Alcohol

josparkle

I have a glass of wine several nights a week but within my calories, and like some others have suggested I will do a little more exercise on days when I know I'm going to have a drink to ensure it will fit. I tend to have it after my dinner though - so I know I have the calories left.

FunkyTobias

I cut it completely while I was trying to lose weight (6 months). I now drink maybe once every two months. If that. The body doesn't metabolize the alcohol like it does other food. It converts it almost directly to fat, and since I'm trying to lower my bf I try to avoid it.

The body converts it to fat? Do you have a link I could read?

It is NOT converted into fat - but alcohol is very calorific, and is used as a fuel by the body preferentially, so stopping you burning fat.

Alcohol cannot be converted into fat for storage. As the previous poster said, the body uses alcohol preferentially because there is NO storage form for it. This halts the metabolism of other nutrients (particularly carbs and fats) and the excess carbs will be converted to and stored as fat.

Carbs are rarely stored as fat.

pjarellano

I have heard both sides. But what I do know is it effects my level of exercise the following day. Even just one low calorie Margarita can make me sluggish the next day. So if I am going to have that one Margarita with friends. I commit to extra exercise time the day of. I always do the work before the treat. I know I won't do it after. I also eat less calories the day of. Life is about balance. So should weight loss be about balance and control

JustYandy

I cut it completely while I was trying to lose weight (6 months). I now drink maybe once every two months. If that. The body doesn't metabolize the alcohol like it does other food. It converts it almost directly to fat, and since I'm trying to lower my bf I try to avoid it.

The body converts it to fat? Do you have a link I could read?


Alcohol turns into Sugar( that's why Diabetics are not suppose to drink also)If you dont use/burn that energy like anything else extra in the body then turns to fat.

It is NOT converted into fat - but alcohol is very calorific, and is used as a fuel by the body preferentially, so stopping you burning fat.

Alcohol cannot be converted into fat for storage. As the previous poster said, the body uses alcohol preferentially because there is NO storage form for it. This halts the metabolism of other nutrients (particularly carbs and fats) and the excess carbs will be converted to and stored as fat. The amount of excess carb converted and stored depends entirely on how much you drink, how quickly, what you drink, and how fast you metabolize the alcohol. YAY science!

That said, when I'm trying to lose weight I choose to cut alcohol out completely. For me, it's just wasted calories since chocolate is my vice

dblaacker

It's harder to balance things with my alcohol intake right now, since my exercise options are limited.

What limits your exercise options? Are you injured?

Yes, I broke my foot a while back. I won't be ready to run until the end of August. I do plan on walking excessively, once I'm allowed to wear two shoes and it doesn't hurt to walk longer distances.

erockem

Stopped drinking Alcohol and most other drinks with calories (except for protein supplementation), I'd rather eat my calories.

Keep in mind, my buddies gave me the name 'Siphon' over a decade ago for my ability to empty insane amounts of beer into my system. In the last 3 years I average a bottle a year just to try a new flavor.

eric_sg61

I stopped because I would rather eat and be able to get a full night's sleep

kk_140

I drink a little (within my calorie limit) every once in a while. But no matter how careful I am about the calories I gain significant water weight the next day. I jsut prefer to skip alcohol now.

rae_rae330

I switched to Michelob Ultra, 95 cal/2.6 carbs. There's also MGD 64, 64 cal/2.4 carbs, Bud Select, 99 cal/3.1 carbs, and Bud Select 55, 55 cal/1.9 carbs.

sccet

I cut it completely while I was trying to lose weight (6 months). I now drink maybe once every two months. If that. The body doesn't metabolize the alcohol like it does other food. It converts it almost directly to fat, and since I'm trying to lower my bf I try to avoid it.

The body converts it to fat? Do you have a link I could read?

It is NOT converted into fat - but alcohol is very calorific, and is used as a fuel by the body preferentially, so stopping you burning fat.

It won't stop you from burning fat if your overall calorie intake is less than your calorie expenditures.

... but I think that it slows you down until those alcohol kcals are burned...

seeking a good answer on this one.

fitfor40tx

There is no need to cut it out completely. You have to find a healthy long term sustainable balance that fits into your lifestyle. You can still have it, just make sure it fits into your calorie goal. There may be a random Friday night that you will go over b/c you had one too many, but even that is not going to derail your weight loss efforts.

I have a glass of wine daily, and beer every weekend and have been maintaining and lowering my body fat percentage for 4 months now. I just log what I drink and am mindful of it....except for the occasional night when I may have a few more, but it all balances out in the end.

Its different for everyone, so you just have to find what works for you. Good luck!

This. I totally agree.

Everything in moderation, just like food...count it as your calories. And if you have one of those nights, just work it off the next day if you're not too hungover lol.

I drink mostly red wine and light beer, count it on my diary and still lose weight. Staying active is the key!!!

frannieshack

When I first tried to cut back, I substituted some hot tea, chamomile tea is nice for the evening. It gives you something to sip slowly.

blb85

I totally can relate to this!!!! Ever since I started dating my boyfriend (a year and several months ago), I have steadily put on sooooo much weight due to alcohol! He LOVES to drink, as do I... Craft brews, wine, mixed cocktails; you name it. I try to limit my drinking during the weekdays as much as possible; but I have my slip-ups; mixed in with crazy social weekends... It's bad. I try to log it all now, since I know at least if I see how much calories I'm taking in, it at least becomes real. But I can't seem to get my calories down enough for a week as a whole. I'm going crazy since I know I have put on soooo much weight, and I even get comments about it (a janitor asked me the other day if I am having a boy or a girl, and I'm not even pregnant). It doesn't help that I am short (5'0") and should have a petite frame, so my calorie consumption really should be at 1200 a day; but I can't seem to keep it under control... So depressing...

bevmcarthur

i was having a glass or so every day and i put weight on but was also unable to do any weights or cardio for 8 months . I am back working out and weights and doing yoga again and i still wasn't dropping any weight So i took right out of my diet for a few week and started to lose now i have it once or twice a week and i am still loosing weight . SO i think it depends on your body every one is so different

FunkyTobias

I'm surprised nobody has suggested leaf lettuce or cauliflower.

brower47

I'm surprised nobody has suggested leaf lettuce or cauliflower.

I tried a tequila wrapped in lettuce once. It was a big mess and a waste of tequila. It's better paired with limes and salt anyway. :drinker:

ChaplainHeavin

Fit the drinks into your calories limit for the day or week.

This. I have a beer or something else almost every night. Sometimes I walk a few extra miles after dinner just so I can then have one. Make it fit and enjoy life as though you only get to do it once.

THIS! I enjoy a couple glasses with my meal and just make sure it fits into the calorie budget.

randomtai

I'm surprised nobody has suggested leaf lettuce or cauliflower.

I tried a tequila wrapped in lettuce once. It was a big mess and a waste of tequila. It's better paired with limes and salt anyway. :drinker:

:laugh: :laugh: :drinker: :drinker:

kennea483

I cut it out completely for about a month, then worked it back in. The benefit is that now I drink less in general because I broke the habit of the automatic post-work drink or Sunday brunch drink. Now I have a drink if I feel like it but I'm more intentional about it. (except on vacations, when I've planned to take time off from calorie counting!) As long as I work it into my daily calorie count I've been fine. I think you have to find something sustainable that will still let you enjoy life!

_lyndseybrooke_

I've never been much of a drinker, so it's not hard for me to avoid alcohol. I don't like drinking my calories unless it's in the form of a delicious protein shake filled with yummy, nutritious things. I have drank a few times since I started counting calories and I just fit them into my weekly goal like anything else. I do tend to stay away from fruity, sugar-laden cocktails like screwdrivers and pina coladas, and I opt for options with less empty calories. Last weekend I tried diet root beer and Malibu coconut rum for the first time. It was a little odd, but pretty dang good once you get past the initial shock. I drank two of them even though I had pre-logged three.

Beer and wine don't interest me in the slightest, so I can't help you there.

bethanyka

Agreee with so many of the reasons listed.
a) When i drink, I drink more than 1 or 2 or 3 drinks
b) When i drink, I make careless food choices
c) When i drink, my night of sleep is horrible

All 3 above result in less progress.
For now, while I'm trying to drop about 10-15 lbs, I am trying to cut out drinking competely.
Maybe when I am trying to maintain, I'll allow a few drinks as long as I budget the calories sufficiently.

Like another post said, I can ruin a whole week with 1 night of fun.... Not worth it!
I stop to think -- what is MORE important to me ?

aleggett321

I have a couple of glasses of wine every night with dinner. I just fit it into my calories.

DrJenO

It sounds to me that the problem you have with it is the uncertainty of whether your boyfriend will bring beer home on a particular evening. I have a similar issue on the nights my husband cooks dinner (usually at least 3-4 per week) and I don't know what he is going to make.

I tend to hoard my calories throughout the day, so that I will have "enough" for dinner that night, no matter what he makes. You could do something like what a poster above said, in that you log the beer ahead of time, and then you could always delete it later if it turns out he didn't bring anything home.

The decision to drink or not at all depends on the individual, and you know you better than any of us does.

The lack of exercise, while unfortunate (could you swim, maybe?), is irrelevant to the discussion of drinking or not. You would have to run 3 miles, roughly, to drink a single pint of good craft beer anyway (and who wants to stop at one, amirite?).

sstolii123

I cut it completely while I was trying to lose weight (6 months). I now drink maybe once every two months. If that. The body doesn't metabolize the alcohol like it does other food. It converts it almost directly to fat, and since I'm trying to lower my bf I try to avoid it.

The body converts it to fat? Do you have a link I could read?

http://www.medicinenet.com/alcohol_and_nutrition/page2.htm

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/drobson194.htm

here are a couple interesting articles I looked up. I quit drinking alcohol while I was trying to lose weight.
Training for a half marathon, drinking and running did not work out for me at all.
The first week was the toughest for me once I got passed that I was good to go.

FunkyTobias

I cut it completely while I was trying to lose weight (6 months). I now drink maybe once every two months. If that. The body doesn't metabolize the alcohol like it does other food. It converts it almost directly to fat, and since I'm trying to lower my bf I try to avoid it.

The body converts it to fat? Do you have a link I could read?

http://www.medicinenet.com/alcohol_and_nutrition/page2.htm

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/drobson194.htm

here are a couple interesting articles I looked up. I quit drinking alcohol while I was trying to lose weight.
Training for a half marathon, drinking and running did not work out for me at all.
The first week was the toughest for me once I got passed that I was good to go.

Neither article states that alcohol can be converted to fat.

sstolii123

Agreee with so many of the reasons listed.
a) When i drink, I drink more than 1 or 2 or 3 drinks
b) When i drink, I make careless food choices
c) When i drink, my night of sleep is horrible

All 3 above result in less progress.
For now, while I'm trying to drop about 10-15 lbs, I am trying to cut out drinking competely.
Maybe when I am trying to maintain, I'll allow a few drinks as long as I budget the calories sufficiently.

Like another post said, I can ruin a whole week with 1 night of fun.... Not worth it!
I stop to think -- what is MORE important to me ?

Agreed! if you want to get serious about losing weight and getting healthy its time to get off the sauce!

randomtai

Agreee with so many of the reasons listed.
a) When i drink, I drink more than 1 or 2 or 3 drinks
b) When i drink, I make careless food choices
c) When i drink, my night of sleep is horrible

All 3 above result in less progress.
For now, while I'm trying to drop about 10-15 lbs, I am trying to cut out drinking competely.
Maybe when I am trying to maintain, I'll allow a few drinks as long as I budget the calories sufficiently.

Like another post said, I can ruin a whole week with 1 night of fun.... Not worth it!
I stop to think -- what is MORE important to me ?

Agreed! if you want to get serious about losing weight and getting healthy its time to get off the sauce!

False.

0somuchbetter0

I've cut way back for no other reason than calories. I can only have 1350 cals a day. Considering a 5 oz glass of wine is 125 cals, I'd rather drink water. I miss my wine, but the good news is my tolerance is way down so now I'm a cheap and easy date.

ravenmiss

I've cut way back for no other reason than calories. I can only have 1350 cals a day. Considering a 5 oz glass of wine is 125 cals, I'd rather drink water. I miss my wine, but the good news is my tolerance is way down so now I'm a cheap and easy date.

Same although my calories for the day are a bit higher!

I like to have a few big glasses of wine at the weekend (aka a bottle)! I find exercising a big help with it but even if I couldn't I'm sure I could create the deficit during the week to have a few drinks at the weekend.

Maybe have a set agreement with your bf as to when you'll drink?

eddiesmith1

I quit before starting this because i needed to take a break from drinking. it fit with losing weight so I have stayed off since before Christmas. That being said I'm closing in on my goal and summer is around the corner so I will just fit it into my calories for the day as a pint round the pub or some sangria in the yard with friends or tiki drinks at a pride party (world pride is in Toronto next month) all call to me. the difference is unlike pre christmas i won't have half a dozen pints round the pub;)
I look at a week now for calories as well not just the day so as long as i am on target for the 7 days going over due to a night out (or a dinner out) isn't a big deal
this is all about permanent lifestyle changes not just a diet to lose weight