Alcohol

DJ135
DJ135 Posts: 6
in Food and Nutrition
I enjoy a glass of wine with my dinner. I have heard that alcohol should be cut out completely when trying to lose weight. Has anyone had success losing weight while continuing to enjoy moderate alcohol consumption? Example: Yesterday I had a total of 1470 calories I could consume. I only used 1203, and that included one glass of wine. Will the alcohol stunt my success even if I remain within my calories?

Replies

  • chezjuan
    chezjuan Posts: 747 Member
    I have one to two drinks a day (sometimes more on weekends) and I have consistently lost weight. As a general rule, as long as you maintain a calorie deficit, the weight will come off.
  • BenjaminMFP88
    BenjaminMFP88 Posts: 660 Member
    Just count the calories. Alcohol metabolizes differently but it won't stunt your goals, it just won't help either. Just count the calories and it's fine. I think I read that it's recommended to count 7calories for each gram of carbohydrate in Alcohol. Slightly higher then it's actual value due to it's metabolic variation, but i'm not sure why this is. Perhaps someone else can shed some light on this?
  • shells1234
    shells1234 Posts: 64 Member
    I still drink alcohol about once a month or so. I am still losing inches. I think it is more a matter of weighing yourself right afterword, because you can see a drop in the scale. On Halloween I went to a party with friends then in the morning I had a five pound drop, and I now that wasn't right so I think it can mess around with your brain. I haven't weighed my self since because I hate the scale its mean to me.....:ohwell:
  • maasha81
    maasha81 Posts: 733 Member
    I have drinks at least twice a week. Usually it's a vodka soda with lime or glass of wine. To me, it's cals in / cals out so I tend to incorporate that in my daily intake as well.

    I have lost weight maintaining a cal deficit.
  • DJ135
    DJ135 Posts: 6
    Yay! Thanks for all the positive comments.
  • Poofy_Goodness
    Poofy_Goodness Posts: 229 Member
    Unless you have a negative relationship with alcohol, there is no reason that you shouldn't fit it into your caloric goal like any other food.
  • _jayciemarie_
    _jayciemarie_ Posts: 574 Member
    I have tried to refrain from drinking alcohol. I love eating too much and I would rather eat my calories than drink them. Just my personal preference.
  • SonicDeathMonkey80
    SonicDeathMonkey80 Posts: 4,489 Member
    Funny story - I broke my sub-160 plateau by a night of heavy drinking (my annual mother's day intoxication). I weighed 161 that morning (and for weeks), got memory-loss drunk that night from Long Island doubles, and ate a mess of fried pickles at the bar, and then a Carl's Jr. Monster Thickburger on the ride home. The next afternoon when I woke up, I weighed myself out of curiosity and was 157. I might have gotten a pound or so back, but the road to 152 was pretty quick after that :)
  • sfbaumgarten
    sfbaumgarten Posts: 912 Member
    I have one to two drinks a day (sometimes more on weekends) and I have consistently lost weight...

    Ditto.
  • _jayciemarie_
    _jayciemarie_ Posts: 574 Member
    Funny story - I broke my sub-160 plateau by a night of heavy drinking (my annual mother's day intoxication). I weighed 161 that morning (and for weeks), got memory-loss drunk that night from Long Island doubles, and ate a mess of fried pickles at the bar, and then a Carl's Jr. Monster Thickburger on the ride home. The next afternoon when I woke up, I weighed myself out of curiosity and was 157. I might have gotten a pound or so back, but the road to 152 was pretty quick after that :)

    I have only drank twice since I started this journey in August. Both times I drank excessively. Both times I lost quite a bit of weight the following week. Weird.
  • SonicDeathMonkey80
    SonicDeathMonkey80 Posts: 4,489 Member
    Funny story - I broke my sub-160 plateau by a night of heavy drinking (my annual mother's day intoxication). I weighed 161 that morning (and for weeks), got memory-loss drunk that night from Long Island doubles, and ate a mess of fried pickles at the bar, and then a Carl's Jr. Monster Thickburger on the ride home. The next afternoon when I woke up, I weighed myself out of curiosity and was 157. I might have gotten a pound or so back, but the road to 152 was pretty quick after that :)

    I have only drank twice since I started this journey in August. Both times I drank excessively. Both times I lost quite a bit of weight the following week. Weird.

    I'm not the kind of person to just enjoy a single drink. I drink maybe twice a year, and when I do, I lose my mind haha
  • mammamaurer
    mammamaurer Posts: 418 Member
    you'll be fine
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    As long as you meet your micro (vitamins and minerals) and macro (Protein and Fat, carbs are less important if you hit the other 2) targets there shouldn't be a problem. That said it is difficult to get all macros and micros on a diet less than 1200 cals, so eating only 1200 shouldn't leave room for alcohol as you would be missing something.

    You can still lose weight doing it, but your health may suffer if it is a regular occurrence that you don't get your micros and macros.
  • Swiftdogs
    Swiftdogs Posts: 328 Member
    Not a problem - just log and fit it in. I drink primarily dry wine. To substitute for beer when I want something fizzy, I make a very light (1/4 oz. to 8 oz.) bourbon and sparkling water.

    Choosing to use some calories for alcohol does leave fewer available for other treats. It's a tradeoff.
  • FrauMama
    FrauMama Posts: 169 Member
    I drink wine almost every night, and am at goal weight, very lean, in good shape, etc. No worries. I'd definitely stay away from sweet/sugary drinks, though.
  • blondepaparazzi
    blondepaparazzi Posts: 39 Member
    I drink everyday, sometimes a couple of drinks, sometimes more, but I have steadily lost weight, I just add it to my calories. I've been working out to account for some of the calories but other than that I've lost 11 pounds and haven't changed my drinking habits too much!
  • janicebinva
    janicebinva Posts: 99 Member
    I think the main danger of drinking alcohol is that its dis-inhibiting effects make me care less about what I eat. After about half a drink, I think "Oh, what the hell, ya gotta live, I'll have that second portion or plate full of dessert".

    If it were just the calories, it's easy to account for that in the daily plan. But once I have a little buzz, I just want to relax and eat whatever I want.
  • EDesq
    EDesq Posts: 1,527 Member
    The real question is: Will you be able to MAINTAIN your weight loss with having a glass of wine per day? Maybe, maybe not...YOU have to test your metabolism. A drinker is always going to support THEIR habit; they will justify their excessive drinking...so you REALLY do NOT want their opinion. Keep track of YOUR Body and what it is doing because some of those people are going to have liver, kidney and other physical problems, even with wt. loss.
  • lngrunert
    lngrunert Posts: 204 Member
    I have one to two drinks a day (sometimes more on weekends) and I have consistently lost weight...

    Ditto.

    Tritto. :)
  • Rocbola
    Rocbola Posts: 1,998 Member
    I enjoy a glass of wine with my dinner. ....... enjoy moderate alcohol consumption?
    I'm not sure that daily use is considered moderate.
  • Bry_Fitness70
    Bry_Fitness70 Posts: 2,480 Member
    I wouldn’t treat alcohol any differently than anything else you consume. It has x amount of calories, carbs, sugar, etc., just account for it!

    I think that alcohol is primarily hazardous to your diet because of the bad dietary choices you make while drinking, not necessarily the drink itself (at least in my case). When I’m doing a significant amount of drinking and get hungry, I’m generally going with cheeseburgers, chicken fingers, potato skins, mozzarella sticks, fries, etc., rather than the grilled chicken breast, salads, rice or vegetables.
  • bekahlou75
    bekahlou75 Posts: 304 Member
    I enjoy a glass of wine with my dinner. ....... enjoy moderate alcohol consumption?
    I'm not sure that daily use is considered moderate.

    "There is agreement in the scientific community about what defines "moderate drinking." It's no more than 3-4 standard drinks per drinking episode, no more than 9 drinks per week for women and 12-14 for men. Also, moderate drinking means limiting how fast you drink and, as a result, keeping your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) below .055 (.08 is the DWI limit in all states in the U.S.). This definition of moderate drinking prevents you from getting drunk. Moderate drinkers don't drink to get drunk. "

    Drinking daily is within the moderate drinking range.
  • DJ135
    DJ135 Posts: 6
    I enjoy a glass of wine with my dinner. ....... enjoy moderate alcohol consumption?
    I'm not sure that daily use is considered moderate.

    "There is agreement in the scientific community about what defines "moderate drinking." It's no more than 3-4 standard drinks per drinking episode, no more than 9 drinks per week for women and 12-14 for men. Also, moderate drinking means limiting how fast you drink and, as a result, keeping your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) below .055 (.08 is the DWI limit in all states in the U.S.). This definition of moderate drinking prevents you from getting drunk. Moderate drinkers don't drink to get drunk. "

    Drinking daily is within the moderate drinking range.

    Thank you. I agree that having ONE glass of wine with my dinner is moderate.
  • Cirsium
    Cirsium Posts: 41 Member
    I think a single glass of wine a day has been recommended by the medical profession in the not too distant past. It seems moderate to me.
  • sweetpea03b
    sweetpea03b Posts: 1,123 Member
    Yes. I drink 1 glass of wine with dinner on non-lifting days. I've read and heard that alcohol really slows down the healing/recovery process...and truly it makes me a lot more tired the next day if I drink on a lifting day.

    So, I drink probably 3 glasses of wine each week and I'm still losing. Anything in moderation.
  • Julesbait
    Julesbait Posts: 190 Member
    Just try to take away my vodka...I DARE you...
  • jennybennypenny
    jennybennypenny Posts: 90 Member
    I drink when I want to, I just fit it into my calories. I drank during my weight loss, and I drink now in maintenance.
  • jackwrobel1
    jackwrobel1 Posts: 3
    friday and saturday I drink anywhere from 4 to 8 beers. I just do cardio at the gym before i drink. I keep it simple.
  • Stage14
    Stage14 Posts: 1,046 Member
    I am not currently drinking because I am trying to get pregnant, but up until 2 weeks ago, I was drinking a few times a week (and almost daily on some weeks) and still losing weight. You just have to account for the calories and make sure to stay hydrated to keep it from messing with any phantom water weight.
  • extra_medium
    extra_medium Posts: 1,525 Member
    I enjoy a glass of wine with my dinner. ....... enjoy moderate alcohol consumption?
    I'm not sure that daily use is considered moderate.

    Depending on culture/locale, one glass of wine per day is on the light side. It shouldn't really matter what an arbitrary guideline says is moderate or not imo, as long as it fits your goals.

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