Alcohol
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Alcohol is just a different source of calories. You can eat Snickers bars and drink vodka and still lose weight. Wouldn't recommend it because of what it would do to your body but you have to look at it this way a calorie is a calorie as far as weight loss.
To put things in perspective started my weight-loss Journey January 1st 2016. Lost 80 lb in approximately 8 months and I've been basically maintaining for 10-plus months.
In 2016 I went on vacation 3 times each time I drank too much I ate too much there were days in fact multiple days where I drank my calorie limit. I still managed to lose weight during that time and I've also maintained it during that time.
For this to work this has to be a lifetime commitment and it has to be sustainable. If you give up stuff you enjoy it won't work. I still enjoy the occasional Wendy's hamburger slice of pizza and beers on the beach if I had to give those things up I could have never done it1 -
I've never had a drinking problem exactly, I can stop at 1-2, so I don't tell myself I can never have a drink. But I never drink anymore; it was interfering with my sleep, my energy, my ability to make healthy food choices. It always makes me gain. Sleep was the biggest factor for me; so I avoid alcohol these days and the weight loss/maintenance has been a million times easier. Plus my life got easier.5
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JustDoIt987 wrote: »Do you guys manage to drink alcohol and still maintain your weight? How often do you drink and what do you usually drink? Yesterday I drank 5 glasses diet coke with vodka and 2 shots of whiskey , but then I got really hungry and ended up eating A LOT ! Hopefully it wont show that much on the scale !
Of course! As long as it fits in your plan why wouldn't you? I drink a glass or two a couple nights a week and maybe about 3.5 glasses on weekends unless it's a planned event (birthday party/graduation party etc).2 -
I'm not one of the people who can drink and keep within my calorie limit. When I drink, I eat. I pretty much cut alcohol out of my diet. Honestly, I don't miss it.
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STEVE142142 wrote: »Alcohol is just a different source of calories....
For this to work this has to be a lifetime commitment and it has to be sustainable. If you give up stuff you enjoy it won't work. I still enjoy the occasional Wendy's hamburger slice of pizza and beers on the beach if I had to give those things up I could have never done it
Yes, this!
I drink a beer (and not usually a light one, either) probably 5 days a week. There's nothing better after a hot run, LOL! But, I almost never have more than one, maybe on a weekend I'll have two. So, it's about moderation and of course, I log them all.
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I am like you when it comes to drinking with pals. I stick with grilled vegetables and fruits with drinks and I keep eating while drinking. It helps the next day on the scale.1
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JustDoIt987 wrote: »Do you guys manage to drink alcohol and still maintain your weight? How often do you drink and what do you usually drink? Yesterday I drank 5 glasses diet coke with vodka and 2 shots of whiskey , but then I got really hungry and ended up eating A LOT ! Hopefully it wont show that much on the scale !
If it doesn't show up on the scale where do you think it's going to show up? 455-700(depends on proof) calories has to go somewhere.
Yes I drink ALCOHOL and I've been losing weight since April, but it's been showing up on my scale as 16 extra POUNDS I could've lost since last April.
I think one of these days I'm going to be sick and tired of being sick and tired.4 -
dieselbyte wrote: »The issue with alcohol is two-fold. While technically its 7kcals/gram, our bodies view it as a toxin, and works actively to metabolize or excrete it, stalling the metabolism of other foods.
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This doesn't make sense to me. What difference does it make what order your body metabolizes calories? If you eat 100 calories, 50 protein, 50 fat, or you eat (and drink) 100 calories, 40 protein, 40 fat, 20 alcohol... aren't the CICO results the same?
You *might* get more micronutrients from the protein/fat food combo, but that depends on what you eat. If you're already getting the micros you need, I don't see what the problem would be.5 -
I drink just one beer at a time - generally/ only on Friday and Saturday nights.
I add the beer to my daily calorie allowance at the start of those days. This ensures I have minimal chance of exceeding the calorie count for that day.
(I've been on maintenance/ slowly losing routine for about the last year.)0 -
I have started to drink once every 9 days. Keeps tolerance down so I drink less and I spend a lot less money.
I'm a drunk eater too. Like eat an entire bag of family sized Doritos in 30 minutes. I know it is gross. But I eat less if I have a small meal before I drink.
Just moderate. That's the most important thing.2 -
I like to keep it small and in moderation. I love a glass of wine with dinner but i only do that if I'm out. I also make sure the food i eat is low in carbs and sugar. Most alcohol is high in both.
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Thank you guys for your awesome support and help !0
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If you know its not helping achieve your goals.... why would do it. You owe it to yourself stay dedicated and motivated. I think drinking puts a step back. quit almost year ago. was very fit, 6.7 % Bf% onw of those people who could drink cuy, but in the long run metabolism will slow down, liver too yeast build up is horrible for stomach.6
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I can't seem to do it. I can usually work the calories into my daily or weekly allowance but I can't seem to keep my fingers out of the cookie jar once I've got a beer or two inside me.2
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hj_man7211 wrote: »I like to keep it small and in moderation. I love a glass of wine with dinner but i only do that if I'm out. I also make sure the food i eat is low in carbs and sugar. Most alcohol is high in both.
Most alcohol is relatively low in carbs and sugar. Beer can be high in carbs and mixers may be high in carbs/sugar, but distilled liquors and wine are usually pretty low. Sweet wines will have more but dry wines have very little.1 -
Let's remember if you eat before, alcohol will not hit you as hard. I remember college girls would not eat before a night of drinking, so they would have the calories. They would be drunk off their *kitten* and do stupid things.2
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I drink one or two beers or a glass of wine a couple of times a week. I have two major indulgences - beer and ice cream. If I'm trying to lose weight, I stop both, because they are both luxuries. If I exercise enough I can have one or the other, rarely both. It's a trade-off. If I drink more I have to eat less. I like to eat. I also like the occasional drink, but I can live without it.0
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clicketykeys wrote: »dieselbyte wrote: »The issue with alcohol is two-fold. While technically its 7kcals/gram, our bodies view it as a toxin, and works actively to metabolize or excrete it, stalling the metabolism of other foods.
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This doesn't make sense to me. What difference does it make what order your body metabolizes calories? If you eat 100 calories, 50 protein, 50 fat, or you eat (and drink) 100 calories, 40 protein, 40 fat, 20 alcohol... aren't the CICO results the same?
You *might* get more micronutrients from the protein/fat food combo, but that depends on what you eat. If you're already getting the micros you need, I don't see what the problem would be.
Yes, CICO results are the same, but that wasn't my point. The point I was making wasn't solely about order of calories metabolized. OP stated he drank a lot, then made poor food decisions on top of that. My first point was about excess calories from alcohol coupled with excess calories from food. Order does not matter, I was just illustrating how not factoring alcohol into your plan can lead to unwanted results.1 -
I actually believe alcohol attributed to my 15lb weight gain. I was eating about the same for the exception of my drinking.
I did HOWEVER go out drinking on Sunday. I lost 6 pounds that night. My skin looked fabulous too, BUT it was obviously dehydration. As soon as I drank a couple of cups of water it was back up 6 lbs and a very puffy face.
I've had the worst trouble cutting alcohol from my diet. Usually giving in to one drink or two a week which coincidentally not loosing any weight either.0
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