Alcohol, caloric deficit, and weight loss. Simple or not so simple?

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  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited May 2016
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  • kportmanshark
    kportmanshark Posts: 34 Member
    Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
    I'm usually a couple of pounds up the day after drinking (and it also happens after a 30 mile bike ride or a similar long cardio).

    Do you tend to eat more sodium when drinking?
  • perkymommy
    perkymommy Posts: 1,642 Member
    edited May 2016
    I drink vodka and OJ a few evenings per week. It actually decreases my appetite and dries me out so I don't gain.
  • AlyssaPetsDogs
    AlyssaPetsDogs Posts: 421 Member
    kportmanshark wrote: »
    [

    Good on you. Around here you order wine in a restaurant you'll get way more than 6oz, that's what I was implying. But you are absolutely right, the smart dedicated people at home that measure it will be fine. Still poison, and still worse than having 130 good calories, but reasonable in calories.

    Also goes back to when your huge you can sneak in 150-300kcal in a day easy because your TDEE is massive, but people trying to get into the lower normal BMI range don't have that room except in great moderation.

    I have a good 40-50 pounds to lose and I'm on the "aggressive" 2 pounds per week plans So I get 1420 calories per day, so I will definitely keep this in mind - I guess I'll see what the 1 or 2 drinks do to me and accommodate accordingly.
  • rsclause
    rsclause Posts: 3,103 Member
    I drink daily and can maintain if I keep food under control. If I run in the morning most days I can lose consistently.
  • kportmanshark
    kportmanshark Posts: 34 Member
    alyssadanielle2493 wrote: »
    I guess I'll see what the 1 or 2 drinks do to me and accommodate accordingly.

    Great idea. It's a marathon not a sprint. You can try different things and see how your weight loss progresses. If something doesn't work, can always adjust it.

    That said, if you are already eating only 1420kcal per day - then to get all the nutrition, vitamins and minerals you need, every useful calorie counts. Say you have two glasses of wine (5oz ones like you measure), that's 1420kcal - 260kcal = 1160kcal left for quality food! Not very much!

  • vismal
    vismal Posts: 2,463 Member
    kportmanshark wrote: »
    vismal wrote: »
    Alcohol doesn't "for sure slow you down". While it is true that when alcohol is present in the body it will be prioritized and fat oxidation will cease, once the alcohol is burned off, the body will resume burning fat as normal. For this reason, if you account for the calories in alcohol fat loss is not affected. If you typically eat 2000 calories a day and decide to have 300 calories worth of alcohol, you are only slowed down if you do not reduce food intake to compensate. CICO still applies. Alcohol does not change anything.

    It does though. It is the first fuel to be used when combined with carbohydrates, fats and proteins, postponing the fat-burning process and contributing to greater fat storage. So while your body deals with the alcohol, it isn't dealing with the fat being stored.

    Absolutely CICO still applies, but alcohol is empty calories and if you are trying to get reasonably thin you sure can't drink much and still get the nutrition you need.

    On another point against alcohol (and again, I still drink sometimes), when I was fatter I could still drop weight and drink with some frequency, but once in a reasonable BMI I can't anymore. If I have two beers, that essentially takes a 1600kcal budget and reduces it to 1300kcal of actual food.
    You are only looking at fat oxidation immediately after consumption of alcohol. Yes, during that period of time oxidation stops but that is more or less irrelevant. As nordlead pointed out, any time preferred fuel enters the system be it alcohol, carbs, etc, fat oxidation slows/stops. Ultimately if you burn more calories per day than you consume, you must use stored fuel to make up for the deficit. Ingestion of alcohol does not change this or slow it down. If you eat 2000 calories a day and burn 2500 calories a day you must use 500 calories worth of stored fuel. If you eat 1500 calories a day, drink 500 calories worth of alcohol a day and burn 2500 calories you are left with the exact same deficit and fat loss is not slowed. Your point about alcohol and nutrients is valid but has nothing to do with total fat loss being slowed by alcohol. Further, if you only drink once or twice a week, you should certainly be able to still eat a diet rich enough in micronutrients to meet all your requirements.
  • Tofuli
    Tofuli Posts: 79 Member
    I drank at least once a week throughout my weight loss (in maintenance now) and lost consistently. I would occasionally binge drink and have at least a couple of drinks a few nights a week. I ate a little bit less but didn't find it affected my losses much. In fact I read something about alcohol leaving your system much quicker than other food/drink, so the calories are not metabolised as well.
  • robot_potato
    robot_potato Posts: 1,535 Member
    If it fits in your calories and you also eat food , you'll be fine. If your goal is 1600 and you consume 1600 in beer plus some vodka gummy bears, you won't be fine. Life lessons.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    kportmanshark wrote: »
    Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
    I'm usually a couple of pounds up the day after drinking (and it also happens after a 30 mile bike ride or a similar long cardio).

    Do you tend to eat more sodium when drinking?

    I don't tend to eat any different.

    I also weigh more after I fly.
  • AlyssaPetsDogs
    AlyssaPetsDogs Posts: 421 Member
    pbprincess wrote: »
    If it fits in your calories and you also eat food , you'll be fine. If your goal is 1600 and you consume 1600 in beer plus some vodka gummy bears, you won't be fine. Life lessons.

    Vodka gummy bears!!! Omg it has been so long! That's a great idea too :)
  • sunnybeaches105
    sunnybeaches105 Posts: 2,831 Member
    I cannot get really lean while drinking and there is some indication that alcohol inhibits muscle growth. I'd love for anyone with the education and expertise to do so tell me these studies are FoS and why. Please?!

    I enjoy my drinks, but let's not kid ourselves that alcohol is like any other macro. In strict moderation you may be fine. I personally find that it is difficult for me to hit my macro goals and drink. I also want to eat more when I drink. As a result, I only drink socially and try to take breaks.
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