Any weight loss from those who stopped drinking alcohol

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.

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!

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

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.

stop drinking . . . :noway:

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

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.

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!

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....

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

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.