alcohol and weight loss. grr.

crispy420

I am 22 and when my friends get together, most of the time we drink and its a couple times a week. I've been logging (on and off) for about 20 days and exercising regularly and have noticed I've dropped an inch or two here and there. Most of the time when I drink, I ration my calories out so i can get a good buzz, but I don't go over my calorie limit. Also, I drink mostly wine now, hardly ever beer which was my norm. I have hardly lost any weight, but like I said, I've lost some girth. Is it the alcohol that's hindering my weight loss or is it just my building muscle that's making it seem like I'm not losing? Thanks for the input!

nomeejerome

I am 22 and when my friends get together, most of the time we drink and its a couple times a week. I've been logging (on and off) for about 20 days and exercising regularly and have noticed I've dropped an inch or two here and there. Most of the time when I drink, I ration my calories out so i can get a good buzz, but I don't go over my calorie limit. Also, I drink mostly wine now, hardly ever beer which was my norm. I have hardly lost any weight, but like I said, I've lost some girth. Is it the alcohol that's hindering my weight loss or is it just my building muscle that's making it seem like I'm not losing? Thanks for the input!

A calorie surplus hinders weight loss and I doubt you are building muscle.

Unknown

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aschroeder2749

It's the alcohol. Even though I see a significant difference in my waistline after not drinking for about 4 days, I always start again anyways. I guess I haven't gotten to the point where I want to give it up completely. I know that's what I have to do to get the figure I want though. And one glass of wine or beer doesn't do it for me. I've built up such a high tolerance that to even get a relaxed, fuzzy feeling I have to have at least a few glasses of wine. And it's hard to "just figure it in your calories" and still eat normally.

catestevam

I hear you. Social situations can be tough as far as drinking is concerned. If you're trying to get the best bang for your buck, have you considered doing diet soda/liquor drinks. My favorite is gin and diet tonic with a lime, or diet sprite/ grape vodka (scary good). If your looking for a buzz without the calorie price, that's definitely the way to go.

chivalryder

http://www.caloriesecrets.net/low-calorie-alcoholic-drinks-drink-wisely-without-gaining-weight/

Unlike the other nutrients, protein, carbohydrate and fat, our body cannot store alcohol. Hence removing it from the body takes preference over normal functions. This can result to an interruption of the fat burning process, giving extra potential for weight gain

ileitch

Yup. Alcohol is not helpful, and it's hard to give it up.

WalkingAlong

A calorie surplus hinders weight loss and I doubt you are building muscle.

I agree. You might be losing water causing inch loss. That won't last.

If you feel like it's the alcohol, you might be undercounting the calories or it might be causing some upset to your system that makes you bloated. It does that to me. But if that was your issue, you wouldn't be seeing inch loss.

Do you eat after drinking and forget to log?

battybecks

I've been continuing to drink quite a bit regularly with my friends and I'm losing. I exercise like crazy on days I'm going out and then take the booze out of my exercise calories. And then when I run out of calories I stop. Most of the time

It's completely doable! You just need to build space for it by exercising madly!

"Will hoop for wine" ... or beer.

ETA: I think the key to this might actually be that you are logging "on and off". I bet you eat and drink more when you're not logging, and that will be what's stopping you from losing ...

smoofinator

What worked for me is cutting my drinking down to once a week. That way I can workout more and eat less during the week and then have a good time with friends and still eat relatively normally that day. I'm the kind of person that can drink a bottle of wine no problem so it's something I've been forced to plan for.

WendyTerry420

Alcohol sucks. Just break up.

Princess_Lee2013

Hey girl! Good for you for recognizing that it "might" be a problem. Like you, I am part of a social circle of friends that get together and drink numerous times a week. As many indicate here, you may be not be losing weight in part due to your alcohol comsumption, but in my experience there is always a lot of factors at play. As one person mentioned, your body cannot burn fat when you are drinking because it is working hard to rid itself of the alcohol. what does this mean in real life - try not to eat/drink at the same time...because essentially whatever you eat will be retained as fat. I know that the "right" answer is abstain, don't drink and yes it's the reason, but as someone who lost 60 lbs at age 27 (last year) while still drinkiing here are some "tricks" I used so that I didn't lose that social connection.

1) like you, I swtiched from a carb heavy beverage of choice to wine on occasion, but mostly vodka (flavoured) and soda or diet pop.
2) Refused to eat and drink at the same time. One or the other
3) tried to make drinking nights active - i.e. dancing at a club or a friend's place for fun instead of pub/restaurant sitting
4) went period of time "off the scene" In my case it was more extreme like I went a month at one time, and then some two week stints, but I think just like taking a week off here or there makes a difference
5) low cal the day of drinking..essentially saving cals for the night

For what it's worth, your friends will still be there drinking when you're done what you need to do, so I do recommend you abstain for periods of time; maybe hang out and just drink a diet soda or something 1 out of the few nights, etc.
GOOD LUCK!

melham

Yup. Alcohol is *extremely* helpful, and it's *unthinkable* to give it up.

Fixed. :drinker:

jos05

Anytime I want to get serious about losing the weight; it all begins with giving up the alcohol completely! I really believe that by cutting it out completely, that's the only way I am going to finally get to my goal.

Best of luck to you, it is very hard to quick drinking ... I have tried and failed many times. But I am finally on track and I have it down to one drink, once a week.


you can do it.

crispy420

Thanks, everyone! I kinda knew alcohol on the reg and weight loss is not conducive, I guess i just needed to hear it from experienced weight-losers. If I'm drinking, I usually don't eat. I am definitely a drunkmuncher, so abstaining from food is a top priority if I'm drinking. At worst, I just bash of veg and salsa. The once a week idea is probably my best bet and that way, I don't feel deprived. And yeahhh, probably should up my exercise. meh. Wish this whole not being a chunk thing was easier. Anyway, thanks again!

yvette303

Alcorexia! Saving the calories from food so that you can drink more :drinker:

WendyTerry420

Yup. Alcohol is *extremely* helpful, and it's *unthinkable* to give it up.

Fixed. :drinker:

Helpful?

I'd rather heal my brain cells instead of kill them. :smokin:

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QuietBloom

Thanks, everyone! I kinda knew alcohol on the reg and weight loss is not conducive, I guess i just needed to hear it from experienced weight-losers. If I'm drinking, I usually don't eat. I am definitely a drunkmuncher, so abstaining from food is a top priority if I'm drinking. At worst, I just bash of veg and salsa. The once a week idea is probably my best bet and that way, I don't feel deprived. And yeahhh, probably should up my exercise. meh. Wish this whole not being a chunk thing was easier. Anyway, thanks again!

Everything in moderation. As long as it fits your macros, enjoy your wine.

QuietBloom

Yup. Alcohol is *extremely* helpful, and it's *unthinkable* to give it up.

Fixed. :drinker:

Helpful?

I'd rather heal my brain cells instead of kill them. :smokin:

Well you certainly aren't helping them with smoking.

bwogilvie

I usually have a pre-dinner cocktail around 6:30 or 7 pm, and often a glass or two of wine with dinner at 8. On weekends I might have a digestif or a nightcap. I've lost 46 lbs. in the last 11 months. It can be done.

If you do drink while losing weight, you need to log the calories accurately, just like everything else. That means careful measuring, and ensuring that you use accurate data. A lot of alcoholic drinks in MFP's database have laughably inaccurate data (like 80 calories for a 5-oz. glass of wine! It should be 125-130).

If you're going to have more than one drink, you might also need to work harder to resist the urge to snack.

yvette303

Alcorexia! Saving the calories from food so that you can drink more :drinker:

not funny

Who's laughing?

http://www.bodyconfidential.co.uk/Health/The-Bottle-Of-Wine-A-Night-Diet

crispy420

Alcorexia! Saving the calories from food so that you can drink more :drinker:

not funny

Who's laughing?

http://www.bodyconfidential.co.uk/Health/The-Bottle-Of-Wine-A-Night-Diet

this!^
Super low amounts of refined carbs and grains, moderate meat and very high veg/fruit consumption is way up my alley. Muchos gracias for the article. That being said, I'm not going to drink a bottle of wine a night. lol

firstsip

If you're losing inches--take it. That's a sign of progress, even if the scale is not moving downward. You might end up dropping weight in a week or two... afterall, it's only been 20 days.

Otherwise, your "on and off" logging is more likely a hindrance than purely alcohol.

firstsip

Thanks, everyone! I kinda knew alcohol on the reg and weight loss is not conducive, I guess i just needed to hear it from experienced weight-losers. If I'm drinking, I usually don't eat. I am definitely a drunkmuncher, so abstaining from food is a top priority if I'm drinking. At worst, I just bash of veg and salsa. The once a week idea is probably my best bet and that way, I don't feel deprived. And yeahhh, probably should up my exercise. meh. Wish this whole not being a chunk thing was easier. Anyway, thanks again!

As an aside, I drank ~regularly~ (craft beer and occasional wine; rare spirits, if only because I like beer the best). I'm saying anywhere from 1-4 or 5 pints a week. That could be one a night, or it could be two or three on one. I budget my calories, work out, etc. I've had no issues from alcohol with weight.

mammamaurer

I am 22 and when my friends get together, most of the time we drink and its a couple times a week. I've been logging (on and off) for about 20 days and exercising regularly and have noticed I've dropped an inch or two here and there. Most of the time when I drink, I ration my calories out so i can get a good buzz, but I don't go over my calorie limit. Also, I drink mostly wine now, hardly ever beer which was my norm. I have hardly lost any weight, but like I said, I've lost some girth. Is it the alcohol that's hindering my weight loss or is it just my building muscle that's making it seem like I'm not losing? Thanks for the input!

excesive cal intake will cause weight gain. it dose not matter from what if its an excess you gain. also its only been 20 days, so no your not going to see huge amounts of loss

tonedthighsbubblebutt

If you want to feel part of the crowd without drinking alcohol, you could order seltzer with lime. If you add a splash of fruit juice it will look like a cocktail without the extra calories. I don't drink often so I will generally order something like that to sip on.

WendyTerry420

Yup. Alcohol is *extremely* helpful, and it's *unthinkable* to give it up.

Fixed. :drinker:

Helpful?

I'd rather heal my brain cells instead of kill them. :smokin:

Well you certainly aren't helping them with smoking.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0197018613002106

Cortelli

Alcohol is fine if it fits your plan. I drink regularly. I did change my habits to make losing easier, and I will have to watch myself very carefully when I switch to maintenance mode. But I enjoy drinking socially; I enjoy a drink in the evening before bed; and I enjoy the occasional bender. I just have to be vigilant about managing my calories, or recognizing that I am going to pay a price for drinking too many calories.

uconnwinsnc

I am 22 and when my friends get together, most of the time we drink and its a couple times a week. I've been logging (on and off) for about 20 days and exercising regularly and have noticed I've dropped an inch or two here and there. Most of the time when I drink, I ration my calories out so i can get a good buzz, but I don't go over my calorie limit. Also, I drink mostly wine now, hardly ever beer which was my norm. I have hardly lost any weight, but like I said, I've lost some girth. Is it the alcohol that's hindering my weight loss or is it just my building muscle that's making it seem like I'm not losing? Thanks for the input!

Drink less often.

uconnwinsnc

Alcohol is fine if it fits your plan. I drink regularly. I did change my habits to make losing easier, and I will have to watch myself very carefully when I switch to maintenance mode. But I enjoy drinking socially; I enjoy a drink in the evening before bed; and I enjoy the occasional bender. I just have to be vigilant about managing my calories, or recognizing that I am going to pay a price for drinking too many calories.

Alcohol hinders cell growth, muscle recovery, and fatigue recovery. Protein cannot be metabolized correctly when you drink. Alcohol lowers testosterone levels. It lowers cognitive awareness due to a disrupted sleep pattern. It is pretty much impossible for your body to recover from legitimate workouts if you are drinking after them. Go ahead and try. Do a big workout, get drunk, and then see how you feel the next day. Sure, you might have stayed in your calorie limit, but your body is hurting after a night of drinking.

If your goal is to just lose weight, go ahead and drink. But if your goal is to be stronger/faster/healthier than everyone else, you need to limit the drinking to rare occasions when you aren't training.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/drobson11.htm