Frustrated. Not losing anything. Is it the wine?

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Replies

  • ahamm002
    ahamm002 Posts: 1,690 Member
    I think you already know the answer to your own question! Yes, you're consuming too many empty calories. Assuming that you're striving for a 500 calorie deficit per day, then it's going to be pretty hard to achieve that while also drinking 600 calories of wine. And as as you already realized, that kind of diet will make getting enough protein and nutrients difficult too.
  • KimiSteinbach
    KimiSteinbach Posts: 224 Member
    Yes, that's a of wine consumption. I'd back off to half of that and see what happens.

    Now I'm going to critique my own alcohol consumption....
  • KimiSteinbach
    KimiSteinbach Posts: 224 Member
    Damn, looks like I have a problem too!

    7 light beers
    1 screwdriver
    32 oz wine

    !!!!!
  • willrun4bagels
    willrun4bagels Posts: 838 Member
    I used to drink a glass or more often two of wine every day. Since I've started with MFP and I've been planning my calorie intake more consciously (that is focussing on getting the most bang for my buck calorie-wise) I have found that by limiting my wine to only a couple of times a week....and usually keeping it to one 8oz serving....I am more successful losing weight.

    I don't think it's anything special about the calorie source. Calories are calories....but now I class the wine as a treat like chocolate and I don't make room for it everyday like I once did (when I was absolutely exceeding the number of calories I should be eating) After all that's how I ended up gaining the extra pounds over the years.

    The other thing about wine for me is when I'm drinking wine is also when I'm most likely to give in to temptation and eat that extra cheese or chocolate or whatever goodies are around.

    So now on my non-wine evenings I enjoy tea (for a tannin hit) or sparkling water and I've come to enjoy those evenings just fine. One nice side-effect I've noticed is that I feel more hydrated the next morning.....something I didn't really notice before.

    I've been on MFP for a month and I've lost five and half pounds without feeling deprived.

    +1

    I limit my alcohol intake because I'd rather eat my calories than drink them. I also enjoy wine so much more now because I'm more inclined it savour it. I limit wine to probably once a week now, if that, and with food. Make sure you log it!

    +1 to both of those comments. I used to drink 3-4 glasses of wine with dinner usually once a week, but now, I'll have 1 glass, and enjoy it much more.
  • jwooley13
    jwooley13 Posts: 243
    Log the wine. It's totally OK to drink, as long as you add it to your daily goals. Maybe try cutting down on the portion and/or frequency to start? I love red wine so this was a big change for me when I started out as well.
  • amwbox
    amwbox Posts: 576 Member
    Alcohol is second only to fat in terms of calorie content.

    Also, not all wine is the same in terms of calories. Check this out:

    German Spatlese Riesling (Dr. Hermann “H” 2009)
    110 calories, bottle 495 calories
    Slightly Sweet Lambrusco (Lini 910)
    140 calories, bottle 630 calories
    Cabernet Sauvignon from France
    160 calories, bottle 720 calories
    German Auclese Riesling
    160 calories, bottle 720 calories
    Cabernet Sauvignon from California
    175 calories, bottle 788 calories
    California 16% Zinfandel (Bob Biale)
    190 calories, bottle 855 calories
    Australian Shiraz (Mollydooker The Boxer)
    190 calories, bottle 855 calories
    Chateau Y’quem
    270 calories, bottle 1215 calories (note: standard serving size is only 2oz which is 90 calories)
    Ruby Port
    310 calories, bottle 1395 calories (note: standard serving size is only 2oz which is 103 calories)
    Tawny Port
    320 calories, bottle 1440 calories (note: standard serving size is only 2oz which is 106 calories)

    The desert wines in particular...way high in calories. Even worse than a candy bar!
  • zoeysasha37
    zoeysasha37 Posts: 7,088 Member
    Get a food scale, weigh and measure everything you consume. This is to be sure your actually eating at a deficit.

    Then log it all on mfp. If you eat at a deficit , you'll lose weight.
  • jwooley13
    jwooley13 Posts: 243
    I used to drink a glass or more often two of wine every day. Since I've started with MFP and I've been planning my calorie intake more consciously (that is focussing on getting the most bang for my buck calorie-wise) I have found that by limiting my wine to only a couple of times a week....and usually keeping it to one 8oz serving....I am more successful losing weight.

    I don't think it's anything special about the calorie source. Calories are calories....but now I class the wine as a treat like chocolate and I don't make room for it everyday like I once did (when I was absolutely exceeding the number of calories I should be eating) After all that's how I ended up gaining the extra pounds over the years.

    The other thing about wine for me is when I'm drinking wine is also when I'm most likely to give in to temptation and eat that extra cheese or chocolate or whatever goodies are around.

    So now on my non-wine evenings I enjoy tea (for a tannin hit) or sparkling water and I've come to enjoy those evenings just fine. One nice side-effect I've noticed is that I feel more hydrated the next morning.....something I didn't really notice before.

    I've been on MFP for a month and I've lost five and half pounds without feeling deprived.

    +1

    I limit my alcohol intake because I'd rather eat my calories than drink them. I also enjoy wine so much more now because I'm more inclined it savour it. I limit wine to probably once a week now, if that, and with food. Make sure you log it!

    +1 to both of those comments. I used to drink 3-4 glasses of wine with dinner usually once a week, but now, I'll have 1 glass, and enjoy it much more.

    I also buy better wine because I want to savor the glass I do get to have, and a single bottle will last me at least the week (usually more). It's actually been nice!
  • amwbox
    amwbox Posts: 576 Member
    I try not to open a bottle unless there are people around. I'll just wind up drinking it, since it tends to taste progressively worse as time passes. Even 2 days later wine is really getting off from when it was opened.
  • jlynnm70
    jlynnm70 Posts: 460 Member
    I drink wine - and sometimes lots of it. This is what I have learned. Sure a calorie is a calorie and if I drink ONE glass it's OK - when I drink 3-4 I start to not care what I eat or get sloppy about logging it (among other things too! LOL) For a day this is ok - for several nights a week - it is going to throw you off.

    Also - I get dehydrated - so the next morning the scale is UP because my body is trying to hold on to every ounce of water it can. If I stay away from the wine and drink water for a few days - the scale straightens back out. Again - this only works if it is for a day - not every day.
  • rockmama72
    rockmama72 Posts: 815 Member
    Damn, looks like I have a problem too!

    7 light beers
    1 screwdriver
    32 oz wine

    !!!!!

    I had a log like that this week.
  • liekewheeless
    liekewheeless Posts: 416 Member
    Just a thought, if you consume that much on a regular basis, you may be retaining fluids. Someone I know had a drinking problem and ended up in the hospital having to get it drained. He was drinking about that amount. (may have been a tad bit more). Some people can get away with drinking that much without ill effect, and some just can't.

    I'm not against drinking and it's entirely your business. I would just hate to see you get hurt.
  • Platform_Heels
    Platform_Heels Posts: 388 Member
    It very well could be the wine. My husband and I were killing a bottle (or two) a night and have since cut it down to the weekends (Friday/Saturday) and maybe once during the week if it's been a particularly hellacious week or we decide to go out to dinner. Since cutting down my wine consumption my weight has been pretty steady and doesn't fluctuate the way it did. Not only that but I no longer have a "belly" like I did when I was drinking the wine.

    Yes, the calories fit into my daily consumption (for the most part) but it still had a very negative impact on my body.

    Cut down for a few weeks or even a month and you will see a marked difference.
  • lalamoose64
    lalamoose64 Posts: 23 Member
    I had a similar scenario. Went without wine for 6 weeks! (dietitian made me) I have gotten 10lb off and added 1-2 glasses on the weekend. (3-4 oz glasses). To lose weight I keep 300 cal I have burned in a daily bank. So If I burn 500 cal for the day I only add back 200 to MFP daily goal. Now on maintain and have wine 2 x week. In the past I drank 4-5 nights a week sharing a bottle with husband or friends. Now a bottle will last 2-3 days. I drink a fizzy water in a wine glass when I cook in the evenings. On weekends I drink water between each glass. My family can't believe that I can be designated driver! The first weekend is the hardest to go wine-less! The excitement comes when the scale begins to drift downward.
  • KimiSteinbach
    KimiSteinbach Posts: 224 Member
    Damn, looks like I have a problem too!

    7 light beers
    1 screwdriver
    32 oz wine

    !!!!!

    I had a log like that this week.

    I had a few worse weeks than that.
  • KimiSteinbach
    KimiSteinbach Posts: 224 Member
    Ok so I researched proper wine allotments per week. A glass is 5 oz. You are allowed one per day. You will have benefits at 1-2 glasses a day health-wise but after that, it goes downhill.
  • AllOutof_Bubblegum
    AllOutof_Bubblegum Posts: 3,646 Member
    That sounds like the makings of a drinking problem...
  • belindaj25
    belindaj25 Posts: 1
    I'm in the exact same position, been working out a year, no weight loss. Of course I have not been diligent about changing my eating habits, until today when I started boot camp. a couple of months ago I gave up wine for the week and lost 4 lbs in that week just from the wine elimination. Will be incorporating that strategy again.
  • lisavgagne
    lisavgagne Posts: 28 Member
    This is exactly my weak point too. Every time I have lost weight, it has been when I eat correctly and cut out the wine. Heck, even when I was pregnant I lost weight just from the good diet and cutting alcohol (starting weight when pregnant: 150, weight as I left the hospital w/ the baby: 139 - it was awesome).

    I just started MFP and really watching my diet again and have easily dropped four pounds w/o it. It's all about making sure you are precise with your calorie banking. And I know from experience, it's so easy to overpour yourself a 1/2 oz or ounce of wine when you are eyeballing it and just shrugging it off as, it can't be much. Get out your liquid measuring cup and make sure you know how much you are drinking.

    I must add - I love champagne too and when really being restrictive w/ liquor tend to be more a champagne drinker. I will splurge on the more expensive - like a Veuve and strech the bottle over a few days. Champagne calories are not as high as wine b/c the glass and serving is generally smaller, however it's a mental trick that works for me.