Alcohol is my worst enemy :(

JessicaHamilton
JessicaHamilton Posts: 13
edited September 28 in Food and Nutrition
Ok this is more of a vent than anything. I exercise every day of the week, and sometimes the weekend. I usually burn about 600 calories per day and eat very healthy. I like to drink, I have two small children and drinking at the end of the day relaxes me. I don't drink to get drunk... anyways.

I am at that point that no matter how I exercise, the weight it staying the same and I have quite a bit to lose!!! AHHHH anyone else going through this? I even add my alcohol into my daily food and don't go above my calories. I really think its holding me back. I'm personally going to try doing yoga at night to replace my drinking, but it just sucks because I love drinking. lol
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Replies

  • xHelloQuincyx
    xHelloQuincyx Posts: 884 Member
    sounds to me like you may not be eating enough. weird to hear, i know. lots of people on this site have increased their good calorie intake and stopped their plateau. if you made your diary public it would be easier to find a solution. do you measure out how much you drink? if you dont that may be adding to a lot of excess calories. if posible i would look into other ways to relax such as yoga and try to limit drinking to only 2 days per week.

    select makes 55 calorie lemonade drinks too!
  • amberfranklin1
    amberfranklin1 Posts: 79 Member
    I too enjoy a drink (or 2 or 5 lol) just as a way to relax! I have tried really hard to make myself wait for the weekends and have switched to Bud Select 55. It tastes pretty good, but does not seem to pack on the pounds like other beers. Seems like to me, once I start drinking, I dont eat as much but end up with alot of water weight to lose. Glad to see that there is someone else like me, I go through this every Monday!
  • Jenn728
    Jenn728 Posts: 683 Member
    I am in the same boat! My guy and I like to sit on the deck in the evenings and have a drink or two. But drinking was hindering my weight loss, big time!

    I stopped drinking for a month, not one single drop of alcohol, and I lost 14 pounds. I gained half back though cause I still have a drink a couple days a week. But I know if I really want to kick start the loss, I have to get rid of the alcohol!

    I started drinking sleepytime tea at night, I like that ritual just as much as a fruity cocktail...maybe you could try that....and it's even calming too! (I have three kids so I understand! lol)
  • hurwitzmm
    hurwitzmm Posts: 9 Member
    Jessica - FWIW, I do the same thing. I enter the calories (EMPTY UGH), when ever I have a drink. Not only do I see a significant decrease in my intake, but I have lost SO much once I stopped my drinking.

    The carbs in beer, for instance, will kill your weight loss goal :(
  • BeeElMarvin
    BeeElMarvin Posts: 2,086 Member
    Yeah, the better the weekend - the more Monday's suck!:huh:
  • tlems
    tlems Posts: 104 Member
    I feel your pain. I love wine. However, alcohol slows down your metabolism like crazy so just cut it out of your diet. I did and the weight started coming off. In addition you will sleep better and just feel better all around. Yoga is an excellent idea.

    good luck!
  • hatchhome
    hatchhome Posts: 65
    Honestly it comes down to just giving up what u know is holding u back. If you used chocolate for the same reasons u would have to give it up to achieve your goals. Just remind yourself that when get to where u want can enjoy alcohol again. Stay strong, no drink makes u feel better then a heathy body.
  • TriumphantLife
    TriumphantLife Posts: 56 Member
    I can so relate. It's hard for me to sleep at night so a couple of glasses of wine do the trick. I think I may need to go to the doc for sleeping medicine because Im pretty sure the wine is hindering my weight loss. Your not alone.
  • eillamarie
    eillamarie Posts: 862 Member
    Ok this is more of a vent than anything. I exercise every day of the week, and sometimes the weekend. I usually burn about 600 calories per day and eat very healthy. I like to drink, I have two small children and drinking at the end of the day relaxes me. I don't drink to get drunk... anyways.

    I am at that point that no matter how I exercise, the weight it staying the same and I have quite a bit to lose!!! AHHHH anyone else going through this? I even add my alcohol into my daily food and don't go above my calories. I really think its holding me back. I'm personally going to try doing yoga at night to replace my drinking, but it just sucks because I love drinking. lol

    The thing about alcohol is the body has a hard time digesting the sugars. Your body goes "oh need to get rid of the alcohol" and sort of forgets to deal with the quick carbs.
  • Wow thanks everyone!! You guys are too quick! :) and I appreciate the idea about the sleepytime tea! I actually stopped drinking for one week once and also did a cleanse (the 17 day diet cleanse) and I lose 7 lbs in just a few days. lol Its just so hard, my husband loves to drink and I blame him LOL!!! ok well its me i know. :) and I did use to make sure I ate way less in the day just so I could have room to drink. I stopped doing that, now I have been just exercising more (lol) you'd think that would work, but no. I will definitely have to try the tea idea and I'm going to start doing yoga. Why does drinking have to be so relaxing? And I do have my food diary public as well :) It keeps me on track. :o)
    Thanks again for your support everyone. I love myfitnesspal!! :o)
  • lbetancourt
    lbetancourt Posts: 522 Member
    I too enjoy a drink (or 2 or 5 lol) just as a way to relax! I have tried really hard to make myself wait for the weekends and have switched to Bud Select 55. It tastes pretty good, but does not seem to pack on the pounds like other beers. Seems like to me, once I start drinking, I dont eat as much but end up with alot of water weight to lose. Glad to see that there is someone else like me, I go through this every Monday!

    i am on the same boat. I switched to Select 55 too. I have managed to cut down the during the week.. avoiding happy hours after work but once the weekend hits... I am drinking like I am some on some booze cruise & my eating habits go down the drain cause I don't eat much at all. I know this is holidng back from getting the results I really want. :(
  • kateq321
    kateq321 Posts: 97 Member
    Ah the demon drink!...I know how you feel - I wouldn't be a midweek drinker but I love Saturday nights. I decided to knock the drink on the head for a couple of weeks as I've been stuck for quite some time and my weigh hasn't been budging. Well I lost 1lb this week (might not be much, but at least it's something!!) but I'm convinced it's because I'm not drinking.

    You're right to try and find something to distract you in the evening, like Yoga or even call a friend up and go for a walk or a cycle. You'll feel great & that glass of wine on a Saturday night will taste even sweeter!! :smile:
  • ncqueenbee
    ncqueenbee Posts: 147 Member
    I too have the same issue. I do well all day with my exercise and calorie intake, but love my white wine spitzers at the end of the day. I have good intentions and say I'm only going to have one, but two hours later, it's three or four. I don't drink every night, but once i start, i almost always over do it. I've lost about 35lbs in the last year and have been holding (not gaining or loosing) for the last few months. I think once i get serious about loosing the last 15lbs i'll stop altogether.
  • HeyLisa
    HeyLisa Posts: 201
    I've only been here a month but i'm doing the zig/zag calorie thing and keeping my goal of net 1400 calories a day but alternating in the week (higher/lower). I drink wine with my guy on Fridays and eat more fun (less rigid on the weekends) BUT I still count the calories.

    It has been working for me, though it takes a few days after the drinking to show on the scale (lots of bounce for a day or two).

    Its working for me (but I understand we all have unique experiences).
  • Ok i'm going to do a 30 day challenge personally. I'll create a new post so I can get more people involved. The challenge? NO ALCOHOL for 30 days! If you're interested in joining this challenge, add me to your friends! :) I think if we all do this together, maybe we could motivate each other and keep each other on track :)

    Are you up for this challenge!?? :)
  • Jenn728
    Jenn728 Posts: 683 Member
    I feel your pain. I love wine. However, alcohol slows down your metabolism like crazy so just cut it out of your diet. I did and the weight started coming off. In addition you will sleep better and just feel better all around. Yoga is an excellent idea.

    good luck!

    Last summer, I drank wine alot and didn't realize that was what was making me gain even more weight! I'm hypothyroid, so I know alcohol just causes my metabolism to come to a complete hault! Sucks!
  • msamcoates
    msamcoates Posts: 261 Member
    I'm up for the challenge ... however, when do you plan on starting??
  • msamcoates
    msamcoates Posts: 261 Member
    Also drinking and carbs are my weakness .... I know without a doubt they both are causing me not to loose weight. The weekends however are my worst enemy! I do so well during the week and them BAM, its the weekend and everything goes down hill.
  • Everyone up above is right; when you stop drinking the pounds literally fall off. Mostly it's because your liver has recovered enough to do what it's supposed to; metabolize your food. I had quit for two months before a trip to Europe (wine! ahhhh!) and I had seriously never felt better and couldn't stop the weight from falling off if I tried!

    This is why people get beer-bellies; your food calories get to your liver and it's so busy metabolizing booze that those food calories just get stored...the liver simply doesn't have time to deal with it.

    So yeah, I'm with you on the 30 day thing...and beyond. It just isn't worth it to drink when you see how things could be without alcohol.
  • Yay for people wanting to do the challenge!! RIGHT ON! :) We're starting today! :)
  • dannidomer
    dannidomer Posts: 17 Member
    I have the same struggle. I do well during the week, but loose the battle on Friday, Saturday and Sunday! Wine is my weakness. I will join the challenge!
  • AJPTRF
    AJPTRF Posts: 24
    Yep_ I am going through that to! I do drink to much, I don't drink to get drunk. If I have something to do, I am fine, if I am at home, I do it. My husband and I both really need to cut back. Switched to Bud 55 too but a person can still build their tolerance and drink quite a bit of empty cals to! If I have a few, I don't worry and can relax, I feel like my muscles can actually not tense up!
  • spngebobmyhero
    spngebobmyhero Posts: 823 Member
    I recently cut almost all of the alcohol out of my life. I have a beer on occasion, like maybe once every two weeks.

    My husband is moving toward a healthier lifestyle too, but he still drinks and so do my friends. I have found that the trick that works for me is making sure that I have something to drink while everyone else has alcohol. My choices are usually an unsweetened iced tea with lemon or a soda water with lime. If I don't get something like that to drink, I weaken and often order a beer.

    I find that I wake up easier in the morning and have more energy through out the day. You can do it!!!
  • wow !! someone else that sees drinking as a way of relaxing, i've got 4 kids and work long hours in the day so come the evening i unwind with a glass or two of wine or vodka and coke but as i write this i've just clicked when i was pregnant i always lost weight instead of gaining it and always put it on after having a baby and just realised it could be the fact i did not drink when pregnant, so i want to do join your 30 day challenge of giving the alcohol up if i can do it when pregnant i can do it now lol . good luck to u all x
  • aviduser
    aviduser Posts: 208 Member
    Drinking is killer. You will make it MUCH harder to lose the weight by ruining your healthy habits with drinking. Try to limit yourself to a glass (wine/beer) or 2 per week max.

    I know lots of folks who drink daily and they are all fat. Plus, I would want to examine my motives if I felt like I needed to have a drink every day, just to relax. Don't get me wrong, I like beer, wine, rum, scotch, etc. just as much as the next guy. (Beer used to give me wicked heartburn because of the carbonation, but that is better now that I have lost weight.) And I really do enjoy the feeling of getting a little a buzz on. But not every day.

    Living healthier is about making choices. Do you want to indulge your wicked sweet tooth (a particular issue for me) or do you want to be more active and less chubby? Do you want to drink beer or do you want to avoid having reflux that wakes you up at night? Do you want to be slim and healthy, reduce your risk for diabetes and a host of other weight-related diseases, or do you want to just eat whatever you feel like eating?

    Your diet is like your budget. Everyone knows you can't just buy whatever you want if your budget does not support that purchase. Your daily diet is the same.
  • kgool
    kgool Posts: 177 Member
    I cut my drinking to one day a week and mainly Vodka and diet tonic or Michelob Ultra, close to the Bud Select and tastes better IMHO. I usually drink on Fri or Sat and what I have done is track my calories and add that to the next day's normal workout. 5 or 6 drinks makes for some serious punishment the next day. I know it hardly balances out in the grand scheme of things, but it does make me a lot more selective about how much and when I drink. As far as sleeping on time on weeknights, I have found that tea before bed, no carbs after 5pm, and an early morning workout really helps with that issue.
  • jstrohs1
    jstrohs1 Posts: 66
    After reading these posts I decided to stop having my rum and diet coke or lite beer.....as I was just staying at one weight and not going anywhere no matter what I ate!......It seems to be working.....I lose 2 pounds this week....very strange, so I try to figure it out.
    What I found is this:

    Alcoholic drinks are full of ‘empty calories’ which means that you’re not taking in any useful nutrients. The other bad news is that alcohol is actually toxic so your body rushes to metabolise it and get it out of your system as soon as possible.

    While this sounds like a good strategy it means that while your body is processing the alcohol it’s not getting to anything else you might have eaten. Wine and cheese tastes great but if your body is processing the wine, the calories from the cheese are being stored for later use. If you keep drinking, these extra food calories need to go somewhere. You don’t get a choice where they go so it’s probably where you least want them, thighs or stomach typically seem to win.

    The other significant downside of alcohol is that it’s very dehydrating. You know what it’s like, after a few alcoholic drinks you keep having to go to the bathroom. Your body is desperately trying to flush out the toxins you’ve introduced into your system. The kidneys go into a bit of a panic and also try to retain any available water to dilute the poisonous by-products from the alcohol.

    Their more on this here: How alcohol stops you from losing weight and getting fit.......http://www.beginnerexercise.com/how-alcohol-stops-you-from-losing-weight-and-getting-fit.html
  • XFitMojoMom
    XFitMojoMom Posts: 3,255 Member
    Ok this is more of a vent than anything. I exercise every day of the week, and sometimes the weekend. I usually burn about 600 calories per day and eat very healthy. I like to drink, I have two small children and drinking at the end of the day relaxes me. I don't drink to get drunk... anyways.

    I am at that point that no matter how I exercise, the weight it staying the same and I have quite a bit to lose!!! AHHHH anyone else going through this? I even add my alcohol into my daily food and don't go above my calories. I really think its holding me back. I'm personally going to try doing yoga at night to replace my drinking, but it just sucks because I love drinking. lol

    That was me to a tee... I have a 5 year old and a 3.5 year old, both girls. They love to screech and bicker, all.day.long:explode: ALcohol was like my nightly unwind, and a bit of a sleeping pill too. Wine my most favorite...

    Then I did a personal challenge of 30 days no alcohol, no grain, no dairy... lost 6 pounds and maintained muscle mass.

    Today I only have a drink on Friday and Saturday (I usually overdo it a bit on Friday, so Saturday will maybe allow for a beer). No, or very little wine as it just turns to sugar and fat for my Insulin Resistant self. Vodka, Perrier with Lime, Blueberi Vodka and Perrier, or the occasional beer - weekends ONLY.
    I've since lost another 9 pounds. :glasses:
    Also keeping to zero grains, but allowing dairy since I love cheese so much.

    So yeah, it was really hard giving up that delicious chocolatey glass of carbernet, but the results yielded a much better taste in my mouth so I'm okay with it.

    (PS - I have a 900 bottle wine cellar in my house... this was an ABSOLUTE challenge for me... and still is on a regular basis!!)
  • RubyA2011
    RubyA2011 Posts: 66
    Im the same... i can go monday to thursday without even thinking about having a drink but friday hits and im gagging to hit the bar! then saturday afternoon/evening im bound to be in my local having a few and sunday starts all over again.

    Its the social aspect for me i hardly see grown ups all week so the pull of having the chance to go out and have a conversation with an adult and a few drinks is too much for me to fight off!
    I do drink vodka (or brandy) & diet coke mainly or i occasionally have red wine or champagne.

    I keep saying i need a month off but each time i think yep lets do it a party/function appears in my calendar and i fall at the first hurdle.

    This coming weekend ive got a friends 50th birthday Champagne lunch to attend.

    But im definately going to try harder to cut down
  • silhouettes
    silhouettes Posts: 517 Member
    Yes, everytime I drink I can't loose weight until about a week after it's out of my system. Even if it's only a drink or two.. so I don't drink very often... because even if I just drunk on the weekends I would never loose at that rate :(.
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