The Alcohol Question

Ripgirl

I really like wine. A lot.
It seemed obvious why anyone would tell you to cut out alcohol when you're trying to lose weight (all those extra calories, sugar content, etc) so knowing that, I still felt ok having a glass of wine in the evening as long as I had the calories to spend according to MFP.

After a quick search I found the quote below. I'm not happy about it, but it probably explains - at least in part - why the fat is not coming off as quickly as I would have hoped/expected given the weeks of high intensity exercise and calorie watch. I'm going to try cutting it out completely for the next month and see if it makes the difference. I thought I'd share for any of you who may not be aware, or who are struggling with a plateau or the last 10-15lbs and can't think of anything else to do 'right'.

"Daily alcohol consumption will slow or stop your results. The drawbacks are probably going to far outweigh any health benefits. Your liver can't metabolize alcohol and fat at the same time. It will always get rid of the toxic substance (alcohol) first. That means that as long as there's alcohol in your system you won't be burning any body fat. If you have one or two drinks, you might stall your fat loss for a few hours. If you have quite a few drinks, it might be as long as four days before you're metabolizing fat again.

Drinking also dehydrates you, raises cortisol levels (goodbye muscles), raises estrogen levels (hello hips), lowers inhibitions (pizza anyone?). Combine that with the fact that alcohol promotes abdominal fat storage (of all places!) and it's really not worth it, not even on free day, not if you're serious about making a major transformation.

I personally don't drink alcohol at all. I'm way too freaky about my definition and nothing will wreck your abs faster. I know several women who have a few drinks once a week and they've still achieved their goals. I know other women who if they have even one drink a week can't lose that puffy lower belly or see any definition in their abs. Just how negative the impact is probably depends on your goals, age, activity level, metabolism, and a zillion other things.

If wine with dinner is part of your lifestyle, and you're not in any particular hurry to have abs like a cheese grater, you might experiment a little. See if you can have a glass of wine a few times a week and still be making progress. If it's really slow going, keep cutting back the number of drinks until you're satisfied with the level of your results. Of course, if you're wanting to radically transform yourself for a Body for Life challenge, or a tropical vacation, or a big date with a little black dress, forget the alcohol. It's the enemy. "

Bye, bye wine:sad:

deedee108

Now everything makes so much sense! I, too, like wine (and beer, and gin) and like to have a glass or two each day. I try to make sure I'm always within my calorie limit. But for the last six weeks or so I'm only losing about 1/4 to 1/2 pound a week eating even with exercise. That quote clinches it for me. I'm working on the last 15 pounds and I will see how long it takes without drinking alcohol. Wish me luck (I'm going to a wedding this weekend)!

XFitMojoMom

:grumble: :grumble: :grumble:
I mean, how cruel.
As mother, I prefer a glass (bottle) of wine to prozac anyday :glasses:
Every mom knows, you need to drink when you have kids.:devil:

I really didn't want to hear this. I knew it was right, but...
I have not lost 1 pound since february 2009. I will have a glass or two of wine every night.

I lose 17-30 pounds when I'm pregnant, because I go 9 months without drinking.:sad:

Ripgirl

Sounds like we're in the same boat. Let me know if it makes the difference for you.

Good luck!

Ripgirl

Agreed 100%. This is like some sort of cruel joke.

margaretthedevil

Good info to know! This is why I'm glad that I'm underaged and not tempted to drink any alcoholic beverage at all even though I do go to college o.O (it tastes like shtt anyways). Same with coffee.

Fieldsy

when people ask me how I lost weight, cutting out alcohol is probably the number one case

cboehm

:grumble: :grumble: :grumble:
I mean, how cruel.
As mother, I prefer a glass (bottle) of wine to prozac anyday :glasses:
Every mom knows, you need to drink when you have kids.:devil:

I really didn't want to hear this. I knew it was right, but...
I have not lost 1 pound since february 2009. I will have a glass or two of wine every night.

I lose 17-30 pounds when I'm pregnant, because I go 9 months without drinking.:sad:

HAHAHAHA :laugh: with 4 little boys wine is my prozac it is the much needed end of day kids are finally asleep put my feet up and relax favorite thing to do - there is no way I'am giving up my wine and I know lots of mom's that have abs I would kill for and they drink just as much wine as I do so I say life is short enjoy some wine :devil:

Resalyn

I was reading your "quote" and thought to myself it definitely sounded like a quote from Body For Life. I've seen that same advice lots of places - that your body will always burn alcohol off first...... I just drank this past weekend for the first time in months - and I didn't overindulge hugely - maybe 4 watermelon Smirnoffs - and one shot of watermelon pucker - and I've stalled completely. The alcohol just isn't worth it if you're trying to keep on losing.....

BrendaLee

I think you're doing a great thing by getting rid of the wine. Alcohol is a poison, and your poor liver has to fight to rid your body of it every time you consume it, and your liver is something you don't want to mess up- it's the largest and most important organ in our body.

mommared53

I think you're doing a great thing by getting rid of the wine. Alcohol is a poison, and your poor liver has to fight to rid your body of it every time you consume it, and your liver is something you don't want to mess up- it's the largest and most important organ in our body.

Whew! Glad I don't drink.

JoyousMaximus

It's true. My weightloss always stalls when I drink. :grumble:

lettuceb

Being a mommy of 4 boys also I like to have a glass of wine with dinner (on some occasions more :bigsmile: ) but I know I am going to have to stop if I really want to get into shape :grumble:

Oh well I guess I am just going to have to bite the bullet and do it!

oregonlady

bump

good words i should reread.

HealthyChanges2010

Great post! Not much of a drinker at all anymore but still good to know.

Thanks!:drinker: <~~~water drinker now!

naturebaby

This was good information and makes me think..I do love a glass or 2 nearly every night..I am losing, but very slowly. In reality I think alcohol is mostly how I got fat to start with ( and menopause) I will get a grip on it!!::brokenheart:

tabika05

I'm a bartender...and I should know what alcohol does to you! I have a customer who stopped drinking about two months ago. She has lost 20 pounds since she stopped drinking.

I drink every night I work....I'm stopping too! No more vodka....arg!

brendabuckeye

I'm no big drinker, but if I have the calories left and want a glass of wine, I figure I've earned it. It is nice to sip on a little wine and unwind from the day. It beats grabbing a Pepsi and a Hershey Bar, I'm sure and, yep, I'll bet it's much cheaper than Prozac!

(My 'sip' measurements may vary depending on how wound up the boys are when I get home, though!)

AllisonMS

Thanks for this quote.

Makes me think that "just one glass" I've been treating myself to (and logging in) the past 2 nights is just not worth it.

Elokyn

Wow, thanks so much. I needed to see that!!

Happyoceangirl

:mad: That sucks.

amasot

Excellent post, ripgirl. Alcohol calories are not the same as any other calories and it's good to know why. I stopped dinking years ago because of medication so although the post doesn't pertain to me personally, I'll know what to answer when people insist "but the doc says it's ok to drink ONE glass of wine a day!" Sorry to those of you that drink. It's a bummer, but it's fact.

cindydufield

bump

geri1geraldinesuzanne

i have been a drinker for quite a few years and now i have no choice but to cut it out if i want to loose weight, last year i tried dieting and exercising but gave it up as i didn't seem to loose a gram, but didn't give up drinking either. this time i've stopped drinking completely (15 days without alcohol) due to nearly going into shock when i weighed myself and weighed almost 89 kg, since then i've lost almost 3 kg, so it seems to be working.

although some years ago in various occasions when dieting i did manage to lose considerable amount of weight without giving drinking up. i suppose that metabolisms change with age (????)
:drinker:

Simplicity

i know exactly what everyone means. My main problem used to be food choices i made after drinking alcohol. I cut back a lot as I considered myself a heavy binger (1 or 2 times a week) but when i upped the exercise i continued to lose weight as well as being able to drink socially. Its a fine balance like the article says. My best friend drinks every week and has a fantastic ripped body. He is a builder so gets all his exercise from work. Its just a point I'm making that there's point you can get to where you can stay in shape and still manage to enjoy your social life. I am hoping I will get to that point soon too, though i have a very mundane sitting down job so all my energy has to be used outside of work. Oh well its a bank holiday this weekend looks like i better start joggin it off now lol.
ps When people call alcohol toxic (which i know it is) it really puts you off having a drink !!!
Ben

AnnieeR

I find the "all or nothing" mindset really doesn't work for me - that's why calorie counting does (for me anyway) - I can sometimes have a treat and can still figure out how I can make little adjustments or tweaks to my calories or my exercise to make up for it. I LOVE wine too - I can take or leave any other alcohol quite easily but I love good wine. And for me that isn't something I'm willing to give up because I get a lot of pleasure out of it. I do think it's possible to lose while drinking (in moderation of course) - I'm losing 1-2 pounds a week and I have a glass or two of wine every couple of nights.... Maybe I'd be dropping 2 - 3 without the wine, but we can't give up all pleasure, can we?

pfenixa

I already figured drinking wasn't great for weight loss, but I was thinking more along the lines of calories or sugars. Definitely a good read, and good to know when my drinking in-laws ask why I'm not drinking again (the mild alcohol poisoning of last time won't hold forever, hehe).

I get crazy munchies when I drink anyway. :P

aunienue

How enlightening...sadly...

kdiamond

I'm at maintenence now, but I drink 1-2x a week and it does nothing to inhibit my goals (muscle building and endurance training). I run almost 2 miles a day and have defined abs.

I don't drink wine though. I drink 2-3 vodka/sodas each time I drink. No sugar or carbs.

I think alcohol in moderation is fine. I think the reason it may inhibit weight loss is 2-fold. One, you're drinking the wrong things (i.e., sugar). Two, you tend to be less strict in your diet if you are buzzed, drunk or hungover.

Lshizz

How enlightening...sadly...

Seriously!

Although, I think I fall into the, "not willing to give up all the pleasure" category for now. I've been losing much slower than many people's profiles I see, but I'm still drinking on weekends and going out with friends. I'm not trying to over-indulge but I do have some drinks socially...I figure, at least it's not really bad drinks, bacardi and diet is my poison. I used to drink a lot more throughout the week, so weekends only is a big change for me. I'm also in the middle of a move right now from NC to the DC area and trying to squeeze in a few last days w/ friends. I think once I get settled in my new place, I'll have a much easier time trying to cut it out completely.

JoyousMaximus

Although, I think I fall into the, "not willing to give up all the pleasure" category for now. I've been losing much slower than many people's profiles I see, but I'm still drinking on weekends and going out with friends. I'm not trying to over-indulge but I do have some drinks socially...I figure, at least it's not really bad drinks, bacardi and diet is my poison. I used to drink a lot more throughout the week, so weekends only is a big change for me. I'm also in the middle of a move right now from NC to the DC area and trying to squeeze in a few last days w/ friends. I think once I get settled in my new place, I'll have a much easier time trying to cut it out completely.

I just move to DC from Cali. Are you moving for work?