Wine and weight loss

Has anyone been successful in losing weight while having wine before dinner?  I have been eating healthier than ever, exercising, measuring my wine and counting the calories.  I've lost 1 pound in 2 weeks!  Could the wine be sabatoging my efforts?  ( I have 1-2 4 oz glasses a night and consume no other forms of sugar or sugar substitutes)  I would really appreciate any input.

Howdy folks, weekend report: I survived aperativi and after-dinner drinks, a restaurant, eating at the in-laws, and debilitating PMS and insomnia this weekend without wine or other alcohol.  I'll carry on to see a week's result of no-alcohol and report back with any weight loss/gain.  But I can't see continuing this self-imposed Prohibition after the week is up.  Sincerely, a thirsty calorie-counter, Nancy.

nancy1967,

you are living in Italy and cut out wine for a week?????!!??  YOU AE MY HERO!!!!
Keep up the good work, and start imbibing, but just count the calories and take it EASY..... I know how hard just one glass can be.....

I have been dying to travel to Italy.  My partner doesn't want to go, so we are going to Tahiti this year and then I am going to plan a trip with my gal pals in 2009.  Email me if you have any good suggestions..

Congrats and let us know how you make out with the lbs.......

Amy

Folks, the results/verdict are in.  After 7 long, dark, dry days, with zero wine, spirits or beer, I've gained a tenth of a kilo.  Right on.

I am really miffed at my own metabolism.  Last week I ate an average of 2650 calories per day, with 6 miles walking/jogging PER DAY... This dry week, 2250 calories per day, with OVER 6 miles walking/jogging (11 K each day, to be precise) and I see an increase, however slight, in my weight.

This week on the wagon has made me aware of several things.  1. wine and mixed drinks and beer are the fabric of daily life in Italy because it's social and there isn't a whole lot else to do (no one gets drunk however) and people don't drink pop or juice at meal times. 2. I miss wine most before dinner to take the edge off my hunger and when my energy is flagging and I need a pick-me-up of instantly absorbed sugar. 3. in weeks previous to this one, I was drinking on average 2000 to 3200 calories in wine and, to a lesser extent, vodka EACH WEEK, which is a staggering amount in retrospect.  *hic* 4. I'd rather drink wine moderately and lose fat at a glacial pace rather than abstain and... uh... GAIN weight.  Sheesh.  5.  I do turn to wine to escape daily stress/misery for its light sedative effects.  6.  I'm comfortable in social situations without having a drink in my hand.  7. I graze MUCH less without the aperitivi to stimulate my appetite.

And that's the way it was.

Nancy1967,

Well done for cutting out the alcohol for a week! It's something I always think about doing but then somehow never do. Instead I've just decided to not drink during the week as like you I was drinking a hell of a lot extra calories just from wine and spirits. However, I've found that I can enjoy the occasional glass during the week and more at the weekend if I make sure to exercise and eat enough calories rather than cutting them back - who knew!? I had wine last weekend and a glass last night and I've lost some weight. True I'm just at the start stage but it seems like it's working. I guess the everything in moderation thing is true!

Very interesting findings, Nancy!  I agree that having a nice glass of wine, and maybe slowing weight loss slightly, has more mental benefits than not having it.  If nothing else, your experiment has proven yet again that everyone's metabolism is different.  The one thing I would ask is if you ever zig zag your caloric intake?  A lot of times eating the same amount of calories every day for days on end can also stall weight loss, regardless of alcohol. Further, I don't know your stats, but a net intake of 2050 (you say you exercise for approx 600 cals per day) would cause me to gain weight, but then again I'm very short and my allowance is very low.  I'm not saying these are all concrete reasons, just offering up the idea that other environmental factors could be influencing your findings.

Hi Nancy!  I've actually had no problem losing weight while drinking red wine...at least a few days per week.  I love it, love it, love it.  Honestly.  This is supposed to be a lifestyle change, and there's no way I would be happy cutting wine out of my diet.  I just account for it in my calories, and I've lost about 35 lbs since January. 

I would have asked the same thing jenka asked--are you zig zagging?  I usually eat a bit higher cal on weekends (eat AT my expenditure for my weight) and then will drop to an 800 cal deficit Mon-Tues, and then to a 500 cal deficit the rest of the week.  At any rate....it all averages out to approximately a 500 cal deficit each day, but it seems to work a ton better for my body that just eating the same thing every day. 

Good luck!  Everyone's body's a bit different.

Hi guys!  I had to put my chocolate-covered icecream on a stick back in the freezer so I could type back :)  You can call me zig-zag lightning, I vary my cals that much, from 1800 up to a whopping 4000 without batting an eye.  I had two lovely glasses of a red wine for dinner (rosso di Montepulciano, yay! cheap! and good!) and we're celebrating my partner's birthday this evening with a Jack Black movie and a GOOD bottle of sherry (not the whole bottle!!!)  Have a great weekend gang! Nancy

Original Post by auntgigi:

Has anyone been successful in losing weight while having wine before dinner?  I have been eating healthier than ever, exercising, measuring my wine and counting the calories.  I've lost 1 pound in 2 weeks!  Could the wine be sabatoging my efforts?  ( I have 1-2 4 oz glasses a night and consume no other forms of sugar or sugar substitutes)  I would really appreciate any input.

I was sure grateful to see this post.  I have been on 1200 calories of excellent foods, just normal foods but portioning, plus I really don't do sugar, never did, but am careful I am getting the good carbs in me.  And, 20 of fat or less.  I haven't gotten into an exercise program, yet, but I will.  i am not sedentary but I need an exercise "routine".

I think my little glass of red wine might be holding me back.  I loved the ladies post from France but I suspect that isn't going to work for me, although every body is different.  We'll see:)  Thank you all for your input, denise in Oregon