David10

Is anyone else concerned about this. I have a good bit of weight I need to lose and after my recent relapse I have come to the conclusion that any significant weight loss will be near impossible without quitting drinking, as it's so packed with calories and causes for me at least a massive increase in appetite. This is yet another reason to quit. Do you agree?

whipster

I have lost almost 20 pounds in less than a month. I figure I was drinking 1000+ calories per day extra, and now without that load, the weight is falling off my beer belly nicely.

Petecrab

I went from 11 stone to 15 in 3 years of drinking. It's a killer for the weight. Another reason to quit

Dollyangel17

Oh yes....when I quit 71 days ago, I had 100 pounds to lose. Way too much wine calories for too many years. I have lost about 18 pounds since quitting, but a ways to go.

Booze would have killed me eventually...either if not by destroying my liver, I was setting myself up nicely for a heart attack or stroke.

So glad I quit and am on my way to a healthier body. Best of luck with your sobriety!

GroundhogDay

I've lost 7 pounds since I quit drinking and I wasn't even trying.

SnwFlower

Absolutely. I lost 18 pounds since I quit drinking at the end of January. I've read that just 8 oz of alcohol can slow down your ability to metabolize fat by up to 73%.

Sillyboy

Between all the calories in liquor and the late night fast food splurges my weight was ballooning quick. Since I quit drinking April 3, I have been able to stick to a consistent exercise and diet schedule and managed to lose 30 pounds in 3+ months...Alcohol sabotages any chance of living healthy.

sugarbear1

sounds like an awesome plan! I wish you well on your journey!!!

hugs to you!

Love,
~SB

socallednormal

Even worse. 73% is the average decrease after just 24 GRAMS of alcohol (Siler, Neese, & Hellerstein, 1999). That's too small to even feel, but still changes your metabolism.

johnnybgood

Yeah this is a big deal for me, too. My month of steadily increasing drinking (after not drinking for 5 mos.) was a driving factor in tacking on 15 unnecessary pounds. It's a triple whammy. You've got the booze calories, the inevitable munchies that come with being drunk and the inability to exercise while hung over. Bad combination. Very very bad.

workoholic

Same thing for me. Even when I skipped dinner before drinking I ended up plundering the fridge later just before crashing for the night. Weight loss is a major motivation for me at the moment.

Nuudawn

I agree wholeheartedly. I'm in the weight loss business. I stuck to a pretty extreme diet in order to keep my weight down...AND drink. I been eating like truck driver lately..haven't gained a pound..

sbrchk

Sz 12 to size 8 since Jan 25

GracieLou

I have lost 20 pounds since I quit. I am overweight so it a small dent but I can feel the difference in my clothing and my energy level. I have a long way to go on both my sobriety and my weight.

I am taking both of them one day at time. It is not a race for me. It took me a long time to get fat and it took me a long time to want help for my alcoholism.

The weight loss is a plus and it helps my self-esteem but I am not going to start jogging tomorrow. I may start an exercise program down the road but my mind right now is on my mind, not my body, and for me that is what I can handle right now.

BabyJane

I'm sober and sometimes I crave sugar but I noticed I still maintain a healthy weight with a little exercise and decent eating the rest of the time. Alcohol made me really puffy and when I see old pictures of myself I laugh. My sister told me, referring to my passport picture from years back, "oh wow you look like fat Jim Morrison there! Right at the end of his career!"

Yikes. Glad I can confidently say I don't look like I'm carrying around 10lbs of bloat anymore. And I FEEL much better. More energy. Less achy and lethargic. Quitting helps with a lot of things in life that's for sure!

WhiteFeathers

Yes! Alcohol causes weight gain and bloating. Toward the end of my drinking career, I wasn't fitting into my clothes anymore (I was drunk and living in sweatpants, hot!!). Over the last month, I've probably lost 10 lbs (though I haven't weighed), but my clothes fit again! I have more energy. I've been swimming every day and today I'm going for a hike!

Lifewillgetbet

I feel like such a mood breaker. Thats amazing everyone lost weight. When I was in my depths of drinking (3months sober now) I didnt eat. I just drank. I have gained 20 pounds because I am eating Proper healthy 3 meals a day now.
I dont care much though, id rather be 20 LB heavier and sober then 20 LB less and drunk everywhere all the time.