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Do you find alcohol calories impede weight loss?

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‎06-10-2014 11:30 - edited ‎06-10-2014 11:34

‎06-10-2014 11:30 - edited ‎06-10-2014 11:34

OK, I've heard alcohol intake stops fat loss but if "calories are calories", and you stay within your daily intake goal, shouldn't you still lose weight?  I'm no alcoholic, but I do enjoy a nice glass of wine now & then. What is everyone else's experience?

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1 BEST ANSWER

Accepted Solutions

‎06-11-2014 09:37

In response to ShannonBoord

‎06-11-2014 09:37

Hi.  All calories are not equal, so I suggest not looking at alcohol intake that way.  I believe alcohol can impede weight loss depending on the amount you drink, your metabolism, genetics, health, etc., etc.  I also believe that a glass of Macallan 12 (wish I could afford the 25) every so often or of Jordan, my favorite cabernet, or your favorite libation is a good thing! 

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31 REPLIES 31

‎06-10-2014 13:55

‎06-10-2014 13:55

I think it depends how much alcohol you are talking about and how often. I personally haven't found a glass or two of wine or a cocktail to be a problem as long as I faithfully log/count the calories. One thing, the calorie counts listed for wine are usually for a specific size of pour (I think 3 ounces?), while often people/servers pour a larger quantity i.e. 5 ounces. So try to be aware of the actual amount poured when you log it. Alcohol is generally empty calories--meaning you get energy (calories) from it but little else nutritionally. So I think it is a good idea to be careful with your nutrition in general on days you plan to drink and maybe even following days. Sometimes drinking alcohol goes hand and hand with less healthy food choices and extra late night snacking.

Sam | USA

Fitbit One, Macintosh, IOS

Accepting solutions is your way of passing your solution onto others and improving everybody’s Fitbit experience.

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‎06-10-2014 16:16

In response to slysam

‎06-10-2014 16:16

Thanks!

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0 Votes

‎06-11-2014 09:37

In response to ShannonBoord

‎06-11-2014 09:37

Hi.  All calories are not equal, so I suggest not looking at alcohol intake that way.  I believe alcohol can impede weight loss depending on the amount you drink, your metabolism, genetics, health, etc., etc.  I also believe that a glass of Macallan 12 (wish I could afford the 25) every so often or of Jordan, my favorite cabernet, or your favorite libation is a good thing! 

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‎06-29-2014 09:35

‎06-29-2014 09:35

I've been a serious Fitbitter since the end of March.  I don't know if one type of calorie burns off at different rates or not.  If my periodic alcohol intake is impeding my weight loss, then I guess I have to accept that. I have lost 29 pounds in just over 90 days and feel great.

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‎06-29-2014 20:27

‎06-29-2014 20:27

Actually some good and bad studies on this.

With some advice to use it to your advantage.

I enjoy my 2 oz of burboun almost every night, no problems yet, but it's the last thing done.

 

http://www.leangains.com/2010/07/truth-about-alcohol-fat-loss-and-muscle.html

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If we throw alcohol into the mix, it gets immediate priority in the in the substrate hierarchy: alcohol puts the breaks on fat oxidation, but also suppresses carb and protein oxidation.

This makes sense considering that the metabolic by-product of alcohol, acetate, is toxic. Metabolizing it takes precedence over everything else. This quote sums up the metabolic fate of alcohol nicely:

"Ethanol (alcohol) is converted in the liver to acetate; an unknown portion is then activated to acetyl-CoA, but only a small portion is converted to fatty acids.
Most of the acetate is released into the circulation, where it affects peripheral tissue metabolism; adipocyte release of nonesterified fatty acids is decreased and acetate replaces lipid in the fuel mixture."

 

Now that you understand the effect of alcohol on substrate metabolism, it's time for me to reveal how you can make alcohol work for fat loss. Alternatively, how you can drink on a regular basis without any fat gain. Without having to count calories and while drinking as much as you want.

 

 

By the way, a nice bonus after a night of drinking is that it effectively rids you of water retention. You may experience the "whoosh"-effect, which I've talked about in my two-part series about water retention. That in itself can be motivating for folks who've been experiencing a plateau in their weight loss.

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‎06-30-2014 06:25

‎06-30-2014 06:25

You have to be careful on how much alcohol you drink and how much bad food ingested. I used to be on that road and had to quit cold turkey as I was addicted to drinking every night. It's easy to overdo it. In less than a year I nearly broke the scale on the fat reading at 35%. It took less than half of that to go back down to 18% when I concentrated hard enough to stay away.

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0 Votes

‎08-07-2014 07:29

In response to slysam

‎08-07-2014 07:29

I have found that the trouble with alcohol is that I become less motivated to stay on the program.    It is empty calories and can become a habit.    I decided to give it up once I saw  myself losing weight even if it is just for a short time.  I love the feeling of losing weight consistently.   This made me feel as if I was improving my ability to lose the weight.    And I have.       I am 70 with arthritis  walk every morning and I have changed my eating habits.    This works for me.

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‎08-07-2014 12:43

In response to 0636

‎08-07-2014 12:43

I've often had that fight of "But its only one glass of wine. I have the calories for it" and not having it. IN my family wine after dinner is a very social thing, so one glass turns into two, and two can turn into a bottle. Before I started trying to get healthy, a bottle was easy and I could sleep just fine. Now, 4 years on this path, 2 glasses and I'm having trouble sleeping.

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‎08-07-2014 17:33

In response to josephz2va

‎08-07-2014 17:33

I know what you mean.... my drinking has become a habit that I need to quit.  It just ins't easy and I'm finding resources other than 12 step programs (which are not for me) are few and far between for an employeed professional with insurance and no police record.   If I was on public assistance, there are all sorts of programs/support.  I'm working on reducing/tapering intake, but **ahem** this is hard.

 

Congrats on the weight loss... my goal is my college weight and maxing the Army fittness for my age by the end of the year!  How hard can a 14 minute 2 mile be?

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‎12-26-2014 08:11

In response to Annpatalexa

‎12-26-2014 08:11

I know how difficult it is to stop the wine.  I gain a lot more fat when I drink.  Something that is a good replacement is Kombuchi.  I put it in a wine glass.  Then you are drinking less carories.  8 oz contains about 50 calories and it is good for digestion because of the probotics.  Kombuchi can be somewhat expensive, but you can make your own.

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0 Votes

‎12-26-2014 09:02

In response to Daisy67

‎12-26-2014 09:02

Never heard of it @Daisy67 , sounds like a great idea! Smiley Happy

Fitbit Community ModeratorHelena A. | Community Moderator, Fitbit

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0 Votes

‎12-27-2014 10:00 - edited ‎12-27-2014 10:01

In response to Pastafarian

‎12-27-2014 10:00 - edited ‎12-27-2014 10:01

Pastafarian, my ex-husband used a program called SMART Recovery.  The meetings were online, and it really helped him.  Don't know if that's what you're looking for, but might be worth checking out.

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0 Votes

‎12-27-2014 14:10

‎12-27-2014 14:10

06-29-2014 09:35

I've been a serious Fitbitter since the end of March.  I don't know if one type of calorie burns off at different rates or not.  If my periodic alcohol intake is impeding my weight loss, then I guess I have to accept that. I have lost 29 pounds in just over 90 days and feel great.

Dec. 27, 2014 - Everyone's body responds differently to almost everything that goes into your mouth. I've walked almost everyday since I started with FitBit at the end of March '14.  Since then I've lost over 75 pounds and not shied away from my bourbon anytime I want it. Would I have lost more or faster? Hard to say since I burn almost everything that goes into my mouth (roughly burn 3000 calories a day according to FitBit), but according to my Runkeeper app that measures my walks, I burned 984 calories this morning on my 8.05 mile walk.

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‎12-29-2014 03:44

In response to ising65

‎12-29-2014 03:44

Thank you for this information.
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0 Votes

‎12-29-2014 03:52

In response to NY2TX

‎12-29-2014 03:52

NY2TX congratulations on your weight loss. You are an inspiration. I agree with burning the calories and I have been doing better. We are in the Smokey Mountains thru the holidays and I have walking the hills. My stairs have been in the high 20?s with a 800 calorie burn. I am 68 and almost 69 and my metabolism is lower, but I will make it. I went on a healthy eating plan in June and lost 13 lbs in 6 weeks. I plan to do this again in January. I have 40 lbs to loose.
Best Answer

‎12-29-2014 07:44

In response to NY2TX

‎12-29-2014 07:44

@NY2TX wrote:

06-29-2014 09:35

I've been a serious Fitbitter since the end of March.  I don't know if one type of calorie burns off at different rates or not.  If my periodic alcohol intake is impeding my weight loss, then I guess I have to accept that. I have lost 29 pounds in just over 90 days and feel great.

Dec. 27, 2014 - Everyone's body responds differently to almost everything that goes into your mouth. I've walked almost everyday since I started with FitBit at the end of March '14.  Since then I've lost over 75 pounds and not shied away from my bourbon anytime I want it. Would I have lost more or faster? Hard to say since I burn almost everything that goes into my mouth (roughly burn 3000 calories a day according to FitBit), but according to my Runkeeper app that measures my walks, I burned 984 calories this morning on my 8.05 mile walk.

WOW!!!! And a heartfelt congratulations on your stunning accomplishment.

 

The science on calories in/calories out, what types of calories are and are not okay is changing rapidly, so I tend not to let it run me, but view it as more of a tool (literally and figurately).

 

I've lived enough to see every type of diet cycle through as the "right" one at least twice.  Seems to me like you're doing all the right things for you and your body.  IMHO we need to guard our emotional health and relationships as well as lose weight.  If your glass of bourbon is helping, then I say, GO FOR IT!!  There is no contest or specific timetable.  You are doing this for yourself and if having your glass of bourbon makes you happy, why on earth not?

 

My brain is all or nothing and has trouble wrapping its arums around any kind of nuance so, while I had trouble following my mom's advice, I still believe she was spot on:  everything in moderation is okay.

 

And life is too short.  I see the Fitbit as a fabulous guide to help me reach my goals and understand what's going on. The competitive aspects stress me out of the social media component stress me out, whereas, having that type of support from the Fitbit community fits really well for others.

 

I wish you all the very best for 2015: happiness, joy, love, good health and peace. I hope for you that you attain your goals, weight-related and non-weight-related.  And saying that I'm a tad bit jealous that your metabolism allows you to burn the amount of calories you can each day is an understatement. Smiley Wink 

 

But I'm truly happy for you.  I hope you get how much you rock!

 

I'd like to share with you one of my favorite songs, and one I particularly enjoy when walking outside (when it's not zero like today) or on my walking treadmill at home.  Enjoy and please take a swig of burbon for me today!!

 

xoxo

Nancy

 

http://youtu.be/e25p0Y3Vd38 

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0 Votes

‎12-29-2014 08:05

In response to SunsetRunner

‎12-29-2014 08:05

To be clear, I don't do it all of the time or every day, but I don't let my diet stop me. Since I'm burning way more than I consume anyway, empty calories or not, are being destroyed by my exercise efforts. That said, what works for me may not work for anyone else. In fact, it could stop working for me the minute that I modify or reduce my exercise program.  The half marathon was on Dec. 7th:

 

  StepsMilesAver/MileBike MilesAM Wgt.
Su7-Dec3218013.3412:57 178.3
Mon8-Dec119310.000:0018.27176.4
Tue9-Dec141715.5013:14 177.3
Wed10-Dec149595.4213:18 176.8
Th11-Dec113560.000:0014.28176.6
Fri12-Dec158016.5113:22 176.8
Sat13-Dec187478.3913:27 176.5
Su14-Dec179796.4613:24 176.8
Mon15-Dec146655.4213:21 177.5
Tue16-Dec154505.4013:43 177.1
Wed17-Dec122950.000:0016.06176.9
Th18-Dec108100.000:0019.90177.1
Fri19-Dec158935.4413:13 176.9
Sat20-Dec171726.5112:58 176.3
Su21-Dec147100.000:00

32.36

(two rides)

175.9
Mon22-Dec164416.5013:15 176.1
Tue23-Dec142415.4213:07 175.8
Wed24-Dec176515.4312:51 175.8
Th25-Dec162416.4712:53 175.8
Fri26-Dec146595.4412:55 176.6
Sat27-Dec215388.0513:16 176.3
Su28-Dec215395.4412:5221.61175.4

 

 

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0 Votes

‎12-29-2014 08:40

‎12-29-2014 08:40

Hi shannon

Calories are not just calories.
The makeup of the food or drink will determine how slow or fast your body breakdown the food.

Alcohol is probably the worse thing u can gave when dieting. With that said, anything in moderation wont kill u.

Good luck
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0 Votes

‎12-29-2014 08:49

In response to NY2TX

‎12-29-2014 08:49

I responded to your post before having a sip of coffee...not the best idea.

 

You're really lucky that you can burn calories, follow a regimen (if that's what you're doing), walk and run.  Congrats on your half marathon.

 

I've been plagued by pulmonary illnesses and each time I start getting into a decent routine, which inevitably has severe restrictions, I get sick again.  I could do only minimal walking in November because my lung functioning had plummeted way below normal.  As soon as I got to the point where I could start walking, I broke my shoulder and within five days, it caused me to get a horrible case of pneumonia.

 

Be thankful for what you can do, whatever that is.

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