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Drinking and weight loss

I've found that when I have a glass of wine with a meal, even though I'm within my alloted calorie count overall, my weight goes up when I weigh in that week. I never have more than two glasses, and then only once or twice a week. I don't want to be a tetotaller. How do others handle drinking and dieting?

Wed. Jun 21, 9:01am

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I used to have 2 - 3 glasses several times a week. I knew it was impeding my weight loss, not only because of the calories but because of how I felt the next morning. It was just enough to make me dehydrated and unmotivated. So I decided to quit drinking for 7 days. (I've done this with other things too). It was more of an experiment, to see how I felt. The first few days were so hard. I ate to replace the calories and felt like I was going to gain weight but after that, my appetite calmed down. I got SO much energy that week. I didn't feel lethargic getting out of bed. The feeling I had was so much better than reaching for a glass of wine, and this made me continue. My weight started going down which was even more motivation. Drinking always made it easier to have dessert, easier to say, ah, another peice of bread, who cares, I'm out having fun. I'm not against drinking by any means but I do know it doesn't work well for me anymore and remembering the feeling of waking up cranky and lethargic is usually enough to say, hey, it's not worth it tonight.

Wednesday, June 21, 2006, 9:13 AM

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I find the same. I've been cutting back on drinking because i've been trying to get pregnant and it has made a major difference. any time i have a couple of beers it seems that overnight my weight goes up (it goes back down again eventually). Another thing i've found is that when i drink more, i eat more because i lose my inhibitions. it's a lot easier to justify dessert when i've had a glass of wine. so, i'm just trying to continue to cut way back on alcohol.

Wednesday, June 21, 2006, 10:45 AM

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I went out last night and my 4 friends all had 2 large beers each. I drank my ice water. It's boring and sometimes I wish I still could drink beer and still feel good about myself but overall I feel so good knowing that I fuel my body with healthy choices. Plus, it's been so long since I would randomly drink that they all know I'm not going to and will get me water automatically.

Wednesday, June 21, 2006, 11:30 AM

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You might want to try JUST having your wine on the weekend. I stopped drinking altogether during the week and it has helped a lot. Now I look forward to coming home on Friday night and having a beer or whatever without worrying about it. For me it was just the dehydration I felt the next day. It made my workouts hard to get through.
Just a suggestion! Hope it helps!

Wednesday, June 21, 2006, 11:33 AM

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I find that if I let myself have some wine with dinner I skip the dessert and eat a little less.

I stopped drinking for like 3 monthes during the spring and I actually gained weight cause I ate dessert every now and then. Also I like having a drink every now and then and stopping made me miserable. So I think I ate to make up for it. Now when I drink I know to balance my eating the way I did before I quit and I am back to my normal weight too.

Wednesday, June 21, 2006, 11:39 AM

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If you can have a glass or two of wine (120 to 240 calories) and still stay within your calorie alottment, maybe there is something that you're missing, like enough proteins or fiber or fats or vitamins or somehting, that would help you. Or, maybe you're allowing yourself too many calories per day, and you need to cut back.

I honestly can't imagine having an extra 240 calories left over any day!

Also, do you ever skip workouts b/c you had wine wiht dinner? I don't do this (b/c I really don't drink, but that's by choice, unrelated), but my fiance does. He'll have a plan to go to the gym, but then he'll have a beer with dinner, and he doesn't want to go lift after that b/c he doesn't want to increase the chance of doing it improperly and hurting himself. He's skinny and it doesn't matter, but just a thought.

Maybe tell yourself that on days when you have a glass of wine, you'll also go for a nice walk after dinner with the hubby or a friend or whomever, and then you'll come home and drink a big glass of water. Or take a water bottle on the walk and sip. It's a nice activity, and it should help with the weight loss.

Wednesday, June 21, 2006, 2:31 PM

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I read an article in Vogue while waiting at the nail salon, so I have no idea how old it was, however, the author avoided alcohol for a month, and found her physical performance at the gym increased substantially. According to her, most athletes will avoid alcohol when training for a specific event. So, if your body is running better without the alcohol, then you're more likely to burn more calories.

While red wine may have some heart benefits, fact is alcohol itself isn't really great for your body.

Wednesday, June 21, 2006, 2:35 PM

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I find it very tough not to have alcohol. Don't start preaching about being an alcoholic, I am sure that I am considered that but more so "functional alcoholic" . I almost feel that my life is not full since this is my one pleasure and I can't have it because I would rather lose weight.

Am I alone feeling resentful about this?

Wednesday, June 21, 2006, 3:10 PM

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I am a firm believer that you can have both. I have been dieting for a long time and I still have alcohol in my diet and continue to lose weight. Have you tried other types of drinks? I drink rum and diet which is pretty low in calories or vodka with light cranberry juice? I don't go overboard but I don't want to give it up either. Why should you have to?
I agree with the above poster that maybe you need to also cut back on calories? Could that be the problem or are you sure it's from the alcohol?

Wednesday, June 21, 2006, 3:25 PM

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I too drink wine somewhat regularly and although I've cut the amount back a bit I find that I can have a bit of a lovely red with dinner and still lose weight. I've always been into gormet cooking, and since I've been focusing on weight loss I find that those skills have helped me figure out how to prepare healthful meals that still taste like something you'd find in an elegant restaurant. However to me a nice glass of good wine makes the meal 'complete'. Therefore I try to limit myself to half a glass and I savor each sip. If the meal doesn't call for it though I don't have it just because I'm accustomed to drinking it (that's kind of an easy trap to fall into). Friday nights are 'off' - I usually go out, do not limit what I order (although I don't pig out) and I have a full glass of wine if it goes well with the entree.

The "all things in moderation' approach works really well for me though, so you'll have to decide for yourself if you can continue to fit wine into your dinner and continue to lose. I'm also not the type who relaxes or loses my inhibitions when I drink so that's another factor that allows me to be comfortable with smaller amounts.

Wednesday, June 21, 2006, 3:41 PM

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To the 3:10pm poster - it sounds like you enjoy drinking to the point of intoxication (I'm sorry if I'm wrong), which is quite a few calories! And, it sounds like you may also be depressed - as you say it's your one joy, and many things should give you joy! Good job on kicking the habit in order to lose weight, I'm sure that takes a TON of motivation!! Help yourself though. Talk to your doctor about your unhappiness, and he/she may have some suggestions for you that help you to find joy in things other than alcohol! Life's too short to spend it miserable!!!

Wednesday, June 21, 2006, 4:56 PM

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I find that if I drink wine on the weekends it does slow my weight loss so i work out extra hard during the week. Also I skip drinking wine on weekends once in a while to kick it up a notch. Bottom line: you have to reduce your alcohol intake in order to lose weight but you don't have to give it up all together. There is a team here named Drinking & Weightloss so if you are not a member, you should join!

Friday, June 23, 2006, 11:43 AM

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I enjoy wine also but for every glass of wine I have, I drink 2 glasses of water in the wine glass. It still has the smell of wine and sometimes I can fool myself into thinking I'm having wine w/o alcohol. I drink enough water so that in the a.m. I can still get up and work out.

Friday, June 23, 2006, 10:49 PM

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