Eidolon

And still just as fat as I was before I quit...This sucks. As a matter of fact, I think my stretch marks have become more abundant in these past few days... My clothes all fit the exact same. I figured I would have lost at least 5 pounds. But no...


*sigh*

least

Give yourself time. Three weeks is a relatively short time, really. And if more time goes by without any loss, it might be a good idea to consult a professional - either a doctor or a weight loss specialist or a nutritionist. If you haven't already done so, you might try taking a good walk every day. STart small and gradually increase the distance. Walking is good exercise and also good for the soul's well being.

Anna

Try to be patient with yourself.

And, maybe try to think in terms of living a healthy life, rather than losing weight. I started walking a lot when I stopped drinking and it was really helpful in many ways.

BurningChrome

Think about how many years it took you to get to this stage! Give yourself time! It'll happen!

SweetCityWoman

E - I am about where you are at - I'm 21 days and eating healthy and exercising each day. I had put on weight this past year because not only was I drinking everyday but I was eating everything in sight and doing no exercise most of the time. So I have a ways to go to get back but am noticing a bit of weight loss - but nothing that anyone else can see yet. I had actually cut way back on my drinking about 2 months ago and for about 6 weeks was dieting and exercising and I made a huge mistake - I weighed myself, found I had only lost 1 lb. and boom....right back to eating and drinking. So I have put the scales away (usually when I diet I don't weigh myself - I can tell by my clothes etc.).

So be patient like others have said. If you are cutting out drinking calories that is good. Are you eating healthier and exercising? Just stay positive about not drinking for 25 days - that is fantastic!!!! The rest will happen or make some changes in what you are eating and exercise.

lyddie

I didn't lose any weight until I was sober for 6 weeks. Your digestion and metabolism change when you drink and it may take awhile for your body to return to normal.

Eidolon

Thanks guys! You've been very encouraging. At this point exercise is out of the question. I have chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and one of the hallmark symptoms of CFS is a severe exacerbation of symptoms after exercise. It all started when I started drinking very heavily. So before I attempt exercise I'm going to get myself well first (if I ever can. I've had CFS for 5 years now. It may be permanent). I suspect I have some nurtritional deficiencies that need correcting. So I'm shooting for sobriety for 6 months before I attempt any exercise. As far as eating is concerned I sure as heck eat a lot better than I did when I was drinking! I wasn't an every day drinker. I'm the binging kind. The kind that drinks heavily to the point of wasted black outs and does this 2-3 times a week. I crave fatty foods when I'm drunk and then I crave them for up to 2 or 3 days after my binge.

Its just that the last time I quit the weight started falling off immediately without the help of exercising. I was hoping for the same result this time around.

SweetCityWoman

E - In the past for me whenever I quit drinking the lbs. would also seem to melt off. This is not happening now and I'm not sure why. My thyroid recently tested low normal so I'm not sure if this has anything to do with it. But ultimately less calories should result in weight loss - but body retains water after you stop drinking so that might also be part of it. This is why I am not weighing myself and looking more for how I feel and how things fit.

Sorry about your CFS. I do understand about the exercising. I have lower back problems which made walking the dogs very difficult. So I am doing exercises for my back and slowly working up to walking each day. For me it is all part of the bigger picture - no booze in my body, no stuffing the face with chips and all sorts of junk and slowly starting back to exercise routine. I am also working in some AA meetings but I need to feel my balance between work, exercise and AA - being new to AA can become overwhelming pretty quickly. So for me I'm not sure about the everyday thing. Walking the dogs tonight was my activity and felt just right.

CarolD

Hmm..
what did I quickly lose in early sobriety?
Blackout drinking and hangovers.

I began to notice positive changes tho.
My eyes ... hair and skin simply looked healthy.

Most important to me....I felt fantastic and peaceful.

I really appreciated the new me.
I became confident ...alert and present for life.

Fat or thin....sobriety rocks....

Shoei

I stopped drinking for 2 years in 1999 at the age of 30 and the weight dropped off after about a month of not losing anything. I have now been sober almost 3 months and at the age of 41 the weight is a lot harder to shift. Nothing happened as Lyddie said for about 6 or 7 weeks this time but it has started to come off naturally albeit at a slower rate (about 1-2 lbs a week). I'm fine with that as I have no plans to drink again so in another 10 weeks I should be there. I'm sure our body's metabolic rate takes time to adjust and also sadly as we get a little older it slows down naturally. I'm sure things will happen for you in a month or so.

ItWillBeWorthIt

For me, I am concentrating on working on my recovery from drinking and have not thought so much about my diet. Although, I am not overweight, because I didn't eat when I drank... since the 6th day of being sober, I am eating like I am starving all the time... it is a little crazy.

Making little changes to your current diet may be the answer, because if you restrict yourself from so many of the foods you really enjoy you may become frustrated and stressed.

I am sure within time and your body will heal that much more and your metabolism with stabilize and you will lose weight... little by little just cutting a few calories a day. This week I gave up jelly beans and chocolate covered almonds... a little hard, cause I was craving sweets. Next week, it will be to cuts out the amount of bread and the fattening coffees that I have been eating and drinking.

Please be patience.. they main thing is you are SOBER! Good for you.

BurningChrome

Eidolon, Even with CFS, you know, just taking a walk down the street, 50-100 meters, counts completely as exercise! After a week or two of that, you find yourself going just abit farther, around just one more bend in the road.... Granted I do not have your condition, but my early morning walks in the rising sun are a time of great peace as I feel I am seeing the world for the first time in literally years!
Hang in there and just _give it time_!!
..Mike

Cottonwoodchris

I was the same way. I actually lost 40 lbs between March and September. But it was the wrong way to do it, because I passed out last week due to malnutrition and high blood alcohol levels.

I now enjoy skinless grilled chicken, a nice salad, yogurt, fruit and fish (Tuesday's is Sushi night and I love good, fresh fish) Oh and Hagen Daz frozen yogurt.

Congrats on your 25 days. I'm on day 9 myself, feels good, doesn't it?

itsaboutime

You should look at each part of your diet and check if there's ways to improve it. For example, a lot of people think most cereals are good and this is NOT the case - not even Special K (they're all full of sugar).

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and something healthy like porrige or muesli may help you lose weight - even though it has higher calories, it is MUCH more filling and you'll snack less.

Boiled eggs or omeletes are great for breakfast if you have time - use the good oils for cooking - such as olive oil.

For lunch, make sure to get your proteins from sources like chicken or tune and things like lettuce, cucumbers, etc. Avoid bread, especially white. If you need a handy packed lunch and can't use a salad, something like chicken and veg in Wholewheat Pita Bread is a nice substitute.

Although cutting the alcohol helps (a lot) the rest of your diet is just as important.

You need to know what to avoid and what to eat in moderation. For example, everyone needs GOOD fats in their diets. People dieting tend to avoid fats at all costs but you should really be getting a little from good sources. An example of this would be to include a small handful of raw (unsalted, unroasted) nuts (cashews, almonds, brazil nuts, etc) with a piece of fruit for a snack.

Small weekly improvements in diet, together with abstinence from alcohol will work wonders. Don't starve yourself - if you speak to a nutritionist, you'll be surprized to hear that it is possible to be eating too LITTLE to lose weight.

Spiritual Seeker

I bet your liver, pancreas and all the rest of your organs are feeling lighter.
Don't forget to look at big picture here...as you make daily progress.

Hans

Hang in there buddy! I’m also at 25, and haven’t lost a gram.

Dee74

Hi Hans

just so you know this is a thread from 2010

I didn't lose any weight either...not until my energy expended was in excess of the amount of calories I consumed.

A sensible diet and regular exercise have done wonders for me

D