The title says it all really, I have read a lot about the negative impact alcohol has on fatloss and was wondering what peoples experiences of this were. I have made the decision to seriously cut down on my alcohol consumption - before a few weeks ago I would get ****faced just about every weekend - no more. Has anybody noticed a significant amount of fat fall off them after stopping with the drinking.
If so, how long did it take to achieve?
I am wondering how long it might take to see a difference in my body now that I am not getting drunk anymore - i'm sure the lack of late night drunken burgers and kebabs also helps!
cheers!
|
-
02-16-2010, 06:32 AM #1
Those who quit drinking alcohol - how did it affect fatloss?
-
02-16-2010, 06:40 AM #2
- Join Date: Dec 2009
- Location: Washington, United States
- Age: 36
- Posts: 74
- Rep Power: 178
Well its not like your gonna burn more fat from not drinking alcohol, the only benefit I got from it is less calories in that i can replace with actuall food. As you also said, no alcohol meant no alcoholic munchies, every time i got f***ed up i always pigged out. Also when you drink alcohol your body stops everything its doing and strictly focuses on removing the alcohol from your body, so everything slows down. But you can bet your ass, when i'm done with my cut i'm drinking again.
Self improvement is masterbation, but self destruction......
-
02-16-2010, 06:47 AM #3
I have struggled with this in the past.
I have done a number of things, including stopping drinking entirely, drinking less, and most recently - being excessively cautious of what I eat while drinking.
The most sustainable and successful method for me is the last one. Recently I've allowed myself some wine during the week and < 12 beers over the course of the weekend. Most importantly, before the bottle/glass hits my lips, I make myself aware that I'm going to have to be extra careful with what I eat.
-
02-16-2010, 07:12 AM #4
Booze is my number 1 enemy. I'm great during the week, I only drink water. Weekends come around and it just kind of goes to ****. I drink over a gallon of water a day, and at a good pace, when I get any other liquid in my hands I have the same pace as water. This applies to alcohol also. So I get slammed bc I just take em down.
I have had some success taking control, I started getting vodka and water just so I can have some kind of benefit from drinking water. Luckily my diet stays pretty clean when I drink, but there have been times where I max out an entire pizza.If you're absent during my struggle, don't expect to be present during my success.
-
-
02-16-2010, 07:22 AM #5
alcohol doesn't make me fat.. it makes me skinny. alcohol slows down protein synthesis, as well as growth hormone and testosterone production. after a night of heavy drinking, the next morning, I just feel scrawny and as if I lost muscle. that's why, whether I'm on a bulk, or a cut, I don't drink. when it comes to summer though, I'll be a little more laid back, as long as I can maintain.
-
02-16-2010, 07:25 AM #6
-
02-16-2010, 07:47 AM #7
- Join Date: Jul 2007
- Location: New Jersey, United States
- Age: 36
- Posts: 366
- Rep Power: 225
I quit drinking 2 months ago a little bit before I started my cut for real. It has helped tremendously, I have much better results than I ever have. Since I'm a big guy and my tolerance used to be through the roof I would drink 20+ beers anytime I would go out. And since I was in a frat we also did day drinking all the time so it wouldn't just be limited to 10-2 at bars. The good results are primarily from what others said, less cals from not drinking, not eating ****ty and not having the neg effect of lower t levels. But the biggest change for me is being able to workout on saturdays and sundays, normally I would be so dehydrated and so hungover I could barely go through the motions on those days, sometimes I'd even feel it on monday. That essentially gives me 2 more days a week for working out or rest.
A side note, it was easy for me to give it up because 1 im unemployed and its crazy easy to spend alot of money on booze, and 2 I was getting severe hangovers like I said above.
-
02-16-2010, 07:58 AM #8
-
-
02-16-2010, 07:59 AM #9
Alcohol is the primary reason for the extra 20 lbs I have. Its obvious to remove it during a cut for the simple fact its extra calories and simple carbs.
I've come to realize that it really has no place in my life except for social occasions, and even then only in moderation. If I go back to drinking scotch every night, I'm certain I'll be right back where I started sooner or later. Booze is simply not compatible with my current life goals, especially my bodybuilding hobby. Additionally, I don't want my son and soon-to-be daughter growing up thinking its okay to drink on a Tuesday night just because. Its much easier to give up when you have to set the example.
It had its time in my life, and I enjoyed it, but I've moved on.“The Misc. is a stone-faced Uncle Sam with Popeye’s forearms and a cocked pistol in each hand. It’s a screeching bald eagle with a foreign Bad Thing in its talons. It’s everything that defines America’s bro culture, magnified and weaponized. But it’s deeper than that.“
-
02-16-2010, 08:07 AM #10
When i'm out on the piss, i drink wine or spirits. It's less calories than pints of beer.
I never get home and eat after i've been drinking. That's what makes you fat.
Drink, but don't drink beer or sugary vodka mixes. Straight spirits or some wine is okay. Don't go over the top with alcohol ever, know your limits and lastly when you get in from drinking, down a pint of water.
Stick to that and you will be fine! I do drink once a week, and it hasn't effected my gains or fatloss.
Like i said, drink, and don't eat after, and you will be fine in terms of you fatloss goals.Micronized Creatine
Elite Whey
Orange Triad
Jack3d
Fishoils
Keeps me healthy =D
-
02-16-2010, 08:10 AM #11
-
02-16-2010, 08:15 AM #12
-
-
02-16-2010, 08:25 AM #13
-
02-16-2010, 08:43 AM #14
- Join Date: Jan 2010
- Location: New York, United States
- Age: 40
- Posts: 143
- Rep Power: 184
Quitting drinking has had a significant effect on following any diet. I can go out and drink about 2000cals, then eat another 1000cals at the diner after. That is about a full days worth of calories in one night, which 75% is probably a surplus. Throw in the hangover, pathetic or nonexistent workout the next day, the lack of recover from the workout I did the day of drinking and it is quite crushing to any routine.
Not drinking has had a crushing effect on my social life though! lol The last thing I want to do is go to a bar sober. Drunk people are incredibly irritating when sober.
-
02-16-2010, 08:44 AM #15
- Join Date: Feb 2010
- Location: Allen Park, Michigan, United States
- Age: 40
- Posts: 187
- Rep Power: 295
I can't post in here as of yet with results, but I am hoping everything is true. One of my huge vices is alcohol. I am not a weekend binger, I am a 3-4 scotch on the rocks before bed each night, and like a fifth over the weekend.
I have been working out for almost 3 months now and have seen great gains in the strength department, but little in the weight loss (about 4 lbs over the 3 months). I eat a great balanced intreval diet, with very little slip ups, and I go to the gym often with split routine and on non-lifting days I do cardio. I am sure some of the slow weight loss can be accredited to muscle gain, but after 3 months my noob gains should be coming to a halt so my guess is it is the unreasonable amount of whiskey.
I really hope alcohol is the problem because I can drop it in a second if that is what is hindering me from the body I deserve for this work.
-
02-16-2010, 08:47 AM #16
I've found the wine helps in this regard, too.
I never feel like binging on food when drinking red wine, probably because of the 'dryness.' Where as you're gulping down beers you want a salty treat to go with it, I find it really easy to just drink wine and not need a snack (or at worst, some low-fat cheese).
-
-
02-16-2010, 11:55 AM #17
Calories in versus calories out. That's all it is. If you were drinking extra calories and you stop, you won't be taking that amount in anymore provided nothing else changes. Its not as though you can stop drinking beer and then change it up for soda and you'll lose fat. You can drink beer and eat pizza everyday and lose fat at a rate of 2 lbs. per week as long as you create the correct deficit.
-
02-16-2010, 12:56 PM #18
- Join Date: Feb 2009
- Location: New Jersey, United States
- Age: 33
- Posts: 209
- Rep Power: 1242
The only issue I have with drinking large quantities (as was mentioned above by another poster) is the dehydration the day after. IF you take into account the calories that you're drinking (100 calories for an 80 proof shot, 120-130 for a 100 proof shot, guidelines) and maintain your calories under your maintenance (AND DON'T BINGE!) you're fine.
But the issue I had this weekend was I took about 12-15 shots in an hour and a half, and the next morning woke up fine, no hangover (haven't gotten a bad one yet). I go to the gym about an hour and a half later after eating a few slices of bread and drinking some water (get a bit of energy). I hit the gym and my heartrate is about 20 beats more than normal. I had to drink about 50 oz. of water during the time I was doing my deadlift sets before I felt a bit better, but I still felt weak - that weak feeling might hinder your workouts.
Dunno. All I know is that hangovers will ruin your workout the next day in addition to the extra calories. Which is why my off day is Saturday xd
-
02-16-2010, 01:01 PM #19
-
02-16-2010, 01:40 PM #20
That's crap, 20 years of working out and drinking beer and I still meet my goals. I've said many a time, I drink and eat out 3-5 times a week. I work hard and practice moderation. I'm 187 at 12% right now and just started a deficit yesterday. Last year I took 2 months off from lifting, ran almost every day and lost little to no bodyfat, strength loss was regained in first 2 weeks of returning to the gym. I'm willing to bet I don't lose any muscle this time either.
-
-
02-16-2010, 02:12 PM #21
-
02-16-2010, 02:14 PM #22
-
02-16-2010, 07:23 PM #23
I'm not huge by any means, I only have 18" bi's, bench only 250. I'm so not trying to be huge. I am @ 12%, get tested regularly. Calipers, VO2, the lot. Have to with the distance running and triathlons I do. Knowledge and moderation is the key.
Also, I'm not convincing myself that drinking is good, I'm stating that drinking in moderation is fine.
-
02-17-2010, 04:15 AM #24
-
-
02-17-2010, 04:53 AM #25
- Join Date: Oct 2007
- Location: Osaka, Takatsuki, Japan
- Age: 35
- Posts: 1,341
- Rep Power: 729
I'm actually trying to cut down on alcohol a lot - I'm trying to basically transform my body and at the moment it's weightloss I'm aiming for, but I'm hoping that once a week won't hurt - I stick to Vodka and diet coke (although vodka and water sounds interesting) or maybe vodka and soda water with lime? I've never liked beer luckily, but I quite like wine and it hits me pretty hard.
Anyone know anything about rum - I'm going to a bar on Friday which was described as a pirate bar because rum is so popular/ cheap there and was thinking run and diet coke? Overall I think vodkas the best though.
And I eat totally clean all week - and not eating fast food etc after drinking isn't ever much of a problem, I'm always conscious of being healthy...Pain is Weakness Leaving The Body
What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger
-
02-17-2010, 05:49 AM #26
If you have a problem with the drunk munchies don't eat anything for dinner and eat a light lunch that way you can reserve calories for booze and munchies later. I kept my physique last semester getting drunk 3-4 times a week and getting taco bell 1-2 times a week for my drunk munchies. I am also a pretty active drunk though so I figure if I don't binge eat with my binge drinking I sometimes burn more calories when than I take in when I am drinking. The tip that helped me though was the reserving the calories part for later. That way you don't feel guilty about drinking and you can enjoy eating whatever the heck you want.
9/15/10 - 7.3s 60yd dash
9/08/11 - 6.9s 60yd dash
*5/1/12 - 6.6s 60yd dash
-
02-17-2010, 06:06 AM #27
-
02-17-2010, 06:26 AM #28
-
-
02-17-2010, 07:31 AM #29
Eating tons of food after drinking seems to be the way most people put on weight from drinking. You have to cut out those 2am stops to Perkins or Wendy's.
That's not to say beer doesn't have any effect on weight gain. I've always been told if you are going to drink, make sure it's something you can see through and mix it with fruit juice.
-
01-14-2014, 08:40 PM #30
Similar Threads
-
From those who've had it, how long did it take you to recover(bicep hyperextensions)
By Senor Awesome in forum Injury Recovery And PreventionReplies: 1Last Post: 08-08-2007, 01:49 PM -
anyone who has started/stopped drinking, how did it affect you?
By psychojoe in forum NutritionReplies: 5Last Post: 05-13-2006, 03:42 AM -
For Those Who Took the ThermoDynamX, how often and how many caps per day did you take
By AceRx in forum SupplementsReplies: 13Last Post: 10-01-2004, 12:27 PM -
How did creatine affect your lifts?
By big n stupid in forum SupplementsReplies: 9Last Post: 11-11-2002, 01:11 PM
Bookmarks