Weight Loss

So I just joined here, but I've been lurking for a while.  

I'm a law school student, and I've been trying to lose weight for about a year, which is around the time I started heavily drinking.  First, I started limiting my caloric intake, but I really didn't see any results.  Then, in addition to limiting my caloric intake, I have been hitting the gym HARD six days a week for the past three months.  Still no noticeable results.  

So, alas, this is it.  I'm not going to drink for a month, continue to hit the gym six days a week, and limit my caloric intake to 1200 - 1300 calories per day.  I am used to drinking 2-3 drinks per day, usually wine or champagne, and it's going to be super hard, in this law school/"social" setting, to do it.  

I need support, you guys!! I am so frustrated with my (lack of) weight loss!!!!

 

Oh yes, and please, no "OMG YOU ARE SUCH AN ALCOHOLIC!!!!" comments.  Just trying to be honest and get some ~thinsperation~ here.  Thanks.

For people to be more helpful, we'd need to know stats: height weight etc. Since you are 'hitting the gym hard six days a week' there is actually a good chance that you need to eat MORE. I can't really help with the drinking part because I've never quite had a taste for it.

If you're only starting to eat 1200-1300 calories a day, how much have you been eating?

Also, 1200 is the bare minimum ANY female should eat. My suggested calorie intake per day is that rate and I'm considered sedentary. Any fewer and you go into starvation mode. The more calories you burn, the higher your suggested calorie is. If you're working hard six days a week, the reason you might not be losing weight is because you're not eating enough.

And in the past, have you been adding the calories in the alcohol to your calorie intake, because those can really add up! good luck!

 

 

5'8 180 lbs

 

OMG YOU ARE SUCH AN ALCOHOLIC!

He he - couldn't resist!

Though the real question should be how can you afford to be a law student and afford champagne (I certainly couldn't) I'll resist!

I am no expert, but it strikes me that 1200 calories is a pretty meagre amount. For about 2 weeks now I have been on 1900 cals and exercise 6 times per week. I wouldn't say I hit it hard, but I do at least 30 minutes a day. I really couldn't imagine myself eating much less though, paricularly with the exercise.

When I started I set a plan that I hoped I could stick with. This plan inculded allowing 1700 calories per week for alcohol. Like yourself, I just know I couldn't abstain, so I had to build it in. I worked out that just on diet alone, using the 3500 calorie deficit = 1 pound fat loss that on 1900 cals per day I could lose 1 pound per week including the booze. I am hoping the exercise will get that nearer to 1 1/2 pounds.

There are some pretty useful tools about on this site and others that will help you to calculate your TEDD (forget what it stands for, but it means the amount of cals you need to maintain present weight). Once you know this, you can make a more informed decision as to how many calories you need to knock off to lose a certain amount of fat. I guess the key is to set targets, but to set realistic ones. As someone said earlier, without knowing weight, height etc. It's hard to advise, but as everyone says - slow and steady is the best wayt to go. You have to find a way to enjoy it a little. For me 1200 cals per day would be so difficult and energy sapping that eventually I'd just give up.

PS. I asked some others for advice about my plan yesterday. Got some good ideas. If you want to see, click http://caloriecount.about.com/forums/post/978 45.html

I know where you're at and definitely think the alcohol can play a big role.   I have gone a little over a week without drinking and am feeling great!  It hasn't been easy but when you see the amount of healthy food you get in place of the liquor it helps change your perspective.  Also, for the first time in 6 months the scale is going DOWN!  :)  I'm not saying that I'm never going to drink again, I just felt like I was putting so much effort into the weightloss, yet sabatoging myself by drinking lots of calories/then snacking when buzzed that it needed to stop until I have a better handle on things.

Also, I agree with the others, if you're working really hard at the gym you should definitely be eating more calories. 

You can do this!  It'll be worth it!  Hang in there!

If it's any help I've worked out that you need around 1900-2000 cals a day in order to lose weight steadily.  At 1200-1300 you'll run out of steam quite quickly.

As another reformed social 'few glasses of wine a night' drinker I can absolutely assure you that dropping it or reducing it drastically will have a massive effect on your weight as well as your long-term health.  I swapped wine for fizzy water and, funnily enough, few people batted an eyelid.  If I drink now it's a couple of glasses a week.

So up your intake, keep exercising and good luck!

heyy I'm in law school too... how do you have time to even drink that much?!  lol

I went through  a little self imposed detox during the last month for finals and dropped weight really easily because of it.

Also as others have said, don't cut cals too low, I know it doesn't seem like it now but it really will be detrimental to your weight loss.  

Original Post by gabpco:

I'm not saying that I'm never going to drink again, I just felt like I was putting so much effort into the weightloss, yet sabatoging myself by drinking lots of calories/then snacking when buzzed that it needed to stop until I have a better handle on things.

 

 

I agree entirely with these sentiments. I think sabotage is the exact word to explain it as well. You slog your guts out and then blow it on booze. Doesn't take long to realise that it just isn't worth it. I've allowed for 1700 calories per week alcohol, but I just can't get over the fact that it is 1/2 a pound of fat! I'm going to just try and have either nothing or just one bottle of wine. I figure if I can avoid alcohol enough, when I drink it'll have a greater effect earlier!

What is it with everyone and law school? It isn't that tough really! Maybe I am just approaching it with rose tinted glasses (or claret glasses). You wait until you have to work for a living guys! Especially if you go into law! It's all the work you have now, but with time pressure and with clients and Judges on top of you as well!

For someone whose been trying to not drink for about a week now I realize that its so hard when its something you're used to. I usually drink on weekends since I don't have to be up for work at 9am and its been hard to stick with. But not drinking really works, it is pretty much the only way I can lose weight. If you don't want to stop cold turkey, mainly cause you said you drink 2-3 per day, than I recommend choosing your drinks wisely and limiting yourself. I'm definitely a social drinker so for me to not drink practically means that I can't hang out with my friends because most of the time it is spent at bars and clubs.lol Everyone always says red wine is good but obviously in moderation. Hungrygirl.com also has a few recipes for low cal alcoholic drinks if you're interested.

Thanks, guys, for the support!

Today is day #3 w/o alcohol, and so far, I'm feeling GREAT.  At least for the time being, I am trying to not be in the "social scene" very much.  I want to try to get a little used to not drinking before really testing myself w/ it being in my face.  That being said, I'm getting a lot of work done in school, which is also a really great thing.

I'm also amazed, as someone above stated, how much more food I can eat if I don't drink.  

You guys are awesome; thanks.

I love this subject, could have written it myself. I don't think I'm an alcoholic but a creature of habit. And after so many years of bartending it became normal to want to unwind from a shift of work with a few drinks, and an occasional power drinking night. Lol.

I have kicked the habit this month as well. There are def times when I want it soooo bad, I allow myself one night a week to drink till my hearts content, (which is less now because my tolerance is low.) It's just one day, hour or min at a time. (I know, now I'm starting to sound like an alcoholic.)

So support is here if you need it. I get up earlier now that I don't drink which means I'm also tired earlier. It helps because the evenings is when I want to drink so instead I turn on a good movie and tell myself how many cals I'm burning up, (helps with the temptation.) I dont have too much advice but support, yes.

And oh, lost a few lbs too but it was not from the lack of drinking alone. I too have been in the gym 6 days, eating an average 1500 cals. I'd rather lose it slow and keep it off. Best wishes!

Congratulations, odie03! 

Yes it's very difficult, especially since my boyfriend still drinks like a rock star!!! I do the same thing though: say to myself 'I'm burning tons of calories! I'm burning tons of calories!' 

Yeah, the really cool thing for me so far is being able to actually do OTHER stuff at night.  I used to fall asleep during TV shows at night after a few drinks.  Now, I can actually finish the show or the movie.  PLUS it's been good for studying, too :)

Thanks!

I'm online pretty much all the time so when those cravings start hit me up and I'll talk you out of it. I went to the gym last night and worked my ass off. I came home and nothing sounded better than a beer... or 5. I told myself that all that hard work was purposeless if I did, so I didn't. Sat is normally my drink day. I do cardio before I start and then take Sunday off to recover. It's my one day I don't work out but eat right. It's working so far.

Best wishes and thanks for adding me, you are so cute. I'm pulling for you!

Ps- when you do drink go for the lower calorie options. Wine gets me really drunk on just a few glasses. I calculate it in to my calories by eating less that day and save a few cals for some after drinking eating, meaning popcorn...etc. I still end up hitting my matainence cals for the day so it's a wash. Guess I deserve it, thats my lil reward for a hard week of work.