I know vodka has a lot of calories, and the beer isn't any good either. I'm just curious though, has anyone ever drank heavily whilst dieting and exercising regularly?
I started my official diet & exercise plan about two weeks ago and I'm already seeing great results. Obviously my liver's not going to be in the best shape (or my health overall) but is this going to affect my weight loss over time?
By the way.. I'm only trying to lose a good 15 pounds, and keep it off. Plus in the process of re-evaluating my eating habits overall I have decided to eliminate sugars, sodas, and all other food that can be placed in the "junk" category, for good...
Hi Sara,
Alcohol contains a lot of empty calories (and that juice you are mixing it with is very high in calories as well). If you tally it up, a lot of your daily calorie intake is spent on alcohol, leaving little room for healthy nutritious food.
I would recommend first tracking the caloric impact of your drinking, then deciding to limit or remove it from your diet.
By drinking, you are only sabotaging all your hard work in other areas. It is best to learn to deal without it so you can be happy and healthy.
At the risk of being too blunt here, it seems contradictory to eliminate unhealthy things like sugar, soda, and "junk food", but not make an effort to reduce or change the most unhealthy thing you're doing to yourself.
As for losing weight, like kaffwynn said, alchohol is empty calories. You will compromise your nutritional needs if you try to lose weight while still drinking heavily.
If you don't want to answer, that's okay, but: Why do you feel the need to lose 15 pounds?
Thanks for your response though I appreciate your feed back :]
I'm just trying to get myself into shape & toned up, I don't necessarily have to lose 15, but that's just the goal I have for myself right now. It's a strength battle that I'm having with myself right now.. I have to show myself that I can do it.
It's good to hear you're going to AA. Believe me, I do realize it's more than just a physical health thing. I was referring to the whole package - your mental and emotional health as well. I grew up with an alcoholic father, so I'm familiar with the toll it can take on a person, and the struggle to deal with it.
Perhaps attaining a weight loss goal will help your confidence (it helped mine), but you still need to be careful of the physical ramifications and not letting alcohol take the place of vital nutrition to your body - it may even be a good idea to talk to a doctor about it.
Good luck!
As a recovering addict, I can say it is harder to MAINTAIN a good healthy eating and workout schedule as long as you're using/drinking.
At the end of the day I guess it really is the number of calories you consume each day, but like what has been said so many calories (empty) you'll have trouble keeping the 'food calories' low enough.
You might, and I am not pushing you, after a while feel less of a desire to drink when you body and mind start to feel better.
I know that is the way it worked for me-and still is.
Plus I get the great endorphine rush from working out that I used to get from my DOC.
Good luck,
Recovering alcoholic here, ten years sober as of March 3.
I've struggled with weight loss my entire life, and now realize that the same things that made me drink, made me overeat. I have finally begun using this to count my calories faithfully, and exercise as well. I am determined to do it, as I think this is my last chance.
My mother died when I was 19, and a friend told me my daughter would experience the same thing if I didn't quit drinking. That was enough for me. With the help of AA, my higher power, and a loving family, it has been a struggle, but gotten easier over time.
I have to agree that it seems odd that you're concerned about the 15 lbs, but not so much the alcohol consumption. Find out why you need to numb your feelings. I had a memory I had totally blocked out of my mind, that finally surfaced with some treatment. I was shocked because I wasn't ever all that sure that people could block out memories like that. But it was a relief that helped in the long run.
Good luck.
Original Post by sara308:
Yes you have a valid point.. but it's actually a good thing that I'm eliminating the bad foods. It's a start. I can't do everything at once. I've attended AA meetings.. and plan to go to more, but this is more than just an "unhealthy thing" I'm doing to myself, there's a lot more connected to it.
Thanks for your response though I appreciate your feed back :]
I'm just trying to get myself into shape & toned up, I don't necessarily have to lose 15, but that's just the goal I have for myself right now. It's a strength battle that I'm having with myself right now.. I have to show myself that I can do it.
OP -
First I say "way to go" for trying to take the first steps in finding strength to handle your future. Regardless if you decide to cut back or stop drinking, they are both a step in the right direction.
Vodka and beer are both very high in sugar. I was 21 when I got a DUI and the classes taught me about the ramifications the body goes through in order to stop drinking. I am not and never have been an alcoholic so I can not rightly say I know what it feels like emotionally, physically, or socially but I did grow up in a "using" environment and I know how hard it was to watch. AA meetings are powerful and are useful for more then just the common disease that are being discussed. I went with a friend one time and found I could not stay in the class while people were discussing topics that I personally found difficult. My hat is off to anyone who can endure it and prosper from it.
Best of luck to you in your endeavors and decisons.
-Uneeq-
Just FYI,
Alcoholics are notorious for having vitamin deficiencies. If your drinking that many of your calories and still losing weight, it will be very difficult to get in all of the vitamins you need. It would be a good idea to take a multivitamin, specifically with a good amount of vitamin B1 (thiamin) to prevent Wernicke-Korsacoff syndrome.
..i thought vodka was extremely low in cals? when/if i do drink, normally i do vodka-tonic or vodka-cran and it's only like 64 cals/drink...
it is low in cals, but as from experience - I got my 'cals' from drink, for over a year and a half. I would literally go days on end without eating, then drink. If I knew I was having something that night, I'd not eat for days. Firstly, I was scared of the cals and secondly, if I didn't eat, then I'd feel the effects more. Even my doctor was shocked that I'd managed to stay alive at my weight for so long, I got told that I'd have about a few months then that was it. So - TGI Fridays it was that night.
I'm still trying to stop drinking (I shall make a topic in a sec as I really need advice.. again...) But I have now 'recovered' health wise from anorexia, but I binge on the oddest things whilst drinking. Eg - Today I have had 9 slices of cheese (fake crap you get on burgers that I hate) MEAT! I'M A FRIGGIN VEGETARIAN! Chocolate (also hate) and bread (allergic) I'm kicking on 3k+cals at the moment, which is fine, as in a few days, water weight will go down etc etc but it is hard for someone to stop a habbit. Very hard. Especially something like booze.
My mother is an alcoholic, and she has tried her hardest lately to cut down to one bottle wine a night, but she's shoving on the weight just 'for something to do'. God help her if she stops smoking too!
Anyhoo, Yes, it will help your weight loss - Just keep busy! Really, I've just whacked on 6lbs in a week because I never drank. My scale is now the devil.
Don't focus on losing the lbs, focus on your liver. Drink lots of tea instead. (I've taken to orange juice) At the moment, as I am having a rough time I've taken to 'Lambrini' - 7.5% and I've found that I'm actually ok going a few days without drinking now.. tho' my arms have grown.. sigh.
It's fantastic you are able to open up about it, I know it's hard.
My doctor gave me great advice.. A) Get a dog. which I did, and my parents stole her when I took her to visit! So I got 2 cats instead! B) whenever you go to the shops, instead of spending the money on drink, buy something you'd not normally go for (again, I bought a brand spanking new fondue set and C) Think of the money you'd spend, put it in a box that you HAVE to smash to get out, and use that cash on something fantastic. Designer bag eg. You'd never want to ruin it!
Oh, a bike is also great by the way, you're always too tired at the end to even think about being seen in a shop :)
IGNORE some of the posts about ...doesn't it seem like...why bother with weight loss when you should focus on your drinking.....
OMG you holier than thou peeps
I DRINK...ALOT....but what keeps me together is that I LOVE THE FACT that I am actually finding a focus...here...losing weight ..working out.....if the alcohol was the first battle I am not sure I would get to the rest
Don't know if you ever heard of a footballer, the late George Best... now there was a man that was at the top of his game for years whilst having a really serious drink problem. On the pitch he looked the picture of health, fit, talented, sharp and lean. But he had a liver transplant at the age of 56 and was dead at 59.
If getting fit and losing weight gives you the motivation and strength to ditch the booze that's a good thing. But ditching the booze is ultimately more important.
