I need to STOP ALCOHOL & Start Exercising...

emonteroflores

I know that my issue is drinking way too much alcohol, almost everyday! Taco Tuesdays, Wednesday Wine Nights, Thirsty Thursdays and before you know it, it's the weekend! By cutting alcohol, late night sweets & 30 minutes of walking everyday (which Im never active) I'm hoping to lose 10-12 pounds by July 10. Support & friends needed! I'm the biggest I have ever been at 189 pounds & 35 years old.

pineapple_peach10

Uhh I mean this in the nicest way possible, but health factors aside; don't you think that there is something wrong with drinking everyday to begin with?

just saying....

DemoraFairy

pineapple_peach10 wrote: »

Uhh I mean this in the nicest way possible, but health factors aside; don't you think that there is something wrong with drinking everyday to begin with?

just saying....

Well, she did say 'my issue is drinking way too much alcohol', so it sounds like she knows it's too much :P Though I thought a bit of alcohol everyday wasn't that unusual, like having a glass of wine with dinner each day or whatever.

pineapple_peach10

Yeah but this doesn't sound like a glass of wine or drink with dinner this sounds like going to the bar or club every night for "Thristy Thursdays" and things like that...

Just my perception of the original post although I could definitely be wrong.

DemoraFairy

pineapple_peach10 wrote: »

Yeah but this doesn't sound like a glass of wine or drink with dinner this sounds like going to the bar or club every night for "Thristy Thursdays" and things like that...

Just my perception of the original post although I could definitely be wrong.

Yeah I got the same impression, just wondering if there was something wrong with drinking everyday, or if you're fine to drink everyday if you drink too much.

Anyway, to actually respond to the OP, feel free to add me if you want!

jorinya

It sounds yo me like you have a case of toomuchitis, you don't seem to know when to stop. I mean a glass or two a day is ok but constantly drinking too much can damage your liver and if that goes your health is going to deteriate. You need to drink plenty water and flush out all the toxins in your body caused by overindulgence. I walked over 40 mins in the morning and the same every evening five times a week. I lost weight over five months and loved it. That was 5 years ago when I was younger and had only 3 kids. I got pregnant and had a girl after 3 boys and piled on the weight. I'm losing it now.
Good luck on your weight loss journey.

FatMoojor

There was a recent show on TV over in the UK, which had 2 twins, both who were doctors and they looked at how drinking effects the body. They focused not on how much but how it's drunk.
They took the daily "recommended" amount, 2 units a day. 1 drank 2 units per day and the other drank all his units in 1 day, so 21 units in a night.

At the end of a month they had a number of checks to see what the effect of consistent drinking can do and surprisingly even though in some aspects the binge drinking had a worse effect the overall effect of hardening the liver, which is one of the main issues was the same across both of them.

So yes, drinking a couple of glasses of wine a night is actually damaging to the liver, they estimated that it would require something like a couple of months of no drinking to get the liver to repair the damage caused by drinking the 2 units a day for a month.

NoIdea101NoIdea

I used to have this problem too, too much of a socialite!

I have really cut back now, to the stage where I will go to the pub and not want to drink alcohol, which I never thought would happen! There were a couple of things that helped me;

Find some friends which you can do activities which don't involve alcohol. I met a group of people who have now become really good friends at a comic book club (I'm a bit of a geek), and since then we get together and play role play games, board games, have shopping trips for cosplay outfits and things.

Also, just throw yourself into weight loss! Check out how many calories are in alcohol, drink aware is a good site to use and has a calculator so you can see how many calories you are consuming through alcohol. Try to fit those calories into your daily allowance if you know you are going out. I found that once I started exercising more, and being more aware of the calories in alcohol, and started seeing some progress with my weight loss that it really motivated me to cut down on the drinking with very little effort at all.

Good luck

tomatoey

emonteroflores wrote: »

I know that my issue is drinking way too much alcohol, almost everyday! Taco Tuesdays, Wednesday Wine Nights, Thirsty Thursdays and before you know it, it's the weekend! By cutting alcohol, late night sweets & 30 minutes of walking everyday (which Im never active) I'm hoping to lose 10-12 pounds by July 10. Support & friends needed! I'm the biggest I have ever been at 189 pounds & 35 years old.

If you do that, you'll definitely lose weight, though I don't know about July 10th. But maybe...

You're an extrovert, need a lot of stimulation to avoid boredom, maybe? I have a friend like that. She got really into aerobics, keeps her busy. Or you could join a sports team, if being around people matters to you?

snowflakesav

I found over time that the people I really wanted to spend time with were not the people at the bar. I learned that I made stronger and better social relationships in run club. Check out workouts that are social activities. Group runs, outdoor yoga, or zhumba class.

bustedup

I'm in a similar position OP, though not daily. When I drink I not only consume the calories in alcohol but late night snacks, usually a poor breakfast the next day, etc. I am now prioritizing my health and weight loss is becoming more satisfying than a night out. Feel free to add me.

IAmTheGlue

I'm in a similar situation, OP. I'm sending you a friend request and will do my best to support you. I am striving for a dry June. June tends to be my worst month for excessive drinking due to the anniversary of my father's death, father's day, seeing my mother more (yes, just interacting with her is extremely stressful for me), summer barbecues etc. I was just trying to fit it into my calories but due to my past issues I'm just cutting it out this month. So far so good...

buffveganme

Fortunately, my body just can't 'handle' too much alcohol. If I drink even a 'bit' (and I mean 'a bit'.... .3 of an ounce of hard liquor for example) I will most likely be sick the next day!
However, I do like to have a little every every afternoon...an issue that has been going on for quite some time...not good I know.

Acorrineh

Do you have support to stop or reduce drinking? Same for your health goals? It can be a hard road if you have someone close that continues old habits in your environment. Ihave the same issues. We can allsupport each other! I know for me, when I feel like getting off track, distraction helps; yoga, housework, go for a walk, etc.

Asher_Ethan

I use to drink every night as well (I'm a heavy drinker 5+ drinks a night) and I had to change it to only 2 nights a week. I'm still losing so I'm doing something right while still getting to go out and be social.

just4me123456

The other great benefit of quitting drinking, especially when you drink that much, is the bloat will likely reduce significantly! You may want to check in with your gp about support: it can be dangerous for heAvy drinkers to stop drinking suddenly.

NobodyPutsAmyInTheCorner

I don't drink at all. I don't exercise either. Damnit.

kshama2001

I used to be a heavy drinker. I stopped without much effort not long after I started practicing yoga regularly.

How about you join a gym and go to group exercise classes the same nights and times you used to do Taco Tuesday, etc? You'll get socializing and exercise, and not the extra calories from booze.

Susanna5781

Im not sure what kind of drinks you prefer, but I started watering down the wine, and putting less liquor in mixed drinks. That has helped my greatly.

mbaker566

pineapple_peach10 wrote: »

Uhh I mean this in the nicest way possible, but health factors aside; don't you think that there is something wrong with drinking everyday to begin with?

just saying....

in and of itself, no I don't think there is anything wrong with having a drink every day. not me but sure why not. I've known people to have a beer when they get home from work. a beer. and I've also known bingers on Friday nights. I'd be more worried about the Friday drinker. unscientific opinion

OP: you can still drink if it fits in your CICO but be aware that alcohol is hard on your body. If I go out, I mostly find a soda will do me. I've been known to ask for a virgin rum and coke or virgin screwdriver.
If your drinking is getting unmanageable and interfering with your life ask your dr for suggests, try a 12 step, find other like minded people

@snowflakesav you are right. Mostly I hang out with people outside of the bars now that I've gotten active. Mostly

FitForL1fe

I know the feels

I cut back and then cut it out (except special occasions)

it sucks at first but you get used to it. and having a fully functional liver is cool too

xMrBunglex

Let e start by saying everyone is different - this is just my 2 cents:

When I was 35, I knew I drank too much & told myself "I'll quit at 40."

It took me until 6 months after my 42nd birthday to quit for good (3.5 years ago on 6/1.)

Hardest thing I ever did. It took me about a year to truly not want it anymore. Now I can go to parties, weddings, sports bars with friends, etc. and not have any desire to drink at all.

I might add I'm trimmer & in better shape than I was at 27!

holly55555

OP sounds to me more like a social drinker than an alcoholic. I could easily drink every day too (if health wasn't an issue) because I'm 24 and everything my friends do involve bars or alcohol.

In any case, drinking more than one glass of wine with dinner a day is bad for you. Drinking every day period is bad for weight loss. And from the sounds of it, you're drinking A LOT of drinks per week. That's all empty calories AND drinking basically stops your metabolism in its tracks.

I decided that I would only drink twice a week - usually Friday or Saturday night, unless it's a special occasion (birthday or even sometimes just an awful day at work haha) and then I will swap a day. If I'm on vacation or something, I loosen up a little. I also stick to a max of 2 or 3 drinks on these days.

Once you start really counting your calories, you will not have ROOM for so much alcohol and you'll quickly see that you'd rather have a nice dinner than drink away all your food options! Good luck!

kellycasey5

You can totally do this! I think the weight will come off rather quickly without the calories from the drinks. Congratulations for taking steps to become healthier!

Another thought if you truly have been drinking a lot for a regular time period...is go see a doctor right away, like today. And watch for shaking, sweating, nausea/vomiting, sweating, clamminess, anxiety, and increased heart rate for the next few days without alcohol. Some people that suddenly stop alcohol (usually those that drink many drinks regularly) will go into withdrawal/dts and have seizures. I am not trying to scare you, but rather encourage you to see a doctor and get some help to stop drinking in a manner that is safe for your body.

Good luck!

serenity1097

You should not quit cold turkey if you are an everyday, heavy drinker. A family member of mine was advised by her physician to wean herself off over the course of a week to avoid withdrawals. It can be quite dangerous!! Good luck OP, you can do it if you want it bad enough

Fayeworth

Moderation is the key. I like a drink on a Friday or Saturday and sometimes both. I never drink through the week and exercise twice as long on the days I do drink so that it fits into my calorie allowance for those days. You ultimately have to decide what it is you want out of all this and whether you have the willpower to stick to it...that can only come from you. If you have spirits with diet drink it'll cut the calories in half, I like a nice vodka, lime and soda for around 80 calories. If you stop drinking through the week, think of all the extra food you can eat instead! X

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MorganMoreaux

OP at my heaviest I weighed 155 lbs - I used to have two chocolate coffee martinis afterwork every night. I would have more than two on Friday nights, which meant I was usually hungover Saturday and would then eat horribly that day. I finally got tired on being generally unhealthy and stopped having alcoholic beverages, which also stopped the unhealthy eating on Saturday. Without doing anything else out of the ordinary, I weighed 120 lbs within a month and a half. I feel great at this weight and feel so much healthier in general. I think if you stopped drinking you would notice a more dramatic weight loss than you are experiencing now as long as you don't compensate by over-eatting lol.

emonteroflores

All-

Thank you all for your comments! I'd like to think that I am a heavy social drinker going down a hill that is not too far from alcoholism. During the week I will crave a beer or two with my dinner or when I drink on the weekends it is vodka soda with lime which isn't too bad but the everday one or two and the binge on the weekends is just not helping my balance in life and I am not happy with the way I look and feel. At this age, I need to remind myself of that balance and get back to making better choices for myself! p.s. the other posts about cold turkey are freaking me out! LOL

HeySwoleSister

emonteroflores wrote: »

All-

Thank you all for your comments! I'd like to think that I am a heavy social drinker going down a hill that is not too far from alcoholism. During the week I will crave a beer or two with my dinner or when I drink on the weekends it is vodka soda with lime which isn't too bad but the everday one or two and the binge on the weekends is just not helping my balance in life and I am not happy with the way I look and feel. At this age, I need to remind myself of that balance and get back to making better choices for myself! p.s. the other posts about cold turkey are freaking me out! LOL

Eh, I think you're OK until you start freaking out if your'e not drinking. So, if one night you have an engagement (like a funeral, late meeting, whatever) and you don't drink? How do you feel? Do you crave alcohol every step of the way, or do you drift off to sleep later and maybe think, Oh, hey, first night this week with no cocktail! Cool." If you crave it all night, that's an addiction. In my mind, if it's the latter, it's a bad habit.

12 step absolutism (one drink? ONE DRUNK.) and the disease model of treating alcohol overuse are actually not very successful, statistically. If you feel like your consumption is more habit than addiction, check out some of the alternatives out there. All the reputable ones require a period of abstention before imbibing again, that period will tell you if you are needing a 12-step style abstinence program or a harm-reduction behavioral model. Go with what works for you.

And, in the meantime, perhaps take up another evening hobby? It sounds like your post-work routine is to hit happy hours for fun and human connection. How about taking a class instead? A fun one...painting or pottery or tennis or belly dancing. Some casual enjoyment with other adults that has an associated activity that isn't drinking. That might be all you need.

MsBonfire

OP I drink a lot and I enjoy it. This may seem a lot to some people but I drink a bottle of wine everyday. This has been part of my lifestyle for 20 years. It has never been an issue and it has never affected me as a person. I'm Scottish my partner is Portuguese and drinking is part of our culture albeit in different ways. I'm 123 pounds and hoping to head back to 110 pounds. I'm an extremely active person and train very hard. The weight was not gained by wine it was gained by my sweet tooth. Everyone has different attitudes to alcohol but you need to work out what is right for you.