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Alcohol and Hunger

beeperoony
beeperoony Posts: 2
edited February 21 in Health and Weight Loss
So, I've been a pretty heavy drinker for a while now. Daily, in fact, and for a couple years. I recently quit cold turkey a couple of days ago, surprisingly without any terrible side effects, and I have already felt a lot of water weight evaporate. However, when I do drink...and I know this is the opposite of what most people experience...I lose my appetite. Both while drinking and the day after. Since I've stopped, I've been ravenous all day almost. Granted, I naturally have a good deal of muscle mass and I work out a couple of times a week, mainly lifting...but I can't help but to think that having stopped drinking has increased my appetite alone. Does anyone have any experience with this? Or any ideas as to why? So unusual.

Thanks, y'all.

Replies

  • amandajks89
    amandajks89 Posts: 2
    I only drink on the weekend but I enjoy beer. I actually kinda loose my appetite as well. I am trying no to drink at all and get back on track. I think you may be more hungry because your not getting full on alcohol. It's good to eat a bunch of small healthy meals a day.
  • Spreyton22K
    Spreyton22K Posts: 323 Member
    Just wondering if you have factored in the calories you were consuming thru the alcohol and replaced them with food.

    If the case is that you haven't factored in the loss of these calories....then maybe you are feeling hungry because of too large a deficit.

    I have travelled this road too and I too found myself extra hungry after dropping out alcohol. Sometimes it was "real" hunger and I ate accordingly (tried to eat the simplest and most nutritious stuff too, just to give my body a bit better chance to undo some of the damage the booze may have done) other times my hunger was more an emotional response to losing my 'crutch'....on those occasions I would try other techniques other than mindlessly eating.

    I also found that this EXTRA hunger did diminish on it's own after a while (can't recall absolute time-frame)....I think my body was just a bit confused.

    I hope this makes sense and is of some help.

    Good luck
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    I quit drinking 4 years ago, but that's similar to what I was dealing with. Part of it was that I'd be simply full from the calories, I think, but part of it was that I used alcohol to keep all kinds of emotional stuff in check. When I stopped I definitely substituted food for drink, although I don't know that I perceived it that way at the time; I just started being hungry for stuff when I'd never been that hungry in the year or so leading up to me quitting.
  • daw0518
    daw0518 Posts: 459 Member
    I personally don't drink a lot, but my dad used to be a fairly heavy drinker and never had much of an appetite. I remember him always giving me the rest of his dinner or only eating half a serving and never wanting seconds. I don't live at home, but I know he mostly stopped drinking last summer and I've heard him mention in passing that he wants to get back in shape, which makes me think he's gained a little since stopping drinking & gaining an appetite.
  • PJPrimrose
    PJPrimrose Posts: 916 Member
    The heavy drinkers I know barely eat too. I'm glad you're looking to do something new.
  • beeperoony
    beeperoony Posts: 2
    Very helpful, guys. I thought I was alone.
  • KimiSteinbach
    KimiSteinbach Posts: 224 Member
    I have a drink or 2 a night. If I get hungry I eat protein...
  • FatFreeFrolicking
    FatFreeFrolicking Posts: 4,252 Member
    So, I've been a pretty heavy drinker for a while now. Daily, in fact, and for a couple years. I recently quit cold turkey a couple of days ago.

    Stopping drinking alcohol cold turkey is EXTREMELY dangerous and can result in death. Not a very smart decision on your behalf. Instead, you are supposed to cut down on the amount of alcohol you drink as opposed to stopping completely. This can help bring lots of health benefits, and can be significantly easier to sustain.
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