Alcohol and "the munchies"

bigfatbino
bigfatbino Posts: 136 Member
edited September 29 in Health and Weight Loss
I love red wine. I love it far more than I should, to the tune of a bottle every few days. I am hoping that someone would be able to tell me why it is that when I have even just a few sips of my beloved red grapes, that I feel tremendous and dire urges to eat TONS of food. I am sure I could google this and get some kind of robo-response, but someone with experience with this, and how to avoid it (i.e. enjoying my wine earlier and in smaller amounts to not feel deprived, or something.

I have successfully given up BEER, but wine is proving much more difficult, and if anyone can give me some help on avoiding these intense cravings after having even a little wine, I would be very appreciative.

Pointless Lament: WHY does wine have to contribute so many calories?? Grrrrrrr.

Replies

  • danielle4992
    danielle4992 Posts: 72 Member
    I ALWAYS give in to the drunk munchies.... so I'm not going to be of any help lol.. .just want to you know you are not alone~
  • Kym1610
    Kym1610 Posts: 328 Member
    I can't really tell the why, but I try and have my first glass just before dinner say about 30min before I eat and then have the rest as I am eating dinner
  • Mrsjones172
    Mrsjones172 Posts: 69 Member
    I get the same problem. The minute I have a drink.....there I am raiding the food cupboards!! I too can't be much help but was kinda glad to see your post so I am also not alone. I think for me to really succeed at weight loss I need to give up the booze!
    Every week I am super good and determined then the weekend lands and it all goes to pot!

    Best of luck with battling the munchies,

    Claire
  • dmaster555
    dmaster555 Posts: 73
    Your best bet is to admit you have an addiction and try to stop it. That way, you can forget wine and just be on your diet easier.
  • dcmat
    dcmat Posts: 1,723 Member
    My wife and I used to drink about 3 bottles a week between us, but since losing weight it is down to about a bottle every two weeks, if that. What really worked was to buy a more expensive bottle and only have a [normal sized] glass. The bottle lasts longer and you spend less on wine.
  • cheshirechic
    cheshirechic Posts: 489 Member
    I've had the same problem. BUT...I try to drink a glass WITH dinner (which is usually portioned, anyway) so that I'm already eating with my wine. I also keep high-maintenance snacks around-- meaning that, if I really want them, I have to do some prep work.

    I'm interested to read what others are writing, too!
  • Lauren38570
    Lauren38570 Posts: 239
    Guess im one of the different people but im not hungry at all after drinking
  • Kagard11
    Kagard11 Posts: 396 Member
    Same problem here! Did this last night-shameful!!!!!!!
  • Fattack
    Fattack Posts: 666 Member
    I have exactly the same problem. I just have to accept that when I drink, I will overeat. I've tried everything - saving calories for the after-drink pig out, drinking less and the only thing that has worked calorie-wise is NOT drinking unless I'm drinking with a meal.
  • RoanneRed
    RoanneRed Posts: 429 Member
    My problem's more the 'Hangover Munchies' - I've been known to forget to eat while actually drinking.
  • BeverageTreats
    BeverageTreats Posts: 149 Member
    It could be any number of factors conspiring. Maybe the pH of your stomach decreases, leading you to experience your stomach feeling as hunger. Maybe you already were hungry or wanted to overeat, and the lowering of inhibitions brings it forward in your mind. Maybe over the years you have conditioned yourself to a sort of Pavlovian response, where the stomach "thinks" that when alcohol comes, food will follow. And so on.

    Maybe try just switching up the timing, or prepare beforehand a portioned snack to go with your wine, drink it right after you exercised and had your protein replacement, etc. Just try to change things up and make sure you're well nourished in general.
  • dopehat
    dopehat Posts: 33 Member
    Yes I have the same problem, you're certainly not alone!! I get the munchies when I've had a glass or two and it's reeeeally hard to not eat! I've so far managed to refrain from buying take-out (I used to get it every weekend when I drank) but now I tend to have crackers and stuff. I'm still wanting to solve that issue! And also I tend to eat a lot more carelessly the next day if I'm hungover :( I think the answer is to cut down / stop drinking! I usually drink Jack Daniels & Coke (my fave drink ever)... So many calories :(
  • abzbargs
    abzbargs Posts: 100 Member
    I had one large glass of cava last night, the first in over 2 weeks, and I could not stop eating. Before I was about to break into the biscuits, I took a couple of mini milks out of the freezer. Those worked a treat. If only I had eaten them sooner. For me, I've decided to just drink when out socialising as the cava plays havoc with my healthy lifestyle.
  • CARNAT22
    CARNAT22 Posts: 764 Member
    I am another wine drinker / muncher :-(

    I still haven't found the solution to be honest so I tend to steer clear of wine [I still have a few glasses here and there but it really is a 'treat' nowadays!]

    As well as pciking when I drink, I find I get the most awful hangover munchies as well, so all in all drinking just isn't condusive to my weightloss plan.

    I do still drink (once a week and average) but I try to stick to vodka and diet coke. I also make sure I exercise enough to earn some extra calories and I make sure I have some healthy snacks on hand for nibbling [rice cakes, or some low cal crisps - under 100 cals, or some hummus and crudites].

    I also try to make sure I do not drink too much - that way I go straight back to my healthy plan the next day.....
  • smex14
    smex14 Posts: 48
    I had a can of cider and ended up eating marmalade from the jar - weird sugar bender. Won't be doing that again...
  • jo_marnes
    jo_marnes Posts: 1,601 Member
    Oh thankgod it's not just me!!!

    Wine = shovel face full of food

    My Friday nights are appalling (and thus never logged, hahahaha). I get together with the girls every Friday for drinks.... standard is a bottle each per Friday. AND we all take nibbles so a gut full of crap I'd never eat any other time. And then yes, Saturday is hangover and more eating and eating and eating.

    So - this last weekend I had to do my Sunday run (half marathon training) and it was awful - body moaned, stomach hurt... general awfulness. So I decided NOT TO DRINK ANY ALCOHOL (eek, omg, help) until the race - 28th August. I reckon this will be a bigger challenge than the run, lol. Wish me luck!!
  • sheer_abulous
    sheer_abulous Posts: 25
    I love myself a drink on a friday or saturday, so if I know I'm going to have a drink, I tend to beat the booze munchies by being extra good and eating smaller meals in the day, saving cals for the boozy night, that way you won't go over...in theory. works for me anyway!
  • mssweetjay
    mssweetjay Posts: 142
    Our body starts to dehydrate when we drink wine or alcohol. When we urinate we are losing high level of body water and salt which leaves our body craving something with salt and fat in it. I understand this big time. This is the reason why I don't keep any wine or alcohol in my home. I only drink it when I go out every once in a while. Hope this helps
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