energy and a more positive, even-tempered mood. Because of that, I exercise and watch what I eat more easily. I’m not sure if I’d ever say never (a glass of champagne to celebrate something big would be too hard for me to say no to), but I don’t view it as a way to have fun, spoil myself or unwind any more.

BrightEyedAgain

Quitting alcohol was a game changer for me. It improved my sleep, revitalized my energy levels and jump started my weight loss. I've also enjoyed having the extra cash to spend on workout clothes and fitness gadgets. I won't say I'll never have another drink again ever, but I definitely don't want to go back to the habit of it. It's amazing how much better I feel not drinking, and I'd rather eat my calories than drink them. I can do moderation, but at this point, why bother? I've lost my taste for alcohol, and there's nothing positive it would add to my life. I didn't expect to feel that way when I decided to take a break from drinking, but that's how it turned out.

ahoy_m8

xMrBunglex wrote: »

elizabethhoberg wrote: »

Haven't had alcohol in 35 years. When asked what is the worst thing we can consume, a consortium of aging experts all answered at once: alcohol. I am looking at 60 and I still want to exercise as hard as I can and to keep my faculties for as long as I can. I am not sorry I made that choice.

Yeah I'm 52 and I quit almost 10 years ago. I started losing weight 14 years ago, and I used to factor in my alcohol calories when tracking "("Welp, if I want to party tonight, gotta skip lunch") but once I hit 40 the hangovers started getting too rough for me.

I'm the same as you - I'm building a healthy body foundation for my later years (went from 240 in 2007 to currently 160) and who knows? Once I'm retired I'll probably have the occasional beer.

Giving it up isn't for everybody, but man, I wish I did it years earlier. Just about everything in my life is better since I gave up booze.

This is so inspirational

shadowloss

I can't say I've quit, because I'll still have 2-4 drinks on the weekends, however the size of the drinks have changed dramatically. Before, I would have 3-4 drinks on Friday and 3-4 on Saturday. However, that would consist of half a liter of Vodka on Fri and the other half on Sat. Couple that with munching on peanuts (THE WHOLE NIGHT), I estimated I was getting nearly 3500 calories on Fri and Sat nights. Which explains why my cloths were shrinking?

Now my 2-3 drinks on Fri/Sat are metered and a Liter of Vodka will now last a month. Not only has this made my cloths start to grow, it has saved me over $650 at the liquor store, not counting the mixers and peanuts. Maybe I should take that money and buy some cloths that actually fit???

In addition to the weightloss, the increase in cash flow, I don't wake up on the weekends feeling like I woke up in a fog and pray the coffee offsets the night before. Now I simple sit on the deck and drink my coffee and enjoy it. As others have said, it is a game changer. That's not to say I don't have a drink, but it's in MODERATION. With some it's an all or none, but I've gone down this road before and I've been much more successful at reducing consumption and measuring, then limiting or eliminating. Hopefully I can update, when I drop another 50lbs.