is wine off-limits ?

Excellent question! I want to hear the answer to this, too.

moderation in all things! i love red wine.....

in my case 1 bottle once a week :drinker:

I don't find it to be an issue. I enjoy my wines.

Hi I read this earlier - HTH

Alcohol and weight loss
Alcohol is metabolized differently than other foods and beverages. Under normal conditions, your body gets its energy from the calories in carbohydrates, fats and proteins that need to be slowly digested in the stomach. But alcohol gets special privileges and needs no digestion. The alcohol molecules diffuse through the stomach wall as soon as they arrive and can reach the brain and liver in minutes. This reaction is slightly slowed when there is also food in your system, but as soon as the mixed contents enter the small intestine, the alcohol grabs first place and is absorbed quickly. The alcohol then arrives at the liver for processing. The liver places all of its attention on the alcohol. Therefore, the carbohydrates (glucose) and dietary fats are just changed into body fat, waiting to be carried away for permanent fat storage in the body...

Good Lord, I hope not. :-)

I actually agree with jennlee80's comments. I think it's calories in have to be lower than calories out. So, if you want to spend your cals on wine, you can. The only risk being that you may use up your cals and still be hungry. Or, in my case, the risk is what I associate with wine. When I pour a glass, I crave something like cheese or crackers to go with it. So before I indugle, I have to make sure I have enough in my calorie bank. Other than that, the health benefits of red wine in moderation make it a worthwhile calorie purchase.

Just make sure that you measure out how much you're drinking and account for the calories. If you stay within your calorie allotment you can still lose weight and drink wine.

I know others will comment about how bad alcohol is for your health, but there's plenty of evidence that alcohol in moderation is actually beneficial. For me personally, I have lost nearly 20 pounds in the last year and am now at my goal weight and in the best shape of my life, and have not cut out alcohol (have a couple drinks a day). I just make sure to ensure I am staying in my calorie range and getting enough of the nutrients I need through my diet.

I've heard red wine is excellent for you heart and a few glasses a week isn't bad for you. I figure as long as it is included in your daily calories it shouldn't hurt.

Hello everyone out there.....

I am new to myfitnesspal and I'm working hard to loose weight! What are your opinions/experiences with drinking wine while trying to loose weight? I love my wine! I have read some things that suggest wine slows down metabolism.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks!

I love wine. Not like- LOVE. I was a sommelier during my 20s. I enjoy a glass of wine with dinner almost every night, and at least once a week the one glass will be followed by a second while I am in the bath tub. I look at it like this- I am not on a diet- I am trying to make permanent changes in my life that will lead to better fitness, weight loss, and health. Since I will not be permanently giving up wine, I am going to enjoy it just as I will after I have lost weight. I make sure to log it in my calories, and I have learned to budget accordingly. If I gave it up while losing, I think it would be very hard to reintroduce it later without it messing up my food choices. I have found that my wine choices have changed as well- I love Reisling and Pinot Grigio (I live in FL and it is HOT) but they have far too much sugar in them to enjoy regularly. I have learned to pair my wines with food based on complimenting flavors AND calories/sugar.
I think it is important to make myself accountable for the life I lead, the life I want lead, and the life I choose not to lead. In my previous attempts at weight loss, I always gave up alcohol, excercised like an addict, and denied myself everything. It would last for a short time, and then I would basically give myself permission to be fat because getting thin was too hard. Now I know that I was just setting myself up. I don't want to be an alcohol-free, marathon running, carb avoiding, gym rat. I do, however, want to learn how to choose the glass of wine instead of the slice of cake, or choose the slice of cake knowing exactly how many laps around the block it will take to walk it off. For me, I have to make allowances for the things that I want in my life, or I will just quit- and then feel worse.

Good luck on your journey!