justinJustQuit

So I have started an exercise routine and all that good jazz, but I can't help but wonder: After consuming about 2500 calories a night on alcohol and soda, shouldn't I just start shedding weight?

Surely there's a metabolism factor in all of this, so I'll need to speed that up.

What were your experiences when you first started being sober.

LillianGish

Well, after I started getting sober...I started a paleo/low carb diet.

In four months, I've lost 18 pounds and have gone from a size 12 to a size 6.

It has made sobriety a little more exciting.

I also feel less moody/emotional....no sugar crashes.

Sounds like you are on a good path. Good luck!!

LuLu13

I dropped about 35 pounds in three months but I have read of people gaining weight as they turned to sweets to curb the cravings.

Django

Before i joined this site i had 1 slip up in the 1st month of doing Insanity in the summer and i lost 2 about 18 pounds. I exercised 6 times a week but there's no doubt in my mind that cutting out alcohol made a huge difference :-)

1newcreation

Hi Justin,
My exp was weight gain when put the handle down for good!
I thot the calories made me gain but wasnt eating coz the liquor filled me
Metabolism has smthg to do w/ it. Hated the ballooning of my gut so skipped lunch while back but not anymore. But feel great by walking & doing push ups
Happy ny

Skye2

It's deceptive in the beginning as you regain liquid lost to dehydration, but if you manage (unlike me) not to substitute with load of hot chocolate etc, then you'll lose it before long. In fact one of my new year's resolutions is to cut right down on Hot Chocolate

SnoozyQ

I have gained 10 kg :/ in 6 months due to the amount of chocolate i consume.

I have made a pact to stop on 1st January as I am just on 6 months sober now .

But due to the fact i have been given many chocolate gifts for Christmas it wouldn't be fair to the giver now would it.

It would just be rude. :p.

So I shall start tomorrow now ...the Ferraro Rochers are almost gone .


....

...ok...


....


Maybe next week ...yep ...next week sounds good :-)





Xx

anchorbird

I lost 10 pounds in the first 6 weeks of sobriety. I do exercise 4-5 days a week and eat a pretty healthy diet. From about mid November until now my goal was to just maintain because I wanted to enjoy the holidays.

I gained 40 pounds in the last 2 years of my drinking so the 10 I lost is a start! Good luck and keep going!

Ornithology

I drank lots of beer and when I stopped drinking and started running to fight cravings, I lost 27 pounds in about 8 weeks.

Thepatman

I'm the odd one again. LOL!

I actually don't want to loose any weight! I'm almost skin and bones from not eating in the last few months I was active. I gained one pound, and I'm stuffing my face like a bear coming out from winter sleep!

Notmyrealname

I'm down about sixty pounds from my heaviest drunkman weight, I tipped the scales at 272 at one time. Now at a relatively svelte 210 lbs. I lift weights 3x / week (a "full body" routine") and am pretty strict about restricting caloric intake during breakfast and lunch, and when I'm in diet mode I track all caloric intake in a notebook.

Which I really need to start doing again, because it works wonders. . maybe today I come back to Jesus on that..

oh, hell yeah, New Year's resolution material, it'll give me something to post in the inevitable NYE resolution thread . . the time is "go team" time, team .. number one, make it so!

HeadLump

I lost weight to start with but then got hooked on chocolate and sticky toffee pudding for a few months and it started to creep back on In the last month, however, I've stopped the chocolate and have also stopped bingeing. The weight has fallen off and my body shape has changed

If anything, though, I'm possibly getting a little underweight now... .

JaylaaKent

I have never struggled with my weight, but I went up 4 months ago when I quit - then stabilized - now SLOWLY going back down. I've gained about 15 pounds. I have really struggled with depression since I quit drinking, so very little exercise. I can't say my eating is bad - but I guess I need to do something to get weight going back DOWN again.

trudgingagain

While I was drinking, I slowly but surely put on weight...don't know how much, but do know that NOTHING fit. I didn't want to go anywhere, travel, etc. because I has absolutely nothing to wear....honest! I was exercising every day, eating somewhat of a low carb diet....nothing. Since quitting (in mid-October), EVERYTHING fits and, in fact is loose! (Sooo happy!) Can't help but think (know?) it was the alcohol....lots of benefits to quitting

Dollyangel17

I started a weight loss program the same week I quit drinking, and although I was not only eating healthy and consuming much fewer calories, I actually gained a couple pounds. I guess it was my body rehydrating as I was also drinking a lot of water.

Stuck with the diet an started exercising too. Now at 8 months sober, I have lost 72 pounds!

justinJustQuit

Wow thanks for all the info! I have never been much of a sweets eater. I do crave ice cream since being sober. Probably had once a month on the booze. I eat maybe 1/2 a serving 2 nights a week now.

I'll definitely keep the calorie intake in mind.

forabetterlife

I have about 70 pounds to lose and I had always thought that the weight would just fall off once I quit drinking. I did watch my diet and exercise, but weight loss was slow for me to say the least. I think drinking really messes up metabolism, especially women. Anyway, this time around, I plan on being very diligent with both diet and exercise and hope for better results. Everyone is different, I was very discouraged when I didn't lose a lot quickly as others did. I hope that happens for you, but just be prepared. Good luck

justinJustQuit

@forabetterlife, speed up your metabolism by eating 6 small meals a day. High protein, low fat, no junk food.

When I was five days sober, I did that and I could tell my metabolism had gotten better. I'd wake up hungry unlike when I was drinking I wouldn't get hungry until like 12.

Hawkeye13

I did this too--and joined a Crossfit.
About 40 pounds and 3 sizes for me.
(Women's 12 to teen 7 in jeans)

The diet did the work as much as the exercise.
I turned from a sugar burner into a fat burner.
The exercise gave me a lot of mental peace and relief
as I learned how to live sober.

Good luck!

Leana

I gained weight due to major sugar cravings.