Sobriety and Weight
Gentle Soul
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Ireland
Posts: 16
Sobriety and Weight
Did anyone else become sober and feel very disappointed that after some time had passed they hadn't lost any weight? I was consuming about 800 empty calories a day. I have been sober for a month and my weight is still the same. Does it take longer?
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,505
I'm not sure how long you've been sober, but it's probably a good idea to be patient with your body's recovery.
I actually needed to gain weight when I stopped drinking, which made me look and feel much more healthy.
I actually needed to gain weight when I stopped drinking, which made me look and feel much more healthy.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 413
I didn't lose any weight for the first month but then seen a slight drop in the 2nd month and then a weird drop of 4-5lbs towards the end of the last month.
Be patient, keep eating semi-right and you'll see the results
Be patient, keep eating semi-right and you'll see the results
Community Greeter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 51,564
Rane, I was amazed I didn't drop alot of weight right away. All the beer must've accounted for loads of calories. I still haven't lost much (look alot less bloated, though).
I think for me - I wasn't eating much when I drank. Could go almost all day without food - so I think I replaced the alcohol calories with food calories when I finally found a healthy appetite again.
I think for me - I wasn't eating much when I drank. Could go almost all day without food - so I think I replaced the alcohol calories with food calories when I finally found a healthy appetite again.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: NYC/NJ
Posts: 431
You will only lose weight when the body is exerting more energy (calories) than it is consuming. You can't just stop drinking and assume you will lose weight, though everything else equal, dropping 800 calories a day will only help your cause. If you're not losing weight, make adjustments to your diet and/or exercise more.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,410
Weight loss takes time but if your 20 over weight then you can losing about 1 pound of fat a week if you consume 500 calories less a day. Just because your not doing those 800 calories of alcohol does not mean you will lose weight. You maybe eating more because you stop eating.
Sept 30, 2010
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,672
Your body adjust it's metabolism, to some degree, according to the calories you consume (or burn). That is why some low calorie diets work at first and then stop and dieters stay stuck in weight loss plateaus. You might be in a similar state. Best way to get out of a plateau is to "trick" your body by changing your routine. Increase activity, change your nutrition or both.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 223
I find that when I abstain from alcohol I immediately lose weight. But when I drink, I consume a lot more than 800 calories, and when I am sober, I'm usually replacing drinking with the gym so it is pretty extreme one way or the other.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Lost in the midwest
Posts: 443
personally, i kicked up the water and added protein drinks and have lost about 6 lbs in about 4.5 weeks. I am eating way less than i was before, ya know? the hangover diet is the worst!!!!
Gentle Soul
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Ireland
Posts: 16
Thanks for those very helpful replies. I have been sober for 30 days and previously was drinking 4 cans of beer a night. I have made some changes to my diet as well-added more fibre and fruit, a vitamin B drink daily and am trying not to eat sweets or crisps. I forgot to mention my age-48-this probably has a lot to do with things. I guess it's childish but we expect out 'reward' for doing the right thing. For me the reward would be losing weight. I guess I'll have to 'up my game' cut back more on the food and work harder on the treadmill.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: A Happy Cloud :)
Posts: 63
I was consuming in excess and I actually put on 70 pounds in the 2 years of my heavy drinking. If the calories you were drinking put you above your body's maintenance, then you won't lose weight.
I've been sober for about 8 days and dropped 5 pounds, however, this is mostly because I have been busting my butt working out and trying to eat well. The first week of a new regime is usually when the most dramatic results are seen though (and it's all water weight), so don't take my number really all that seriously.
If you change your eating habits and start to give your body what it needs nutrition wise, you'll start to drop weight.
I've been sober for about 8 days and dropped 5 pounds, however, this is mostly because I have been busting my butt working out and trying to eat well. The first week of a new regime is usually when the most dramatic results are seen though (and it's all water weight), so don't take my number really all that seriously.
If you change your eating habits and start to give your body what it needs nutrition wise, you'll start to drop weight.
I'm here to learn!
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: I'm on it!
Posts: 2,038
I lost about 10 lbs, but not until 2-3 months in. Unfortunately, this wasn't good news for me as I was already on the low end of my target weight for my height, so I think I'm technically underweight now...
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