What about alcohol?

scottb81

Alcohol suppresses testosterone which reduces your gains from working out.

mndamon

So, there this thing about enjoying your life too.

I think it is sad and pathetic to go through life thinking you need the numbing effects of alcohol to enjoy it

It doesn't matter what you think.

JNick77

For me alcohol consumption = no weight loss. Is that other people's experience. I've made the commitment to NO booze for a week to see what happens. I enjoy a drink or two after work, but I think it's really holding me back. Thoughts?

Technically alcohol is a depressant and will have a negative impact on your metabolism. I can't tell you how to measure it other than to trial and error for yourself. Obviously the easiest recommendation is to not drink if you can but that's easier said than done sometimes.

Dave198lbs

So, there this thing about enjoying your life too.

I think it is sad and pathetic to go through life thinking you need the numbing effects of alcohol to enjoy it

It doesn't matter what you think.

it matters that you missed the point

lizziebeth1028

For me alcohol consumption = no weight loss. Is that other people's experience. I've made the commitment to NO booze for a week to see what happens. I enjoy a drink or two after work, but I think it's really holding me back. Thoughts?

If those few drinks are putting you over your calorie goal for the day then yes it's holding you back. Also if you're skipping nutritious food in order to fit in a 'liquid' diet then obviously that's not healthy either. A lot of people will budget in their calories enough room for a glass of wine or a beer in the evening. Got to make sure it fits into those calories!

gregarybrown72

A calories is a calorie is a calorie. If you have to drink, avoid mixed drinks (with juices and coke, ect). These are high calorie traps. Do drink shots preferably whiskey. Its easier to count those drinks. About 75 cals per shot. Lastly, Miller makes a 55cal beer and Bud makes a 64 cal beer. So, if your working out consistently, you'll still lose weight as long as you have a cal deficit. 3 beers and 3 shots will cost you about 400 cals.

flechero

Just my $0.02 worth

many posters that post about "a drink or two" after work each night will eventually come to admitting it's much more than 1 or 2 and usually every night. 2 different issues at play here... the calories are one thing and if you are honest about how many drinks, that's simple to account for. Many of us still drink and have no issues with the weight loss portion.

The bigger issue much of the time is the "habit" of drinking every night after work... the effects from that can be much more far reaching. Some people realize that the habit has become more than a habit. If you can stop completely for a while, I would recommend it. For both weight loss and breaking the habit.

cwolfman13

I've cut back quite a bit, but need to cut back more. I log it and fit it into my diary...basically, I plan for it ahead of time. I know I need a couple hundred calories at the end of the day for my couple of vodka tonics and frankly, that's what most of my cardio burn buys back. I've been stepping it down a bit at a time as a part of my overall lifestyle change, but it is difficult. I grew pretty accustomed to coming home and getting things started with a couple of shots and then a 6er of good beer throughout the evening. Now I pretty much limit it to a couple glasses of wine or 2-3 vodka diet tonics. Weekends are pretty much open season, and I'm not gonna lie...I love to party hardy. I'll be starting at the gym next week so I think that's going to go a long way in keeping me dry, at least on gym nights. Other nights, I just need to exercise more self control. My achilles heal is when I'm cooking...and I do 99% of the cooking around my house...I love having a drink or two while I'm working in the kitchen.

naveed1naveed

...I love having a drink or two while I'm working in the kitchen.

A glass of red wine, while making tacos. I just can't resist that

kdiamond

Everything in moderation I say!! I've been drinking a couple of glasses of wine every 3-4 days for years and have been the same weight for 8+ years.

kuntry_navy

i do a day a week, usually a weekend. kind of an enjoy myself type cheat day

Cassierocksalot

I kept trying to convince myself that as long as I counted my alcohol as part of my diary that I wold be fine. I would have a glass of wine after dinner most nights. I stopped doing this and started losing weight again. This is what worked for ME. I would suggest trying it for yourself. If you stop drinking and start losing more weight then you know what to do. If you stop drinking and it doesn't affect your weight loss at all, then you're fine. I think everyone's different.

goalpeace

It definitely causes weight gain (water weight) for me. I feel heavier and my clothes fit tighter after I go on a binge. I started my journey 15 months ago and got within 8Lbs of my goal, was working out, etc. I recently fell off the wagon of exercise and jumped back on the wagon of drinking. I gained approx. 4-5 Lbs in a month. When I was working out regularly (and logging), I was aware of my calories and didn't want to spend it on booze.

Gosh I love Booze!! :drinker:

Anyway, I am back on the wagon and with at least 6 more parties to go before the New Year, well, let's just say I plan on writing this post all over again in January. :frown:

Cooriander

Alcohol suppresses testosterone which reduces your gains from working out.

I like sparkling wine... ... so I hope it just is reduce instead of "elliminates" the gain . :bigsmile: