Alcohol

colors_fade wrote: »

cwolfman13 wrote: »

And, if the OP can truly contain that to one or two, there is actually a lot of evidence that actually show health benefits to drinking in alcohol in moderation...

I've read studies that link red wine to health benefits, but never just blanket "alcohol".

cwolfman13 wrote: »

But like I said...likely you are a prohibitionist...

There's a lot of valid reasons to cut alcohol out of your diet when trying to drop weight, and they have nothing to do with the calories in the alcohol. Many people struggle with self-control when they drink, and end up eating more calories as a result. It's a simple fact that alcohol impairs cognitive thinking, and for a lot of people maintaining a calorie deficit is already difficult enough when sober.

I am no prohibitionist, so don't even think I'm against drinking. But I've learned the hard way - I'll be more successful on a calorie deficit if I don't drink. I think this is a safe bet for most people.

The OP asked if it's possible. My answer would be: yes, "possible", but it will be harder. And losing weight, or body fat, is already hard enough.

And there's something else to consider as well: alcoholism. If you can't stop drinking to facilitate weight loss, you may have a very legitimate problem for which you should seek professional help.

I think I addressed all of that in my original post...I too have a much easier time and I stated that...I also stated that it was possible which was the actual question.

z4oslo said nothing to justify any position...just that everyone was stupid, etc and that's what I was responding to...sounds very much like an alcohol is evil prohibitionist...I know a few...

Asher_Ethan wrote: »

I drink a glass of wine or 2 most every night and I've been losing fine.
I gave up drinking for a month for my marathon training but I turned into this huge witch towards my husband and kids. So for everyone's sanity, i need my one or 2 glasses of wine every night.

Girl if that's what gets you through I'm not mad atcha! LOL!

for sure, go work it off

z4oslo wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

z4oslo wrote: »

Is drinking a beer or two everyday really that important in a very short period of your life you are trying to lose weight, and improve your health?

Dont worry, someone further down in this thread will tell you you are fine - you can drink as much beer as you want, as long as it fits your calories.
Someone will probably also point out that you dont need to exercise to lose weight.

What is the point of this post?

Do you disagree that one will lose weight in a calorie deficit even if one is drinking beer?

Do you disagree that one can lose weight without exercise?

If OP brought the question to the doctor. You think the doctor would say: Sure, as long as it fits your calories?

Most physicians would not have the knowledge required to make an informed statement on weight loss. Most of my colleagues would say something to the effect "Sure, just drink in moderation".

So a beer belly is just over consumption of calories that turns into fat in the midsection? Why do men have bigger beer bellies than woman, who also over consume calories.

danjbadassery wrote: »

gbggurl91 wrote: »

Can you drink a beer or two almost everyday and still lose weight if you exercise and watch what you eat?

I would read on the effects of alcohol on the metabolism. Since alcohol cannot be stored in the body it must be processed and your liver will be working on that and not the food you have consumed. Google it and read from a reputable web site

I don't understand what this has to do with anything. Whatever order alcohol and food get processed, in the end whatever goes into our system gets digested and the energy is used or stored as needed.

I have a glass of wine with dinner most nights. For me one glass is enough and I don't often have a second unless it's a social situation. I don't find that one glass has any impact on my food choices, but more than a couple and I want all the food :-)

I have to chuckle at those that say that alcohol is calorie dense...at one point during my weight loss endeavors I cut alcohol but replaced it with soda/pop (clearly before calorie counting). A bottle of light beer = 100 calories or less. A can of full octane (not diet/not sugar free) soda/pop = at least 150 calories; a bottle = over 200 calories. Does anyone see the problem here? Soda is way more "calorie dense" than light beer or most alcohols.

I typically have a couple of light beers (a bottle is 95-100 calories or less) or a couple of glasses of wine (5 oz = 125 calories) or a couple of my 'skinny' cocktails (typically involving a shot of a flavored (watermelon, raspberry or orange) vodka (~97 calories) and the rest of a flavored seltzer water (0 calories), or a shot of Jim Beam (97 calories) and Coke Zero) each evening/night. I'll sometimes make my wine into spritzers with 0 calorie seltzer water, so I feel like I'm drinking more volume (but also found the added side benefit of not feeling as bad the next morning if I cut my wine with seltzer water on days when I do go a bit overboard). So yea, that's about 200-250 non-nutrient dense alcoholic calories per day. Hasn't really affected me for losing weight because I'm typically still under my calorie goals (usually because I have some big calorie burns from my workouts).

BTW, years ago when I talked to my doctor about the possibility of me having an alcohol problem (my Dad had a bit of a issue), he laughed and told me that as a female, I could have up to 2 glasses a day without having to worry (for men it was one or two more, but I don't remember what he told me). Much more than that, and yea, it was time to be a little concerned, but up to 2 and I was okay. So, I try to keep it at two, unless it's a special occasion, and then sometimes I splurge (which he also said was fine to do once in a while).

Maybe because it is part of my routine to have a drink or two in the evening, I don't think I make any worse eating choices than normal...some of my normal choices aren't the best, but I make them while sober. But I could see how you might make bad choices if you got stinking drunk every night. Everything in moderation!

Two glasses of what? As far as I know it is recommended for women to not drink more than 20 grams of alcohol per day. Depending on the size already one glas of wine is over that limit. Limit for men is slightly higher at 30grams.

Siran12001 wrote: »

Two glasses of what? As far as I know it is recommended for women to not drink more than 20 grams of alcohol per day. Depending on the size already one glas of wine is over that limit. Limit for men is slightly higher at 30grams.

A standard pour of wine is 5 ounces, well under 20 grams of alcohol.

Like everyone said, yes, but for me.with such a low calories allowance, I get tired ifni replace lets say 200 of my 1200 calories with 2 Lites instead of nutritious food. Turns out my body needs more from what i ingest then just calories. So i generally abstain, unless I've done enough exercise to have 1300 or 1400 calories. I lose weight faster if I have none.

b3achy wrote: »

I have to chuckle at those that say that alcohol is calorie dense...at one point during my weight loss endeavors I cut alcohol but replaced it with soda/pop (clearly before calorie counting). A bottle of light beer = 100 calories or less. A can of full octane (not diet/not sugar free) soda/pop = at least 150 calories; a bottle = over 200 calories. Does anyone see the problem here? Soda is way more "calorie dense" than light beer or most alcohols.

I typically have a couple of light beers (a bottle is 95-100 calories or less) or a couple of glasses of wine (5 oz = 125 calories) or a couple of my 'skinny' cocktails (typically involving a shot of a flavored (watermelon, raspberry or orange) vodka (~97 calories) and the rest of a flavored seltzer water (0 calories), or a shot of Jim Beam (97 calories) and Coke Zero) each evening/night. I'll sometimes make my wine into spritzers with 0 calorie seltzer water, so I feel like I'm drinking more volume (but also found the added side benefit of not feeling as bad the next morning if I cut my wine with seltzer water on days when I do go a bit overboard). So yea, that's about 200-250 non-nutrient dense alcoholic calories per day. Hasn't really affected me for losing weight because I'm typically still under my calorie goals (usually because I have some big calorie burns from my workouts).

BTW, years ago when I talked to my doctor about the possibility of me having an alcohol problem (my Dad had a bit of a issue), he laughed and told me that as a female, I could have up to 2 glasses a day without having to worry (for men it was one or two more, but I don't remember what he told me). Much more than that, and yea, it was time to be a little concerned, but up to 2 and I was okay. So, I try to keep it at two, unless it's a special occasion, and then sometimes I splurge (which he also said was fine to do once in a while).

Maybe because it is part of my routine to have a drink or two in the evening, I don't think I make any worse eating choices than normal...some of my normal choices aren't the best, but I make them while sober. But I could see how you might make bad choices if you got stinking drunk every night. Everything in moderation!

My problem with alcohol is I prefer it with ice cream. And caramel. And more ice cream I'm going to try making your skinny cocktails, those sound good!