Can Eliminating Alcohol Help You Lose Weight

A team of researchers and psychologists who specialize in behavioral health and neuroscience. This group collaborates to produce insightful and evidence-based content.

Certified recovery coach specialized in helping everyone redefine their relationship with alcohol. His approach in coaching focuses on habit formation and addressing the stress in our lives.

Recognized by Fortune and Fast Company as a top innovator shaping the future of health and known for his pivotal role in helping individuals change their relationship with alcohol.

Stop Drinking Soda: 'quitting Soda Helped Me Lose 40 Pounds'

They’re everywhere: tips, tricks, diets, and pills for losing weight. But how many of them encourage reducing or eliminating alcohol from our diet entirely?

We probably know that drinking alcohol can make us gain weight. After all, there’s a reason the terms “beer belly” and “wine belly” exist. So, if alcohol can cause us to gain weight, then cutting back on alcohol or cutting it out entirely can probably help us lose weight, right? Let’s dive in.

Before we look at how alcohol helps us lose weight, it’s helpful to know the many different ways alcohol can cause us to gain weight — from affecting our hormones and sleep quality to causing us to feel hungry.

How Does Alcohol Affect Weight?

However, one of the most significant ways alcohol causes weight gain is by interfering with our metabolism. In fact, heavy drinkers and binge drinkers are at a higher risk for obesity due to the metabolic changes that occur when our body is frequently metabolizing alcohol.

Simply put: alcohol keeps our body from burning fat. So every time we drink, we’re essentially shutting down our metabolism, which causes a build up of fat that leads to weight gain.

Here’s how it works: alcohol isn’t processed in the same way we digest other drinks or food. Because alcohol is a toxin, our liver and digestive system have to work extra hard to eliminate it from our body. This prevents our body from accessing all of our other stored macronutrients, such as carbs, proteins, and fat. Even if we have a nutritious meal with an alcoholic beverage, our body struggles to absorb those nutrients because of how hard it works to eliminate alcohol. In other words, our body prioritizes processing alcohol over other nutrients, leading us to store fat.

Can I Drink Alcohol And Still Lose Weight?

Furthermore, alcohol is loaded with calories, but they’re considered “empty calories” — they contain little to no beneficial nutrients or minerals. For instance, a standard glass of wine contains approximately 125 calories, and a bottle of beer has about 155 calories. That’s the equivalent of eating a small slice of pizza or a handful of chips!

When we stop drinking alcohol and consuming empty calories, our body can return to its normal metabolic function and start burning fat. In the first few days after we stop drinking alcohol, we might notice a quick drop in weight. This is usually just water weight.

But studies suggest that long-term abstention from alcohol can lead to further reductions in calories and fat, thus helping with overall weight reduction. One study noted that participants who abstained from alcohol for one month experienced a significant reduction in their weight.

Ways To Stop Drinking Alcohol

Apart from restoring metabolic function and eliminating empty calories, cutting out alcohol also has numerous health benefits that can contribute to weight loss. Here are some:

While cutting alcohol can certainly help us lose weight, it’s not a magic wand for weight loss. It’s equally important to eat a healthy diet and stay physically active. But when we do stop drinking, both of those things become a little easier!

If you want to stop drinking and start losing weight, Reframe can help. We not only help you cut back on your alcohol consumption, but equip you with everything you need to become the healthiest possible version of you.

Woman Stopped Drinking And Eating Carbs To Lose 139 Pounds

Although it isn’t a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), the Reframe app can help you cut back on drinking gradually, with the science-backed knowledge to empower you 100% of the way. Our proven program has helped millions of people around the world drink less and live more. And we want to help you get there, too!

The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge.

You’ll meet millions of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings. Receive encouragement from people worldwide who know exactly what you’re going through! You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our licensed Reframe coaches for more personalized guidance.

Ways Alcohol Hinders Fat Loss!

Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology. Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol.

And that’s not all! Every month, we launch fun challenges, like Dry/Damp January, Mental Health May, and Outdoorsy June. You won’t want to miss out on the chance to participate alongside fellow Reframers (or solo if that’s more your thing!).

The Reframe app is free for 7 days, so you don’t have anything to lose by trying it. Are you ready to feel empowered and discover life beyond alcohol? Then download our app through the App Store or Google Play today!

What Reducing Alcohol Can Do For Your Health

At Reframe, we do science, not stigma. We base our articles on the latest peer-reviewed research in psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral science. We follow the Reframe Content Creation Guidelines, to ensure that we share accurate and actionable information with our readers. This aids them in making informed decisions on their wellness journey.

Our articles undergo frequent updates to present the newest scientific research and changes in expert consensus in an easily understandable and implementable manner.

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Alcoholic drinks, with their substantial caloric density, can significantly contribute to caloric surplus and, consequently, weight gain. Each gram of alcohol provides approximately seven calories, which can quickly accumulate.

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Excessive intake of these calories, especially in the form of alcoholic beverages, can lead to an increase in body weight. Moreover, alcohol consumption can impair judgment, often leading to poor dietary choices and overeating, exacerbating weight management issues.

Alcohol’s caloric content is often considered to provide little to no nutritional value, leading to the term “empty calories.” By eliminating alcohol from your diet, you can significantly lower your overall calorie consumption, which can be beneficial for weight management. Here is a list of common alcoholic beverages and their approximate caloric content:

Switching out these drinks for lower-calorie alternatives such as sparkling water with a splash of fruit juice, herbal teas, or simply water with lemon can help reduce calorie intake and support weight loss goals.

Giving Up Alcohol Helped Me Lose 20 Pounds And Get Fit

Eliminating alcohol from your lifestyle can be a game-changer for your metabolism and weight management. Alcohol not only contributes to a surplus in caloric intake but also provides calories with minimal to no nutritional benefit, lacking in essential nutrients that the body requires.

These calories, often termed ’empty calories, ’ provide a quick burst of energy that has no lasting benefits for bodily functions. On the contrary, they can lead to weight gain without satisfying hunger or nutritional needs.

By choosing to from alcohol, you can significantly decrease your caloric intake, which can be instrumental in achieving weight loss goals. Additionally, this decision can enhance metabolic efficiency, aiding the body in utilizing nutrients more effectively.

Reasons Why You'll Lose Weight When You Stop Drinking

Moreover, removing alcohol from your diet can lessen the temptation to indulge in unhealthy food choices. Alcohol consumption is frequently linked with increased appetite and a tendency to snack on high-calorie foods, which can lead to overeating. By cutting out alcohol, you can curb these cravings and maintain a more balanced and healthful diet.

The impact of discontinuing alcohol on weight loss is highly personalized. It varies widely based on individual factors, including one’s age, level of physical activity, dietary habits, and the regularity of alcohol consumption.

Alcohol, notorious for its high calorie content devoid of nutritional value, can contribute significantly to calorie intake. For instance, a single 12-ounce beer carries roughly 150 calories, while a 5-ounce serving of wine contains about 100 calories.

The Mental And Physical Effects Of Not Drinking Alcohol

By eliminating just one beer per day from your diet, you could reduce