Alcohol & Weight lose

[ShyV. 32]

I get on the scale every day. Yes, i know i shouldn't but cant help it. I record weekly loss every Wednesday which is the day of the week i had surgery.... Last week and this week that just past, from wednesday to saturday i hadn't lost anything, then i went out on Saturday night, had a few sips of an alcoholic drink (maybe about 8 oz, spread out) and then on Sunday i was 2-3pounds lighter.

This happened last weekend and this weekend, could it be coincidence? Both days i barely ate anything so cant point it on higher calories consumption.

Not trying to advocate this and not making it a habit to drink alcohol, just wondering if anyone else has had similar expereince.

[Groovinchikin 49]

Alcohol is a diuretic. If you were retaining Water, it could have caused you to eliminate it through excessive urination. That would be my guess.

[Webchickadee 716]

It's hard to scientifically link these two events together. You mention that you were in a "stand still" with your weight loss. Perhaps you were in a short stall and it coincidentally moved the day after your alcohol consumption.

As well, as Groovinchikin mentioned, alcohol will cause dehydration, but 8 oz of a single alcoholic drink would probably not cause large-scale dehydration. Now if it was 8 oz of alcohol, that would be a very different story (and a source of concern, especially within 3 months of your surgery (you should probably be avoiding alcohol completely for min. 6 months post-op!)

There are other factors that could influence your weight change as well that you haven't mentioned. How is your digestive tract schedule? I know that due to the smaller amount of food that I eat, even now after 10 months post-op I only have a bowel movement every 3-4 days (without using supplements to speed up that schedule...). So if you have not had a movement for several days, then have one perhaps on the day of your alcohol ingestion, it may APPEAR that the alcohol consumption is the cause of your weight drop, where the change is actually due to your elimination of 1-3 lbs of waste from your colon!

Also, you mention that you are not eating much.

Both days i barely ate anything so cant point it on higher calories consumption.

That is not good! While we are trying to lose weight, what we really want is to lose excess body fat, not just weight! By not eating, you are not giving your body the proper nutrition it requires to maintain your muscle mass. The body will break down muscle BEFORE it breaks down fat (as biochemically it is an easier physiological source of energy). This is known at catabolism. If you are not ingesting the correct amount of Protein to maintain or rebuild muscle, you will lose weight but suffer tremendous lean muscle loss, strength, agility and fitness. Our HEART is our most important muscle.......and it is NOT exempt from the catabolic process.

Eat protein! Then vegetables (you need the Vitamins and minerals!) and lastly, good carbs if you have any room left.

I highly recommend you review your diet, examine why you are consuming alcohol so close to your surgery date (and eliminate it!) and reset your focus on health for the long term. Your weight loss goal will come with time. You want to be in the best shape of your life to enjoy it!