Any weight loss from those who stopped drinking alcohol

cheron40

Hi All


new here....

I stopped drinking wine about 2 weeks ago( I use to have 2-3 glasses per night) -in the hopes that it will help with losing some weight-
any success with anyone?

Thanks!

Kelly_Runs_NC

When I gave up alcohol I was already in decent shape but wanted to get even better. I lost 2 pants sizes, a shirt size and lost body fat. Alcohol for me anyway, did more harm than good. I'm done with it.

Ecce_Signum

I've just finished 12 weeks here and have lost 12lbs, I put a pound on Christmas week and had 2 weeks with no loss - the 2 weeks I stopped drinking! I guess everything in moderation? I understand the benefits of not drinking but enjoy it - as I enjoy smoking.

Topher1978

I have lost over 34 lb and I drink in moderation, and smoke cigars! I am going to have some Scotch and some guinness today, in fact!

deniseearheart

It does not change anything for me really!

tdrusk

Yep. Not only is it less calories, it allows you to sleep healthier, thus giving you more energy to exercise.

littlewhittles

I lost 35 while drinking still, but I've cut way back on my drinking in the last 2 months and have lost almost 20 lbs in that time. I think a lot of it though is that I would get lazy and not log my beer cals. I think it can help with weight loss, but you can also "budget" for it and still enjoy a glass of wine once in a while.

tararocks

i have lost continually while still drinking, and not always in moderation. I will note that I didnt drink for 6 weeks and i got over a plateau that i had been at for months, and dropped about 5 more pounds, however, i am not confident that the alcohol alone was responsible or even had a major role, there were many other things that came into play that probably contributed more.

obviously you can quit drinking and see an improvement, that saves you a few hundred calories every day so thats going to add up, and if you make bad food decisions while drinking then it will reduce even more calories so thats going to lead to a loss, hut i dont think its just the drinking...for example, i still drink and i go to the gym...if i stopped drinking AND i stopped going to the gym, i dont think that i would continue to see a loss. If I stopped drinking because i wanted to eat my calories instead of drink them, and so instead of drinking three beers every friday i ate half a pizza every friday...is the result going to be different than when i was drinking? I dont think so. now i know drinking causes all kinds of bad things to happen to your body, but that wasnt your question...as far as losing alone, i dont think it is a make it or break it.

SchroederNJ

A drink here and there won't kill ya ... just make sure to plan accordingly and log it when you have a beer or a glass of wine.

_crafty_

stop drinking . . . :noway:

find a way to fit it into your daily/weekly intake or bust your *kitten* at the gym to earn it.

Catlady87

You might not lose weight but you might lose inches. I found that drinking left me bloated.
I'm not drinking at the moment due to medication I'm taking so it'll be interesting to see if it helps with extra loss.

sally_jeffswife

I stick to only red wines now and limit myself to like only a drink with my supper meal instead of any type of beer or sweeter drinks and I don't drink real often and I have noticed a little loss from that.

5pmsomewherenow

Like you, I used to drink 2-3 glasses of wine each night. Ok, let's really say 1/2 of a bottle. I gave it up a year ago, as part of using MFP, wanting to keep track of calories overall, and wanting to eat healthy. I say "gave it up" but actually cut back from 2-3 glasses per night to maybe two glasses a week. I don't miss it, and honestly I FEEL better without it.

As another poster commented -- it really improves your sleep, metabolism, and overall energy level. I think if you are trying to improve health overall, drinking alcohol can truly become that special treat every once in a while instead of that mindless, automatic nightly habit.

Personally, I want to really be able to enjoy a fine glass of red wine with a good steak or a hearty plate of pasta. Changing my overall daily attention to a healthy lifestyle including calorie accountabilty and exercise allows for that.

You'll know when it's time to give it up or drastically cut back -- as part of your overall goals. Give it a try and see if you feel better. It's a wonderful motivation to change that habit.

lcuconley

i remember a conversation with a personal trainer about 2 years back.
PT: 2 drinks a day! do you know how many calories that adds up to over a week?
me: Yes.
PT: Any way that we can cut that back to 1 per day?
me: No way.

I made some really good progress with losing weight by fitting the alcohol calories into my allocation and working out like hell. However, that being said, I have become convinced over the last two years that 1) losing weight is easier without the empty alcohol calories and 2) alcohol seems to have a more negative impact on my weight than what the calories would indicate.

therefore, my current plan is pretty much to only drink on the weekends...Monday weigh-ins suck!

nathxxxx

Not sure if this true but drinking and eating make you fat but drinking with low calories intake may actually increase weight lost because alcohol is taking a lot of energy to metabolism. Look at alcoholic people, they are very skinny.

escloflowneCHANGED

stop drinking . . . :noway:

find a way to fit it into your daily/weekly intake or bust your *kitten* at the gym to earn it.

Why is that so hard to grasp....

KANGOOJUMPS

no, BOTTOMS UP/

geralynhoerauf

Yes. I eliminated all alcohol for the month of January and lost 11 lbs (well, combined with eliminating all wheat and all processed sugar products). I definitely found that I had fewer snack cravings in the evenings when I wasn't finishing my 3rd or 4th glass of wine. I think I am sleeping better and I know I eliminated about 3500 calories a week by foregoing the adult beverages. Since the beginning of the month I have added back in wine (and a martini last night to celebrate our wedding anniversary) as long as I off-set it with exercise.

nathxxxx

Easy to say but hard hard hard to do! Thanks for the motivation

hrdted

I have had an evening cocktail or more all along my journey here. In my experience, as long as you log what you consume and meet your daily calorie goal, you're good. Calories in...... Calories out. I've lost 175 pounds and still going.

chicbuc

i remember a conversation with a personal trainer about 2 years back.
PT: 2 drinks a day! do you know how many calories that adds up to over a week?
me: Yes.
PT: Any way that we can cut that back to 1 per day?
me: No way.

I made some really good progress with losing weight by fitting the alcohol calories into my allocation and working out like hell. However, that being said, I have become convinced over the last two years that 1) losing weight is easier without the empty alcohol calories and 2) alcohol seems to have a more negative impact on my weight than what the calories would indicate.

therefore, my current plan is pretty much to only drink on the weekends...Monday weigh-ins suck!

That is exactly what I'm doing. I have had 3 or 4...or 5... glasses of wine every night for years and years. I cut way, way back 4 weeks ago, so I can focus on my nutrition and workouts. I buy a bottle of wine on Saturdays and have a few glasses and the rest on Sunday if there's any left. I LOVE wine! However, I feel phenomenal since I quit drinking during the week. I did have a bit of wine Wednesday night, and I didn't like the feeling of drinking during the week...lol. I would never have said that 6 months ago.

Anyway, no it hasn't made me lose weight because I replaced the empty calories with nutricious food, but it has made me much more energetic, and I just feel better. Plus, it gives me something to look forward to on Saturdays

ryblueeyes

I still drink, but I plan for it and track it. I've also cut back a lot since starting half marathon training because it was affecting my performance - and motivation.

mocarski002

I am on day 32 of no alcohol. A little over a year and a half ago I finally started working out and tried to watch what I eat but never really considered alcohol. I lost 12-14lbs. I was stuck in the same spot for about 6 months or so. Not really seeing the scale move. I was fluctuating around 146-149. Finally a little over a month ago I looked into quitting alcohol. I went cold turkey. Stopped all together. I am down 5lbs since then. I hope to stay without a little longer but my ultimate goal is to allow myself a drink or 2 on the weekends. But yes, I noticed some loss. Good Luck!

ldrosophila

so what's better to drink in moderation everyday or binge a day or two

justinegrey

Yes! I have lost 15 pounds and while I gave up drinking a month before I got serious about losing (mid-Jan), I truly believe it's helped me because now I don't drink calories and don't use social events as an excuse.. I use to always say "oh well we have that wedding next weekend, so I might as well start eating better after that". There's always stuff like that going on, and it always derailed me.

Good luck, you can do it!

asmithstl

I have not stopped drinking, but I did switch from high calorie, high sugar beverages to 55 calorie beer. I took a bit of getting used to, but if you do the math, its worth it. I was drinking 2 drinks a night, equaling at least 220 calories. On that same intake, I have cut out 3300 calories a month. I am down 11 lbs. I have also been eating healthier all around and exercising moderately. I think it definitely helps!

CoraGregoryCPA

Drinking wine? Nope, no difference.

I gave it up. I didn't notice a different. When it comes to wine, it comes to calories.

If you were talking about beer, then I'd say yeah, it will make a difference to give it up because of the sugar and carbonation.

orinocoflow

This is my story and I feel compelled to share it with everyone. My truth behind alcohol.

In 2008, I was 21 years old and in relatively decent shape. I began consuming liquor and beer *daily* - to the point of being drunk and passing out - and it continued to for years. When I was 26 I received a DUI and my life changed. I went from drinking the point of blackout everyday - to quitting cold turkey for 4 months. The weight loss was dramatic. I lost 26 pounds in four months - simply by giving up alcohol. At 27 I began drinking in moderation (maybe getting drunk once every two or three weeks) and the weight continues to come off.

I have found that liquor is actually a big culprit in gaining weight. After abusing alcohol for any length of time, I began to majorly retain water, besides feeling like **** all the time. When I quit drinking the first time, I cut out *all* alcohol and soft drinks and focused on major water intake. After a few months I felt completely refreshed, reinvigorated, more mindful and aware, and completely full of life again.

NOW, that being said, I continue to enjoy alcohol from time to time, but getting drunk every night and ordering pizza, eating McDonalds, or just whatever is around the house, is completely over. My wallet is happier and my pant size is much smaller.

rickyjobobby

I'm 30, 5'10 and 205 lbs, and starting Thursday it's keto time again (just cutting out most carbs and definitely alcohol) for a good 3 months or so. I plan to drop 40-45 lbs by next Fall.

I drank heavily after getting out of the military in 2009 and in just a few years went from 170-205. Being a college student again and having lost my income and employment was a tough change. My doctorate program starts next Fall though and have decided I will get in incredible shape, as I will undoubtedly be meeting many lovely ladies when we go out, gotta look good!

einzweidrei

I have not stopped drinking but I drink less than I did a few years ago and I try to keep low calorie beer in the house and have higher calorie beers for special occasions or when I'm out. Really, all I try to do is pay attention to calories---not macros, not salt or sugar in take, nothing else. Moderation, which for me is not drinking every day or binging like I used to.

Yesterday night, I went for a late dinner and had beer, cheese fries, cheeseburger sliders topped off with salt and pickles on the side. I thought surely with all of that I'd have some water retention and weigh more. Somehow no. Bodies are funny.

Cortelli

I have not stopped drinking - I enjoy it for a variety of reasons. However, for those who do choose to cut alcohol completely or reduce or modify their consumption significantly, it really does eliminate a significant source of extra calories. I still may go out with friends from time to time and have four or five pints of a tasty California IPA -- but doing so, I know I am going to be pushing 1000+ calories.

And I've seen others report that getting tipsy or drunk pushes them to eat as well, for a double whammy. Never been a problem for me -- I just want another drink to fill up :happy: