Alcohol

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.

mainelylisa

I'm on an extended (maybe forever) break. Have lost weight, improved skin, energy, and am developing interests and goals I just couldn't seem to muster when I was drinking prob 10-15 wines a week. Hi @ahoy_m8 ! There's a Less Alcohol thread if anyone is interested--very supportive and non-judgmental--everyone is trying to drink less--whatever that means for them.

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10839764/less-alcohol-august-2021-one-day-at-a-time#latest

dubonnet480

empty calories with nothing to show. I would give it up every year for lent. This past lent I just gave it up all together. Less calories to track and more calories to use for positive health and muscle growth

iwriteprofessionally

I stopped drinking a few years ago after trying to stop since 2007. What a difference! I love not being in trouble, not missing work, not having hangovers & I have time for more things & more money for those things. Weight came off & I dropped down to my lightest adult weight of 157. I have been eating in its stead though, so I am grateful to have this community to get my calories consumed vs. calories expended in check!!

terri092990

Good for you! I haven't had any in 6+ years! I remember all the eating more than I should because I was so hungry. don't miss it. Now if I can decrease my intake of fruit........... a lot of extra sugar. I know it's natural, but a bit too much. Better than a baked good!

Beelady516

I love a glass of vino or two on back porch with friends two times a week ..recently I cut the glass down to a smaller portion.. I don't eat when I have wine I may try to cut it down even..more ..we will see.. it's a social thing for me🍹

saintor1

I would enjoy/love a "little scare" to make me drink less. Not something general, but down-to-earth evidences that it affects the human tissues. At the same time, I know that it can't be good. At least, it didn't affect my weight.

Jungley

What an excellent thread - really rams it home for me as the difference between drinking and not is absolutely huge for me. I'm currently taking a break from it and the weight is dropping off. I'd love to make it permanent - i do love a glass of wine (or 10) in winter so massive challenge ahead.

jparkercebu

I budget in my beer into my diet. I am happy for all those who have kicked alcohol from their diets. But for me, I like my beers (not lite beer) in the evening and I sleep very well. I have lost 26 pounds in just a little over 3 months and I average a loss of 1 to 2 pounds a week now. What's life if you can't enjoy the things you like, especially in moderation. Cheers!!

nexangelus

AnnPT77 wrote: »

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

This^^^^^^^^ I consume little to no alcohol usually, but now indulge in social settings....so I am the opposite, not cutting it out, I am adding it in now am maintaining....quite enjoying it, although the late nights might have to stop...sleep is defo necessary! ; )

ninerbuff

While moderation in alcohol isn't destructive to weight loss, it CAN affect how you can lose stored body fat dependent on when it's consumed.
Alcohol CANNOT be stored by the body. It has to be metabolized to leave the body. So while it's metabolizing, you don't burn any carbs or fats till it's gone.
So having alcohol when before you go to bed at night isn't a great strategy since the majority of stored bodyfat is burned off while you sleep...................unless you have alcohol in your body.

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