Originally Posted by
luvmygirls 
That's encouraging, because I feel like I've replaced every drink with candy, lol! I know what you mean about becoming a puffy, red-faced mess. One of my (many) small wake-up calls was when I attended a conference and saw someone who definitely knows me...he hadn't seen me in a while, and did the not-so-subtle eye flick down to the name tag because he literally didn't recognize what I had become.
I think I read somewhere that stomach bloating continues through early recovery (I'm only on day 44), which I hope is true. I still look like I'm in my second trimester of a non-existent pregnancy!
Yes, it can make you fat for the reasons mentioned above- ingesting a lot of calories and/or a lot of bad foods. Often in binge/starve cycles.
When you get to the point that most of your calories are from booze, you may not eat at all or do it sporadically; I did this and lost weight. When I quit I needed to gain 10-15lb and have gained about 18. Most of that in my stomach so your bloated or mid-heavy situation is common.
You also tend to be anemic and otherwise vitamin-deficient bc the alcoholic body (or the very heavy drinker's body) usually cannot absorb any good nutrients you do ingest.
Craving sugar is very common in early sobriety. I am just now really weaning myself off the ice cream (and I am nearing 5mo). Letting myself off the hook for that, knowing it will pass, AND having begun a running routine again are the ways I am handling it.
Your health will return in so many ways; I won't say all bc underlying medical conditions may remain. But you will get so much more healthy, overall, if you stay sober. Nothing in my physical life was better when I was drinking, from energy to sleep to cardio health and overall flexibility.
Keep going! Also read this - it will help explain what is going on with you - even if your symptoms aren't severe or extreme (mine were) this is an in-depth article on how and when our bodies heal:
https://digital-dharma.net/post-acut...r-immediately/