Cutting out alcohol!!

I don't know if it was necessarily easier to lose weight, but I have cut down my alcohol intake a LOT since I decided to get serious about my health. My biggest thing is when I have a few too many one night, the next day I feel groggy and don't have as much energy to do my workout, and I find that since I'm a bit more tired than normal I have more of a desire to eat (delicious) less nutritional foods. So I would say too much alcohol definitely hinders my weight loss a bit, in that it mentally takes me away from my goal and it's harder to stay focused.

That being said, I do enjoy a beer or cider a couple times a week, I just make sure not to overdo it and ALWAYS log it. If a beer is going to take me over my calorie limit for the day, I simply don't have it.

Drinking alcohol is currently something that I am also struggling with in regards to my weight loss.
I think you also have to consider that you may not always eat the best when you drink. At least, I know I definitely don't.
I've tried cutting back my alcohol intake to one night a week, and always the night before rest day at the gym. I try not to go overboard on how much I drink or eat also.
Since I've started doing this, I have noticed some changes in my body in a positive manner. So I definitely think that it's helping me lose!
Keep it up!

When I cut alcohol I weighed 155 lbs. within a months I lost over 30 lbs without really having to "try". I think it happened relatively effortlessly because I wasn't getting the liquid calories, and I was making better decisions with respect to food choices. I found that it was easier to over eat high calorie foods after a few drinks. It's been a few years since I made the cut and I haven't regained the weight. I have also found I don't miss the alcohol - I still go out with friends and have a good time. I just don't drink. Good luck OP!

I dont particular like alcohol so I've not had to worry about cutting it out!

Drinking alcohol is absolutely fine if you're willing to sacrifice some of your food to remain at your calorie deficit! For me, I don't like to drink my calories. But if you can fit into your day then there is no reason why you can't continue enjoying it!

There's no one size fits all.

To lose weight, all you have to do is consume fewer calories than you burn. Some people find it easiest to do this by cutting out certain kinds of food or drink. Others find it easier to just eat what they did before in smaller quantities. There's no right or wrong answer; it's just whatever you are happiest and most comfortable with and able to stick to.

Personally I enjoy craft beer and have continued to drink it through my weight loss. I'm more conscious of quantity, of course, but I see no reason to deprive myself of the things I enjoy.

Look at it this way: You're not dieting. You're changing habits for life. If you can't realistically see yourself sticking to the no alcohol thing forever and ever, then by its very nature it will be temporary in your mind, and once you lose the weight you'll just go right back to your old habits and probably gain it back. Anything that has an end date in your mind is a recipe for failure. I personally think that learning how to moderate is better than learning how to cut something out entirely, since it is sustainable over the long term.*



*Of course, for anyone reading this who has a problem with alcohol abuse, the above doesn't apply, and you'd be best advised to seek out some help for your alcoholism to allow you to quit drinking.

I lost weight during each of my three pregnancies in the first trimester because I wasn't drinking my nightly glass of wine that said for me it's not a long term lifestyle choice if I'm going to cut out casual drinks. Plan for it and log it - if you have the calories left have a drink if not - don't.

I've cut down on alcohol a lot and I feel it's helped me lose weight so far. I still have the odd half a cider or wine but I make it fit and have it on special occasions or when I really want/will enjoy one. It was hard to come home from a stressful day and not pour a glass of wine but exercise has filled that gap now.

I did previously lose weight but I was exercising and eating pretty much nothing for breakfast and lunch and then have a reasonable dinner and a load to drink and still lost weight. I look back and see that wasn't healthy.

I needed this thread!

I lost weight relatively quickly last year because I wasn't drinking much. Now I've been trying to lose weight all year to no success because I drink every night. I know I'm going to drink Friday and Saturday so I'm cutting it out during the rest of the week. We should start a support group.

Much easier to lose and maintain weight loss. Improved sleep Will help with better hormone balance.

Oh god alcohol is terrible for weight loss. I know once I cut out alcohol, staying within my calorie target was soooo much easier.

I love wine and can easily drink two glasses each night. I definitely see that when I cut it down to just weekends I lose weight much faster, it also makes morning workouts much easier and I sleep better.

However I think the issue is really that when I drink wine it's hard to not go over my calories for the day, if I cut out breakfast or something to make up for it I could probably continue to lose at the same rate but it wouldn't be very healthy. Trying to find a balance, just as only drinking two nights a week.

I needed this post as well. Part of my goals for October include not drinking hard liquor except the weekend of my college homecoming. However, after reading some of these comments... I will definitely work on cutting down on the wine calories as well.