Does drinking alcohol stop weightloss?

No, it doesn't. If you're in a deficit, you'll lose weight. A lot of people just find that because most alcoholic drinks have a lot of calories, it can make it difficult to stay in a deficit.

Oh...and the 3AM Taco Bell that often comes along with drinking. Or is that just me?

I try and avoid having alcohol too often when I'm trying to lose even when within my calorie target as I find it lowers my will power and affects my judgment!

I tend to want to follow a few dozen vodkas with a kebab and a snog with a dodgy bloke :laugh:

x

I personally stopped drinking for a whole month a year ago when I first started my weight lost journey (previously lost 15...but starting over now lol) and I found that I lost way more that month than I had any other month....but my drinking habits are probably different than yours. ( Before that month I would drink several drinks Thurs, Fri, Sat)

Nope - just factor it in...

I sure hope not. If so, I am doomed.

By itself alcohol doesn't hinder weight loss. However, like others have said alcohol brings in all kinds of other things that actually hinder weight loss. Your will power will be lowered. You'll snack more. You won't get up and do the work out you planned. etc.

When I lost my initial weight I didn't have any alcohol for 3 months. I've found it hard to replicate that type of loss while even having the occasional beer on the weekend. So right now, I just limit alcohol to special occasions.

I think you mean: Your will power MAY be lowered. You MAY snack more. You MAY not get up and do your workout.

I drink almost every day and have lost 4 lbs in a month. I don't intend to stop drinking for the rest of my life so I need to learn to manage my weight while drinking.

Hasn't hindered my weight loss and I like a beer with supper about every night and a couple more on the weekends... As long as it fits within the confines of your caloric intake for whatever deficit you are running, then I say No problem whatsoever....... Best of Luck

I drank through weight loss and maintenance and so long as it's logged it hasn't caused any problems (apart from the odd hangover) :sick:

I would not take the alcohol from your base calories. It has Zero nutritional value. You need a certain amount of nutrients to live. I do often take them from my work out calories. so if my base calories is 1,600 and I worked out for 600 calories that day, then I can have 600 calories worth of alcohol if I choose too. This dose three things for me.

1) Limits my booze a lot. That's only about 9 OZ of bourbon. or 6 light beers.

2) It makes me want to work out harder on Saturday to make for the night out later

3) It makes me still eat. Alcohol on an empty stomach is bad

I agree with an earlier poster who said unless you give up alcohol forever, then you need to find a way to work it in. Same goes for junk food, or anything else.

I have found that having beers used to make me bloated and increased my weight. It also makes me want to snack more and I become so sluggish, I do not always feel to exercise. Therefore, whenever I want to lose weight, I refrain from alcohol. Even when I'm on weight maintenance, I'm quite reserved in my alcohol intake.

my trainer said it's not an issue unless you get down to your last few pounds and can't drop. I have personally cut it out for the next 6 months until I can get used to my new diet plan/eating regime. then I will reintroduce it within calorie range. in the past, when I was down to my last 10 lbs or so, I did notice that cutting alcohol helped.

As long as it fits within your caloric goal, you're good.

I would say not if you fit it into your calories. However, some people don't count it or don't estimate how many calories are in some mixed drinks like margaritas. I find beer tends to bloat me and add an extra pound or two, but that might just be the volume. After all, 12-16 oz of beer has the same amount of alcohol as a glass of wine, but if I drink beer, I am definitely heavier and more bloated the next day.

No, it doesn't. If you're in a deficit, you'll lose weight. A lot of people just find that because most alcoholic drinks have a lot of calories, it can make it difficult to stay in a deficit.

Oh...and the 3AM Taco Bell that often comes along with drinking. Or is that just me?

+1

That's not true. Alcohol has macros and nutrients. Beer has carbs, protein and vitamins. Wine has carbs and vitamins.

This is correct! While a shot of vodka has next to no nutritional value, both beer and wine have macro and micronutrients in them!

As far as alcohol slowing fat loss, here's the deal. When alcohol is in the system the body will stop burning fat and divert it's attention to ridding itself of the alcohol. A gram of alcohol provides more energy then carbs or protein but less then fat (gram for gram). This is why some people say alcohol makes fat burning impossible. Technically their statement is correct but there a big catch. It's a very temporary thing. Once you process the alcohol, you will again begin using stored fuel if you are in a deficit. If at the end of the day/week you are in a deficit, your net fat loss will be based on the size of the deficit, not whether or not you drank alcohol.

It is best to treat alcohol the same way you treat everything else. Consume it in moderation and track it against your goals. Now here's the fun part, alcohol has a higher thermic effect of food then carbs, protein, or fat. This means it requires more energy to break it down. What's that mean? Alcohol is listed at 7.1 calories per gram but after you figure out what it takes to break down the alcohol, the number is really closes to 5.7. So you are actually going to be in a slightly larger deficit then you think if some of your calories are from alcohol. Don't get me wrong, its not an earth shattering difference and alcohol is not the new weight loss miracle product. Just feel happy knowing you have a little extra deficit on the days you drink.

As was pointed out above, the problem with alcohol is sticking with your calorie goals once under the influence. Drinking a glass of wine of a beer or two usually isn't an issue but leaving yourself 1000 calories to get sauced on vodka/diet sodas can sometimes leave you inebriated enough to say "F this diet, I want me some TACO BELL!".

TL/DR: Treat alcohol like everything else, consume in moderation and track against your goals. Don't get so drunk that you overeat or binge.