Why You're Not Losing Weight After Quitting Alcohol
Saving calories, yes. But something deeper is going on.
It’s easy to think that when you stop drinking alcohol, the weight will fall off.
After all, you’re cutting out all those extra calories, carbs, and sugar, right?
That 650-calorie bottle of wine each night is definitely not helping your waistline. But what happens when you quit drinking (or cut back drastically) and the weight doesn’t come off as expected?
This is frustrating phenomenon, but I see it happen all the time.
Difficulty with weight loss after alcohol is a common concern among many of the women who join me in my Functional Sobriety Academy. While reducing alcohol intake does eliminate "empty calories," weight loss isn't always straightforward. Many clients find their weight loss stalling or plateauing rather than experiencing the rapid results they anticipated.
Let’s explore some reasons why weight loss can be slow even after you quit drinking, particularly if you’ve had a long history of alcohol use. The key areas to focus on are the liver, hormones, and metabolism.
1. The Liver
Your liver is vital to weight management. It not only metabolizes alcohol but also helps regulate hormones, manage fat storage, and detoxify the body. Alcohol slows liver function, which can interfere with your metabolism, leading to a sluggish fat-burning process.
2. Metabolism and Blood Sugar Management
Alcohol disrupts your metabolism by affecting blood sugar and insulin regulation. When blood sugar spikes and crashes due to alcohol consumption, it can slow down weight loss and fuel cravings for sugary or carb-heavy foods. This creates a cycle that hinders weight management.
3. Hormonal Imbalances
Alcohol also affects hormones. The liver (our main site of alcohol metabolism) also plays a role in regulating sex hormones (like estrogen and testosterone) and stress hormones (like cortisol). Imbalances in these hormones can lead to fat storage, especially if you have underlying conditions like thyroid or adrenal imbalances. Both men and women are affected by these hormonal shifts, which can make it harder to lose weight.
What Can You Do?
To overcome these hurdles and kickstart weight loss after quitting alcohol, here are some tips based on my Functional Sobriety method:
1. Check for Hidden Sugars or Carbs
Even though you’ve eliminated alcohol, make sure you’re not replacing those calories with sweets or carb-heavy foods that can spike your blood sugar.
2. Support Liver Function
Incorporate liver-supporting foods like broccoli, cauliflower, beets, and citrus to help detoxify and improve metabolic function.
3. Boost Your Metabolism
Balance your meals with more protein, fiber, and healthy fats to stabilize blood sugar and support a faster metabolism.
4. Manage Stress
Chronic stress elevates cortisol, which can hinder weight loss. Add stress-reducing activities like exercise, meditation, or hobbies to your daily routine.
Ready to Jumpstart Your Weight Loss?
Several clients in my Functional Sobriety Academy have reached their weight management goals in just a few short weeks by using these strategies. You, too, can unlock better liver function, balanced hormones, and a healthy metabolism to support your weight loss journey.
Here’s what one of our clients shared about her experience:
“From the testing Dr. Brooke recommended, I learned I had a condition that was causing me to have trouble losing weight. Now only 3.5 weeks into my nutrition plan and I’ve lost 6 pounds… something I haven’t been able to do in years!”
— Diana M.
The New Functional Sobriety Academy opens July 1st!
Sign up today to save your seat and join us to get support on losing weight, boosting mood and energy, and stay alcohol free! Click here to explore membership.
Ditch the shame. Reclaim your health. Uncover your body’s individual needs using my Functional Sobriety® approach to supporting your nutrition, wellness and alcohol-free goals.
I know it can be frustrating to feel that you’ve done the hard work of quitting or cutting back on your drinking and not see results.
But while this is frustrating, I tell my clients this:
This tells me that your body needs more support — that might mean specific changes to your nutrition, supporting deficiencies from long-term alcohol use, or using herbs that help rebalance metabolism and hormones.
It can take anywhere from 2-6 months for the body to rebalance after alcohol cessation. Some find it can take up to a year. But, with nutrition support, it can happen quickly.
So, let it be a good sign that you’re on the right path to finding what you need. And I am here to support you along the way!
Sending you love, and permission to be easy on yourself.
Xo, Dr. Brooke
I’d love to hear your thoughts and your experiences with this topic! Please feel free to share with me in the comments and let’s get this discussion going!