Who has had to completely give up alcohol for weight loss?

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I have never given up alcohol, but have lost over 100 pounds. It was a discussion with my trainer in one of our first sessions. There are times when it slows progress or I temporarily gain weight over the weekend, but not enough that it is a real problem. However, it sounds like you don't care about drinking, so why not give it up? If you are worried about what your friends think when you don't drink, or worry about them harassing you, that is another story. My friends could care less if I drink or not, so that is rarely a problem. There are times when I don't want to answer the questions of why I am not drinking, so I drink club soda, diet soda or water and make it look like a drink.

The reason I work out is to eat and drink what I want (in moderation, of course). I have a large glass of red wine (6-8 oz) a night (or every other night) and I track them everytime. It's all about calories in vs. calories out.

I have mostly given it up - mostly due to timing of when I prefer to drink.

I really enjoy have a drink when I get home, which is where the majority of my problem is. I can have just one, but why do I have to? After all I am home and once I drink, I won't go anywhere. This is my problem.
My preferred workout time for most of my life is evenings. Mornings are evil, rushed, and a painful time period for me. When I started drinking more, it impacted my fitness activity and of course changed my calorie intake as well.
So no, I really can't drink regularly and maintain an active lifestyle. And yes, I know others can, but I personally can't.

All I know is when I gave up wine for 8 days my weight did not change. When I gave up cookies for 8 days I lost. A doughnut has about 300 cals. I'd rather use that for a few nice glasses of Pinot Noir.

Paige682 wrote: »

I will give up my wine and beer when someone pries it out of my cold, dead hands.

THIS^^^ lol
I have a few glasses of wine a few nights a week, and make sure to fit it into my calories, I also make sure I get good cardio in on those days.

This is a tough one, I am a big wine drinker and I know the sugar and carbs is my down fall however I just limit myself because lets be honest I am never going to stop drinking

I haven't HAD to quit drinking, but I simply prefer not to take in those calories in place of food. I do recall a time where going without alcohol may have seemed difficult, but I guess times have just changed.

I have a glass of beer or wine with dinner several nights a week. Did not affect my weight loss results. Not sure about its affect on muscle gain though so hope I'm not messing myself up with that now. Just be mindful of the calorie load.

I used to drink ALL.OF.THE.TIME. I started doing Atkins way back when and would cheat with vodka/soda but honestly I no longer drink for the buzz. Now I drink wine and IPA because I like the taste and if I get a little tipsy because I had one too many so be it. When I had to switch to vodka/soda I realized it wasn't worth it. I don't even LIKE vodka/soda so wth. I have restarted Atkins a million times over, and usually do a good job giving up alcohol for the Induction period ( 2 weeks) and then add it back in ( I am into Bourbon now!). I don;t count calories, just net carbs, so it works - but yeah it definitely slows me down, but not completely.

I do need to stop drinking as much as I do as I feel it impacts my life in negative ways. I am going to work on only allowing drinking on weekends ( it's a lot harder to drink 8 bourbons than it is to drink 8 beers!) and then hopefully one I am closer to target weight, older, wiser and more on the wagon it will be periodic and I won't lok forward to weekends just so I can have that glass of pappy van winkle

I think it's a personal choice. I am day #8 of a 2 week no alcohol challenge. I can feel benefits - not so sluggish, better rest, more energy for working out, etc. I am hoping that by then end of 2 weeks that I will see benefits - like on the scale. I was drinking far to much and it was affecting me and others negatively. I am happy that I made myself quit - knowing that I still can. Now I want to make it a lifestyle change. Perhaps not cutting it out entirely but definately reducing. I do recognize though, that others may be in a different place, have different opinions and not have to give it up entirely. So I don't think you have to give it up entirely for weight loss but I do think it's worth a good look at as it fits into your own lifestyle and goals.

What??? Give up alcohol you say???
No way in H. E. double hockey sticks would I give up my beer or vodka!!! I just make sure it fits into my calories for the day. (Insert emoticon lifting a beer glass HERE....since I can't FIND the old emoticons anymore..... )

Edited to add: If you give up alcohol and don't plan on giving it up for the REST OF YOUR LIFE....you're setting yourself up for failure. Once you get to your goal weight and you start drinking again, you'll just start packing on the lbs again.

tuckerrj wrote: »

Some people can drink and lose weight. But I cannot. Yes, you can fit it into your calorie limit. But once I start imbibing, it all goes out the window. So I've decided not to drink at all, because I don't have the ability to restrain myself once I start.

This ^ happens to me too.

I haven't! I know it can hinder progress, but you shouldn't deprive yourself completely. Have a few drinks every now and again, I think its fine to spoil yourself like that every now and again, so long as youre not drinking every day!