Alcohol & losing weight

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Replies

  • ChitownFoodie
    ChitownFoodie Posts: 1,562 Member
    I never gave up wine, gin, beer, more wine...its never been an issue for me.
  • liftingheavy
    liftingheavy Posts: 551 Member
    Yeah, I really, really loved to drink all the time... I didn't even really snack when I drank, but I "ballooned" over 80 pounds. I have stopped completely for now to get it under control and my doc said I should drop a decent amount in like 2 months once my body works it all out of my system. I would quit completely for just a bit and then limit yourself to a certain day of the week or 1 a day something that is reasonable, but don't overindulge!

    That's the other thing for me. It seems to take at least 3 days anymore before the alcohol is completely out of my system. I just don't feel "right" until the 4th or 5th day which has to affect my workouts. And at my weight now 2 drinks I'm good and 3 sends me over so we are not talking a huge volume here.

    I guess my tolerance is just lower as I've lost weight and aged.
  • BarbellBlondieRuns
    BarbellBlondieRuns Posts: 511 Member
    I gave it up for about a month at a time twice. Honestly, I lose about 8 pounds a month pretty consistently whether I have it or not. I love beer too and there's no way I'm not having Octoberfest while it's "in season"! lol! Just make sure you have an overall nutritious day, plenty of water, plenty of sleep & exercise... and plenty of happiness! You have to be happy with what you're doing in order to maintain your healthy lifestyle!
  • Moniqua1
    Moniqua1 Posts: 195 Member
    I like alcohol. I like it alot. I drink every weekend. Has it hindered weight loss? Probably, but I wouldn't know because I'm not giving it up. If I sit at home and I'm bored, I'll eat and sit on the couch. If I drink, I'm out socializing and still consuming calories. The 230 cals in one icecream drumstick equals 3 vodka and sodas with lemon or mio for flavor. Guess which I choose?! Socializing! When I drink, I'll probably end up dancing too, more calories burned! Hahaha, my choices are probably not the healthiest, but they're mine to make and weigh. It's all up to you. Just my 2¢
  • tragicpixie
    tragicpixie Posts: 71
    As a fellow beer lover I have to admit beer is like, the WORST thing for a diet. Even if you do it in moderation, most of dark beers are sitting around 200 calories to a pint.

    So yeah, beer is basically the devil but on the other hand I just log the calories and I know the calories so on Fridays and Saturdays I "make room" for drinking if it's going to happen. If I were drinking to get drunk though liquor works faster and while it's still high in calories, you can drink less. (Watch the mixers though.)

    For the most part though, I don't have a problem as long as I am aware of the calories.
  • survivor1952
    survivor1952 Posts: 250 Member
    I have not cut out alcohol but I have cut back. I log it in and adjust my exercise and calorie intake around it.
  • doggiesnot
    doggiesnot Posts: 334 Member
    an average of one alcoholic drink a day isn't going to hurt you. in fact, it could help.

    http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2012/05/10/alcohol/

    Awesome link! I had forgotten about NerdFitness.com! :)
  • StarLeopard
    StarLeopard Posts: 80 Member
    My doctor said alcohol without food will decrease my blood glucose and he was right. But he also said to limit it to just one drink and obviously not with a sweet mixer. Other than that it's also supposed to be heart healthy in moderation. I think it works better for reduced carbs than it does for reduced calories.
    Pros: If it helps you sustain your plan over the long haul.
    Cons: if it sabotages your plan over the long haul.
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  • thelovelyLIZ
    thelovelyLIZ Posts: 1,227 Member
    Alcohol is definitely not good for you in terms of weight loss. It's empty calories, can slow your metabolism, and can encourage you to eat more. Do you have to cut it out? Nah. Will it make losing weight easier? Probably.

    I should practice what I preach, but I just got a job at a liquor store, so I'm not cutting it out of my diet anytime soon :laugh: Especially with the paid wine tastings I get to attend.
  • takingnameskickingbutt
    takingnameskickingbutt Posts: 231 Member
    I very rarely drink and never to excess. I think what is problematic is not just the calories in booze, but losing your inhibitions after you drink and eating a gigantic cheeseburger with a large fry!
  • BikeUtah11
    BikeUtah11 Posts: 3
    Just be sure to log the calories. You will have to sacrifice the food calories for beer calories. Keep that in mind and enjoy.
  • ash8184
    ash8184 Posts: 701 Member
    I think it depends on your body. I know that, for every beer I drink, I gain a pound. Literally. Everything else equal, 1 beer = 1lb. This is probably weird/extreme, but try cutting your alcohol intake and see how it impacts your weight loss. I have a friend who loses weight when she drinks red wine (again, everything else equal), so see what works for you!
  • angelmma
    angelmma Posts: 33 Member
    I love a bottle of rose wine mixed with west coast cooler at the weekend, worked it out and it's 1400, the. I eat everything in sight :( so now I don't drink every weekend and if I do I try stick to vodka and diet lemonade. I also try and fit in a workout so that I have a few spare calories for a few drinks
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    It is much easier to lose weight if you don't drink

    Perhaps you meant "It is much easier to lose weight if I don't drink"??? It would not be easier for me because I would feel deprived.
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  • thenewmrsgant
    thenewmrsgant Posts: 69 Member
    I absolutely still have a glass of wine every now and then...and I log it as well. Have an occasional alcoholic drink has not hindered my weight loss progress at all.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    It is much easier to lose weight if you don't drink

    Perhaps you meant "It is much easier to lose weight if I don't drink"??? It would not be easier for me because I would feel deprived.

    drinking alcohol consumes a lot of calories that can be used for food instead. If you mean only one or two drinks then that is different.

    Most days it's one or two (usually two) but some days it might be 2 bottles of wine or several beers. It's no different than eating candy or junk food while losing weight. An entire bottle of wine has about the same calories as a Big Mac. I'd rather have the wine. But cutting alcohol out without a medical need would lead to diet failure for me.
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  • christinairun
    christinairun Posts: 12
    I LOVE beer and drink often enough....but truthfully you know the answer already :) sorry
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    Alcohol has calories. If you stop drinking and don't replace it with food, yes, it'll help you lose weight.

    Or if you burn more than you eat including alcohol you can lose weight. I had 7 beers Friday, and one last night and was down a pound as of this morning.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    It is much easier to lose weight if you don't drink

    Perhaps you meant "It is much easier to lose weight if I don't drink"??? It would not be easier for me because I would feel deprived.

    drinking alcohol consumes a lot of calories that can be used for food instead. If you mean only one or two drinks then that is different.

    Most days it's one or two (usually two) but some days it might be 2 bottles of wine or several beers. It's no different than eating candy or junk food while losing weight. An entire bottle of wine has about the same calories as a Big Mac. I'd rather have the wine. But cutting alcohol out without a medical need would lead to diet failure for me.
    *shrug* whatever works for you, most people don't NEED the drink though.

    What does NEED have to do with anything? I don't NEED to drink alcohol either. I like to. People don't NEED to eat cookies, or ice cream, or bacon, or chocolate either. It doesn't mean losing weight would be easier for them without it.
  • Lift_hard_eat_big
    Lift_hard_eat_big Posts: 2,278 Member
    If eliminating those liquid calories from your diet helps you get to a deficit, then by all means, go for it.
  • gailashton
    gailashton Posts: 292
    I'm not going to say I don't drink here and there because I do. When I really get serious about dropping a few extra pounds, I try to steer clear as alcohol lowers your setpoint for losing weight, burning calories, etc.
  • Sarahneedstoshrink
    Sarahneedstoshrink Posts: 32
    Bud select 55!!!!! It is a really good beer and its only 55 cal for 12oz!:drinker:
  • Abells
    Abells Posts: 756 Member
    soo many threads on this -- if you cannot control and do not log your alcohol it is going to catch up with you. late night drinking leads to eating which is a big problem so if that's your case I would quit

    I drink my face off still and I'm losing. All about watching what you eat/drink and logging. I also exercise enough to do so.
  • nbdrews
    nbdrews Posts: 1 Member
    When trying to lose weight, I just drink on Friday and Saturday... and try not to drink too much.

    If you really want a beer, just count your calories. Build up a deficit the rest of the day. Maybe go on an extra beer "run" when you get home. Run a quick 30 minutes after work so you can have a beer with dinner.
  • tararocks
    tararocks Posts: 287 Member
    I have always been of the mind-i will drink when I want to drink. Alcohol by itself is not going to ruin my weight loss just as a cookie will not ruin it. As long as I log it, acount for it, plan for it, work it into my daily calories, due it in moderation, etc. I have lived this for well over a year. It has worked, I have continued to lose weight and/or maintain the weight with alcohol in the plan. HOWEVER, i was recently in a situation where I was not able to be very active in any capacity and I had to stop drinking alcohol for a six week period or so, there may have been some other factors that contributed but without even really trying aside form trying to stay within calories because I couldnt be active, i still dropped an additional 5 pounds that I wasnt even trying to, again due to my situation there may have been some other influences, but since i was previously a once a week drinker, i do think excluding alcohol made an impact.
  • jennieodwyer
    jennieodwyer Posts: 1,036 Member
    I only drink on special occasions, which means my tolerance is low. Why is that good? Because I can get buzzed/drunk on much fewer calories!!

    This.

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