How Fast Can You Lose Weight After You Stop Drinking Alcohol?

Tip

There's no specific timeline or amount of weight loss to expect when you cut out alcohol. How fast you lose weight — and how much — will depend on factors like your diet, exercise, age and genetics.

How Soon Will You Lose Weight After Quitting Alcohol?

How long it takes to lose alcohol weight depends on how much you typically drink. Per the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), other factors also affect how much weight you lose, including:

  • Genetics
  • Race or ethnicity
    • Age Sex Diet
  • Daily activity
  • How much sleep you get
  • Where you live

How Alcohol Slows Weight Loss

Even drinking in moderation can add calories to your diet. So if you're not accounting for those cocktails, you may end up with a few extra pounds around your waistline. Per the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, here's the definition of moderate drinking for adults:

  • People assigned female at birth: Up to one drink per day
  • People assigned male at birth: Up to two drinks per day

Here's how many calories some common drinks contain, per the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM):

  • One 12-oz. beer: 153
  • 1.5 oz. of 80-proof gin, rum, vodka or whiskey: 97
  • One 4- oz. margarita: 168
  • One 4-oz. mimosa: 75
  • One 4.6-oz. Bloody Mary: 120
  • One 5-oz. glass of white wine: 128
  • One 5-oz. glass of red wine: 125

Will You Lose Weight if You Quit Drinking?

If you stop drinking, it's possible that you'll lose weight if you sustain the habit over time.

Why? Well, creating a daily calorie deficit — where you burn more calories than you take in — is a key component of any weight-loss plan, according to the Mayo Clinic. Alcoholic drinks are often high-calorie, so when you cut them out, you've suddenly got a deficit.

Cutting 500 to 1,000 calories per day (by eating fewer calories and/or exercising) can help you lose weight at a safe and sustainable pace of 1 to 2 pounds per week, per the Mayo Clinic. And depending on how much and how often you drink, cutting out alcohol could substantially contribute to that deficit.

For instance, if you've stopped sipping your two glasses of white wine each evening, you'll create a deficit of about 256 calories, per the NLM.

Depending on how many calories you cut by eliminating alcohol from your diet, you may need to supplement your deficit by eating fewer calories overall or exercising more often (more on that later).

Tip

Weight-loss tactics don't have to be all-or-nothing. Cutting out some of your alcohol consumption while still allowing yourself to enjoy a drink every now and then can also be an effective way to cut calories without restricting yourself too much.

How Much Weight Can You Lose if You Stop Drinking?

How much weight you can lose when you quit drinking depends on factors like your current weight, activity level, diet and genetics, though you can typically aim for a safe weight-loss pace of 1 to 2 pounds a week.

Per the NIDDK, certain factors can make it more challenging for someone to lose weight, such as:

  • Having an underlying medical condition
  • Taking certain medications
  • Having unmanaged stress

Other Weight-Loss Tips

Cutting out alcohol isn't the only way to shed pounds.

Here are some other strategies to help you lose weight.

1. Eat a Balanced Diet

Eating a nutritious diet is an important part of any weight-loss program. According to the Mayo Clinic, you should eat the following nutrients and foods every day:

  • Fiber-rich fruits and vegetables
  • Whole grains like whole-wheat bread, barley and brown rice
  • Sources of protein like nuts, eggs, fish and lean meat like chicken
  • Beneficial fats like those found in nuts, olive oil, avocado and dairy products like yogurt

On the other hand, limit foods like:

  • Refined carbohydrates like white bread and breakfast cereals
  • Foods with added sugars like baked goods, soda and condiments
  • Foods with trans or saturated fats like red meat, butter and certain cheeses

2. Exercise

Besides cutting out alcohol, you can also supplement a calorie deficit for weight loss by exercising. And even if weight loss isn't your aim, including physical activity in your day can help prevent or manage health problems like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, mood disorders and more, per the Mayo Clinic.

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend adults do 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity (or 75 minutes of intense cardio exercise) and at least two strength training sessions per week.

3. Get Enough Sleep

Sleep is important for your overall health, and it's especially important if you're trying to lose weight. Aim for the recommended seven to nine hours between the sheets, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Getting less than that regularly can rev up your hunger hormones, prompt your body to store more belly fat and weaken your willpower when it comes to eating healthy and getting exercise.

4. Manage Stress

When we're stressed, our bodies release a hormone called cortisol. When those levels stay elevated, it can prompt the body to store belly fat. Not to mention that when you're distracted by stress, it's harder to focus on healthy eating and making time for exercise.

To help keep your stress levels in check, try regular meditation, deep breathing and exercise or movement you enjoy.

Read more on: livestrong, alcohol