Bye bye red wine...

motiv8td18
motiv8td18 Posts: 14 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I am a 33 y/o female, 5'4 and about 45 lbs overweight. I am not a greasy food and sweets girl, I do lean towards carbs at times. My big pitfall however is red wine. Sadly to say, stress and boredom caught up to me and over the past few years I have gone to a couple glasses of wine most nights to a bottle or more per night for the last 8 or so months. Bad bad news.

I decided enough was enough when nothing in my closet fit the other night and finally realized I must stop this habit. I have not had a glass in two days (Sunday I had one 8 oz glass) and plan to limit it to one glass per night on weekends only. Surprisingly, I am not physically craving it, it's just different not doing it because it was such a (bad) routine for several years.

I want to lose about 40-45 lbs but am worried significantly or completely stopping the wine intake will not kick start the weight drop. I also do 15 min of strength training and 20 minutes of cardio 6 days per week.

In addition to watching the carbs and not replacing the wine calories with sweets or carbs what does everyone recommend for success? I found this motivation out of nowhere a few weeks ago and finally want to be slim and fit as I was in my 20s!!

Replies

  • ccsernica
    ccsernica Posts: 1,040 Member
    Carbs or no carbs, wine or no wine, the key to losing weight is to take in more calories than you burn. Naturally, you need to eat enough real food to get the nutrition you need, and some people find that if they eat too much in carbs they don't feel sated, which drives them to eat more. And then there are medical reasons why folks might want to limit this or that macro. But in general, just keep you calories in less than your calories out and you should lose weight.

    That's the what, and @samanthaluangphixay has already told you how.

    I definitely don't recommend a full bottle per night. Even back when I was 22 and indestructible, that kind of thing was an occasional indulgence only.
  • motiv8td18
    motiv8td18 Posts: 14 Member
    edited February 2017
    Thank you everyone for the support. What has been the best strategy for tracking progress.... daily weights, weekly, or occasionally? On the web I have seen recommendations go in different directions.
  • chrismellor01
    chrismellor01 Posts: 77 Member
    I liked my wine and pretty much like you - was having probably a bottle a day.

    I've also stopped with it. Maybe just one bottle now over the weekend (although as suggested above - abstinence is probably a better way to go).

    What to replace it with?

    Green tea. Lemon & Ginger in boiling water (I refuse to call that a tea :smile: ). Plain water.

    Personally I don't do diet drinks.

    Cutting out the wine/booze does make a big difference although it may take a week or so to really begin to appreciate this. Probably more importantly, you will sleep better and feel generally much happier :smiley: .

    Also, exercise where you can. Your liver will thank you for it.
  • pinksparklefairy
    pinksparklefairy Posts: 97 Member
    I weigh myself every day because I find it interesting, but it may be a bit obsessive for some. And you have to accept that sometimes your weight might go up for no apparent reason.

    If you would rather, you can wait for seven days or even a month to see what difference the change has made ... it's up to you really, what suits you best.
  • ZephieC
    ZephieC Posts: 162 Member
    My motivation sort of came out of nowhere too. I have been at it for a month now and dropped 10 lbs and 6". Mainly through keeping to my calories. I am working on being more active but I consider that a bonus. I have never been fit in my life. Slim but not healthy. What keeps me going is how unbelievably good I have been feeling in the last month. I personally weigh myself as much as I want but I only count the number officially on Monday mornings. I also take measurements on the 1st of the month and take pictures on the 15th of the month...at least that is my plan. You really do have to find what works for you and what you are comfortable with. I have also really tried to increase the amount of water I drink and added some fruity herbal teas for when I want more flavor. (I like it hot and cold) Sounds like you are off to a good start...good luck!
  • sammyliftsandeats
    sammyliftsandeats Posts: 2,421 Member
    If you weigh in daily, I would suggest a trend tracking app such as Happy Scale for iOS and Libra for Android. You log your weight and watch the overall trend. If it is going down, you're good.

    I would weigh under the same conditions daily. I weigh when I wake up after I use the bathroom.
  • nicruns
    nicruns Posts: 201 Member
    Count me in as another who is impressed with your commitment to cut WAY back on the wine!
    (that's something I'm working on as well.)
    I'm not a big tea person, but I found an herbal tea I really like (aveda comfort tea-- or something like that!) and have switched to that at night.

    Well... let's be honest-- switched to that during the week!
    Weekends, I'm with you: I like a glass then too!
  • Tacklewasher
    Tacklewasher Posts: 7,122 Member
    I like wine so I've cut back, but not completely cut it out. I fit it in my calories and take it easy.
    I weigh daily, but that is strictly a personal preference.
    Put your stats in MF and read the stickys. Take some time to learn what weight loss is all about and it will start to make sense.
  • ccsernica
    ccsernica Posts: 1,040 Member
    Tacklewasher wrote: »
    ccsernica wrote: »
    Carbs or no carbs, wine or no wine, the key to losing weight is to take in more calories than you burn.

    Oh if only that was true......

    (Sorry, you're typo made me laugh). :)

    Derp.
  • CattOfTheGarage
    CattOfTheGarage Posts: 2,745 Member
    There is no need to "kick start" weight loss or do weirdly specific things. Just track your calories. You may find cutting down the wine reduces your calories enough to lose weight without any other changes (quite likely). Or you may find you need to reduce your portion sizes or cut down on something else. The only way to find out is to track it and see.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories