Gave up alcohol, lost weight

My name is Deb and I have about 40 more pounds to lose. I have lost about 16 pounds since the end of January.

I too drank a bottle of wine several nights a week most of this last winter. The end of January I decided I really needed to lose some of the weight I have gained mostly from drinking and being inactive. I JUST STOPPED...Not forever, I told myself, just for awhile, just see how it goes, just see if it helps. And it did! I lost an enormous amount of weight the first three weeks--10 ponds--of course I did cut back eating and did add exercise! I went 5 weeks without drinking then had 2 glasses of wine with dinner just 2 and immediately put back half a pound.
I still drink occasionally, so losing weight is a whole lot slower--you just have to pick.

I will never give up alcohol. I know I will always have a few love rolls to hold on to as long as I sip on vodka, but I am okay with that. Counting calories, making healthier choices, not drinking soda, not having that extra roll at dinner is all already a great sacrifice. You cannot take my vodka!

This.

You'll just as soon pry my low-ball from my cold, dead, fat, fingers.

i lost 80 lbs in the last 10 months and i couldn't have done it without alcohol. i just made sure to log it, and work out as much as possible and eat the best i could.

a life without bubbles in bed with my future husband, cocktails with my girlfriends, wine with my mom and dad and beers with my tacos, is just not a life i would enjoy, id much rather cut something else out!

party time.

I'm in the process of giving up alcohol...it is difficult for me, I'm taking it one day at a time. I need to lose weight for a vacation in July and I cannot fit into any of my former clothes and cringe at myself naked, AUGH. I recently started a Paleo lifestyle and I'm down almost 5 pounds in just a few days!! I always drink on the weekends, mainly at home and this was the first weekend I didn't. I was tempted a few times but didn't give in - YIPPY! I 'm trying to get to the point where I do not feel the need to turn to alcohol to celebrate lifes up and downs and every twist and turn in my life, be it good or bad...it's a bad behavior to start and it easily forms because of how difficult and stressful this world has become. Once I reach my goal weight I would like to reintroduce alcohol for the very special occasions. In the meantime I am trying to get back to hobbies I use to enjoy like reading, exercising, meditation and taking up a new sport like golf. These new activities are keeping me busy and helping me undo a bad habit I created. Wish me luck!!! XO

if you like to drink, this is a good website:

www.getdrunknotfat.com

I know this is an old thread. However, I quit drinking as New Year's resolution on January 1 this year. I have lost 25 pounds and now at my goal weight -- a weight I haven't seen in at least 12 years. In fact, I now weight what I weighed the day I got my driver's license when I was 16 years old. If you find this interesting, try reading my blog: http://sharoncombesfarr.com/2014/06/01/how-i-gained-then-lost-30-pounds/

In addition to not drinking, one of the other major factors in my success was using myfitnesspal nearly every day. All told, I've lost over 30 pounds!

The problem with alcohol is that is the high ratio of calories per gram: 7cal/g , second behind fat (9cal/g). The cals from alcohol, are used first by the body so, more alcohol, less carbs/fats used by the body.

This page looks ugly, but after compare the values with other (more incomplete) sites, looks correct: http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/collegestudents/calculator/alcoholcalc.aspx

So, in an average drinking night, you may be consuming calories equivalent to maybe to days!!

Yep, this is too sad I know.

Okay, so I was wondering about the whole how alcohol is burned. When I used MFP a couple of years ago, I worked beer into my daily calorie goal - but the weight came off sooooooo slow. This time, I just cut out beer except for maybe 2-3 a week. The weight has come off a LOT faster...I mean, a LOT faster. So the idea that your body burns the alcohol, then the calories, makes sense. I even told my husband that I thought my body burned alcohol differently than food, that maybe it wasn't as simple as calories in, calories out when it comes to beer. Either way, cutting it out has made a HUGE difference in my weight loss.

This past year has been incredibly stressful, and I got way off track. I stopped exercising, began eating too much, and drinking even more. I used this calculator to see how many calories a month I was consuming - and before I gave up my nightly beers (about 3-4 a night), I was consuming, on average (probably more), an extra 16,000 calories a month...with no exercise. Not to mention the food intake. It's amazing I didn't gain more than 15 pounds this year.

I too quit drinking as much. I usually only have about 2-3 beers a week now. Sometimes I'll throw in a Malibu Rum and diet root beer, but not too often. Summer is difficult - I love sitting out on my porch swing, reading, and drinking a nice cold brew. Oh well. I like not being fat even more, so everything in moderation.

I quit drinking at the beginning of my total overhaul, 2 years ago. I didn't change my diet, at first. Just gave up the booze and started exercising. I lost 15 lbs, right away. Was it the exercise alone that did it? Possibly. But I doubt it. I feel 100% better without it. Makes going to parties a little weird and maybe even a little interesting. If you aren't drinking and everyone around you is it can be....well....entertaining! lol!