Alcohol

StacySwi

It messes with your metabolism a lot.

No.

First off, I was speaking from personal experience and observation. So maybe I should have said "it messes with my metabolism a lot."

Secondly:

"Drinkers were less likely to have major weight gain or loss (gaining or losing ≥10 kg) than were nondrinkers." (e.g., http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/140/10/912.short )

Or, in the world of not-medical journals:

"That may not be such a big deal if you rarely drink, but if you enjoy a few cocktails every day or even several times a week, it could dramatically slow down your weight loss." http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/why-alcohol-can-prevent-you-from-losing-weight-3349.html

"Research has shown a 20% increase in calories consumed at a meal when alcohol was consumed before the meal. There was a total caloric increase of 33% when the calories from the alcohol were added." http://www.medicinenet.com/alcohol_and_nutrition/page3.htm#weight

"Because your body can't store alcohol and must metabolize it right away, other metabolic processes suffer. Your body won't metabolize sugars and fats as efficiently during the metabolism of alcohol, and drinking heavily can cause your metabolism to slow. This can contribute to weight gain, as can the empty calories found in alcohol." http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/fitness/weight-loss/how-alcohol-affects-metabolism.html#b

All I was saying was: Drink. Go ahead and enjoy it. Just be aware of what it does to your caloric count & your metabolism.

I have also found that even if I eat great and exercise that alcohol can totally negate all that work. I am not sure if my body retains it differently but I also will welcome a no loss day in the name of a good glass of wine or martini. I have done spurts where I cut out alcohol completely and it has made weight loss much easier and then when I do drink just one is perfectly fine. That being said, I always pick a month or 2 weeks at a time when I know that it will be easy to not drink so I steer clear of any events, holidays or pretty much all of football season.

SIMA80

I think it is totally okay...I do it all of the day, but usually, I work extra hard to burn extra calories on days that I know I will have a drink.

butterfli7o

Hi all, just thought I would give an update. I am now into my 3rd week of no alcohol and this really seems to have made a difference.

Although before I was counting my alcohol in my calorie intake I really do think it was messing with my metabolism. I think this has been the problem with me for the last 3 years trying to loose weight; good all week diet and exercise wise and then a bottle or so of wine at the weekend and it takes me all week again to recover just to do it all over again and get nowhere. I had 12lbs to loose and am 5lb's down at the moment, which I am over the moon about, feel great. :happy:

I still have 6lbs to go and have social events for the next 3 weekends but I think I will definitely approach them with a different frame of mind and one eye on my glass!

Thanks for everyone's support and advice.

I think that unfortunately, this is my issue as well because I am getting nowhere. Like you, I will do good all week, then ruin it on the weekend with too much wine. Even if it seems to fit in my cals. So I may have to give it a break as well. :ohwell:

afat12

It messes with your metabolism a lot.

No.

First off, I was speaking from personal experience and observation. So maybe I should have said "it messes with my metabolism a lot."

Secondly:

"Drinkers were less likely to have major weight gain or loss (gaining or losing ≥10 kg) than were nondrinkers." (e.g., http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/140/10/912.short )

Or, in the world of not-medical journals:

"That may not be such a big deal if you rarely drink, but if you enjoy a few cocktails every day or even several times a week, it could dramatically slow down your weight loss." http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/why-alcohol-can-prevent-you-from-losing-weight-3349.html

"Research has shown a 20% increase in calories consumed at a meal when alcohol was consumed before the meal. There was a total caloric increase of 33% when the calories from the alcohol were added." http://www.medicinenet.com/alcohol_and_nutrition/page3.htm#weight

"Because your body can't store alcohol and must metabolize it right away, other metabolic processes suffer. Your body won't metabolize sugars and fats as efficiently during the metabolism of alcohol, and drinking heavily can cause your metabolism to slow. This can contribute to weight gain, as can the empty calories found in alcohol." http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/fitness/weight-loss/how-alcohol-affects-metabolism.html#b

All I was saying was: Drink. Go ahead and enjoy it. Just be aware of what it does to your caloric count & your metabolism.

Woah, that is super interesting! Thanks for the research.