Liquor: To Drink or Not

MeekMeals
MeekMeals Posts: 517 Member
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Is alcohol consumption good for weight loss???

Replies

  • katbass
    katbass Posts: 351 Member
    In a word: No.
    (at least not for me!) I cant imagine it helping weight loss at all. Alcohol is empty calories with zero nutritional value.
  • onyxlibra7
    onyxlibra7 Posts: 93
    Ummmm...NO! lol
  • Elokyn
    Elokyn Posts: 448 Member
    It's definately not, but the reason why is confusing to me, it can stay with you a long time and slow your progress, even if you only drink on the weekend (for me anyway) it takes me the entire week with not a drop of alcohol before I get over the plateu and start losing again. But then I screw it up the next weekend again....I probably could have already dropped 20 lbs if I'd cut it out a long time ago. I've decided to not have any alcohol until my bfs birthday (July 11th) Trying to drop 9 lbs by then....idk that it will happen but that's what I'm shooting for!! Anyone care to join me?! :D It's gonna be hard on my own! Add me! :D
  • omid990
    omid990 Posts: 785 Member
    NO


    while you can have an occasionally glass of wine or what have you, you need to be very careful about tracking the calories. you can easily blow an entire day's calories on alcohol alone.

    also, alcohol absorption has been seen to slow the body's metabolism of adipose tissue(fat).
  • missouri_rain
    missouri_rain Posts: 560 Member
    Nope, just a lot of empty calories
  • ltlemermaid
    ltlemermaid Posts: 637 Member
    No alcohol slows down the weight loss...basically your body can't lose the fat while its trying to burn off the alcohol--it can't do both at the same time, so you stop losing weight.

    Knowing this I try to avoid alcohol but I know I can't (weak will power) at parties so I keep it at a minimum, work out that day and drink plenty of water before and after--that seems to help...
  • cesse47
    cesse47 Posts: 947 Member
    I have a somewhat different take on the subject ----

    I've always preferred white wine ... my favorite is Martini & Rossi Asti Spumonte. I typically don't drink ... unless I fix a nice dinner or for our family celebrations. But read an interesting article about the advantages of drinking red wine.

    It reports that a recent Harvard study states that weight control can be added to the list of potential health benefits that come from drinking a single glass of red wine on a daily basis. It appears to neutralize the effects of fat and boosts metabolism to burn calories more efficiently.

    Evidently the high antioxidant content catagorizes it as a healtful food. And studies indicate it protects against the development of heart disease and other diseases associated with aging ... and now weight control. wow!!

    But, note it say ONE glass per day. And, you'd need to be sure to include it in your food log. Depending on the wine, it could be 100 - 200 calories.
  • miqisha
    miqisha Posts: 1,534 Member
    I have heard that alcohol does slow down the weightloss process and I think it maybe true.....Memorial day was the first I have had alchohol since I started my journey two months ago.....and then the friday was my hussy bday and I drank as well

    Need less to say I didnt lose a single 1lb and have been struggling all week to get the scale back in the right direction

    I have no plan to give up alcohol....but I dont plan to drink any until I go to NY for my aunts wedding in July

    I plan to minimize me alcohol consumption until I am at a maintaining level in my diet......
  • lutzsher
    lutzsher Posts: 1,153 Member
    I've been a "weekend warrior" most of my adult life. Since the begginging of my weight loss journey I would lose weight monday to friday, then basically gain it all back on the weekend with those empty liquor calories. I played this game for months until about 4 weeks ago. I have steadily lost weight each week since I gave it up, Im actually down 10 lbs just in the last month.
    It will take me approximately 5 months to get to my goal weight doing it properly, losing about 2 lbs per week with a healthly meal plan and daily exercise. I plan to obstain until then, and will only on occasion have a drink socially after that time.
  • ttkg
    ttkg Posts: 357 Member
    The way it was explained to me by a personal trainer was - if you're going to have one drink you might as well have 5 because your body will stop burning the fat once you introduce alcohol.

    He was NOT encouraging me to have 5 drinks, he was just illustrating that as soon as you consume alcohol your body then focuses on that and all the work you have put in at the gym or otherwise will be a waste that day. He said this to me because I thought it was ok to have one beer or one glass of wine on a daily basis. Now I only have drinks if going out with friends and I try to leave some calories to fit this in and plan it ahead of time.
  • BeautifulScarsWECHANGED
    BeautifulScarsWECHANGED Posts: 749 Member
    I actually read an interesting article (I believe it was on MSN or Yahoo) about this a few weeks ago. Studies have shown that 1 glass of red wine a day could actually boost WOMEN'S metabolism. I can't find the article now to post it. Of course you would have to include it on your food journal for the day.
  • LittleSpy
    LittleSpy Posts: 6,754 Member
    My understanding is that, simply put, alcohol doesn't require the same digestion as other things you consume. Basically, your body burns up the alcohol before burning anything else and that's why, no, it's certainly not conducive to weight loss.

    That being said, if it's something you enjoy and you want to fit it into your new lifestyle, there are certainly ways of doing that. :wink: (edit) Just be sure you're not sacrificing a lot of nutritious calories in order to consume alcohol.
  • aippolito1
    aippolito1 Posts: 4,894 Member
    No. For me, it's always slowed me down. The body burns alcohol first before anything, so if you drink...that means you're not burning fat. For me, it can be up to a week after I've drank before I lose those extra lbs. I gained 3 lbs from my 21st birthday & it took me a week and a half to get it off. GRR!
  • cymills
    cymills Posts: 133 Member
    Probably not! I do know i have cut out a ccnsiderable amount since being a part of MFP.
    Have I cut is out completely - H#LL NO!
    Have i lost 10 lbs + ..H#LL YES!
    You need to make your own decsions. We only havet o answer to ourselves at the end of each & every day!:tongue:
  • MeekMeals
    MeekMeals Posts: 517 Member
    Great feedback again!! You guys rock!!! So the general consensus is NO. My friend and i are doing a "fast" of no alcohol for the month of june (we usually relax and unwind on the weekend). I'm curious to see if my lbs loss will be more than what it is now.
  • Clew
    Clew Posts: 910 Member
    It's definately not, but the reason why is confusing to me, it can stay with you a long time and slow your progress, even if you only drink on the weekend (for me anyway) it takes me the entire week with not a drop of alcohol before I get over the plateu and start losing again.

    This is super interesting to me. I've been pissed all weekend that I didn't lose any last week even though I was diligent with the journaling and exercise. But looking back I had a cocktail on the front-end Saturday out on the boat. Just a few shots, and I worked it into my daily calories. But maybe that one drink screwed me up for the week.

    Good perspective, thanks! (this and all the other similar posts) At least I know what might have made me stall this past week.
  • lilmissy2
    lilmissy2 Posts: 595 Member
    Yep, I would say no too. People are often shocked to hear that the 4 pre-mixed drinks (which may be just the beginning!) they consume on a weekend night is equivalent in calories to sitting down to an entire cheesecake!
  • pfenixa
    pfenixa Posts: 194 Member
    Just thought I'd throw this in there, but a friend of mine is a nurse and is working on his degree and I brought up alcohol. He said something along the lines that alcohol deprives your body of oxygen (hence the drunk feeling in your head) and it's the lack of oxygen that affects your weight loss.

    But yeah, I can't drink while I'm trying to lose weight because I totally get the munchies! lol
  • kimberleighdiane
    kimberleighdiane Posts: 26
    I enjoy a glass of wine almost every night... I love to have a glass while cooking my dinner. I have been on a healthy kick for only three weeks and I have already lost 20 pounds! I think almost everything is ok in moderation of course don't go crazy! But this is just my opinion.
  • KristyO
    KristyO Posts: 126
    Great feedback again!! You guys rock!!! So the general consensus is NO. My friend and i are doing a "fast" of no alcohol for the month of june (we usually relax and unwind on the weekend). I'm curious to see if my lbs loss will be more than what it is now.

    Let us know how it goes!

    I agree with another that stated if you plan to have drinks, know that your day needs to accommodate those extra calories.
  • MeekMeals
    MeekMeals Posts: 517 Member
    Great feedback again!! You guys rock!!! So the general consensus is NO. My friend and i are doing a "fast" of no alcohol for the month of june (we usually relax and unwind on the weekend). I'm curious to see if my lbs loss will be more than what it is now.

    Let us know how it goes!

    I agree with another that stated if you plan to have drinks, know that your day needs to accommodate those extra calories.

    oh i will keep you guuys posted!!
  • tralalara
    tralalara Posts: 149
    Dr Barry Sears of the Zone Diet says it's ok to have an occasional glass of wine as it is a perfect snack when eaten with 1 oz of cheese. That's a 4 oz glass (tiny) with an oz of cheese. On his diet you eat 3 meals and 2 snacks a day, each balanced with protein, fat and carb. The cheese balances the carb (wine) with fat and protein. I don't do it often but I have once or twice. But I'd honestly rather have fruit with the cheese!
  • Michellerw1
    Michellerw1 Posts: 367
    Alcohol does not ade weight loss, but I personally think you can still have success if you enjoy a drink now and then. The key, for me, was cutting back. I used to have 1-2 glasses of wine every night. Now I have 1-2 on the weekends and special ocassions only. It was a really easy way to cut my calorie intake.
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