Alcohol
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lynn_glenmont wrote: »CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »nutmegoreo wrote: »CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »neckbreaka wrote: »Don't just stop drinking or else you will go nuts and think about drinking while you're not drinking making it harder to quit. You need to find a hobby/activity to replace what you normally do while drinking. Repeat the new hobby/activity for about a week and you will have adjusted nicely and staying sober will be easier.
some people have to quit cold turkey since she stated that moderation doesnt work for her. so she needs to remove all temptation.
I think she's suggesting having alternative activities to replace the drinking. Instead if catching up over drinks, go play mini-golf or rock climbing. That type of idea.
no she said Dont just stop drinking, the OP already said she tried to drink in moderation and it didnt help.I saw where she said find a hobby but I bolded what she said and thats what I responded to
I think you're still misreading neckbreaka--it seems pretty clear that the "just" in "don't just stop drinking" is in contrast to also start some hobby/activity to fill the time OP would have spent drinking, so OP won't just be sitting around wishing she were drinking. T
Im not saying a hobby wont help,I didnt discount that part at all.I said what I responded to. even the OP agreed with me to remove all temptation.
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eveandqsmom wrote: »lynn_glenmont wrote: »CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »nutmegoreo wrote: »CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »neckbreaka wrote: »Don't just stop drinking or else you will go nuts and think about drinking while you're not drinking making it harder to quit. You need to find a hobby/activity to replace what you normally do while drinking. Repeat the new hobby/activity for about a week and you will have adjusted nicely and staying sober will be easier.
some people have to quit cold turkey since she stated that moderation doesnt work for her. so she needs to remove all temptation.
I think she's suggesting having alternative activities to replace the drinking. Instead if catching up over drinks, go play mini-golf or rock climbing. That type of idea.
no she said Dont just stop drinking, the OP already said she tried to drink in moderation and it didnt help.I saw where she said find a hobby but I bolded what she said and thats what I responded to
I think you're still misreading neckbreaka--it seems pretty clear that the "just" in "don't just stop drinking" is in contrast to also start some hobby/activity to fill the time OP would have spent drinking, so OP won't just be sitting around wishing she were drinking. T
I interpreted it as advising her to cut down slowly instead of *just* quitting. The joys of internet communication
yes, it could be that. but the OP said she tried drinking in moderation so that didnt work for her.geez which is why I said what I did.The op knows what she has to do and what should work for her and what doesnt.0 -
I did dry January this year because I realized how much alcohol I was drinking, especially over the holidays. Like you, OP, moderation does not work for me. I'm definitely all-or-nothing. At first, it was easy. Get through the week days without a drink? Sure, easy. But then comes the weekend...what to do on Friday, Saturday night that doesn't involve drinking? My social group is very much centered around alcohol. I can resist at home, especially if I don't keep it in the house, but what if we want to go hang out with our friends in one of our regular spots (wine bar/cheese shop, lounge, and/or happy hour...seriously, they're all about booze)? I just had to not go for a month. It drove my husband crazy and we had our first really serious fight about it...he called it stupid, but I was adamant. I needed to do it for myself.
When the month was over and I finally opened a bottle of wine, I found that I was able to enjoy two glasses (instead of the whole bottle). I got buzzed sooner, didn't feel the need to keep going, and when we did go out with friends, I only had one or two before I was done for the night. I was able to pace myself instead of slamming them back.
Here we are 5 months later, and I'm still holding on to only drinking 2-3 nights a week. I can very easily polish off a whole bottle still, but I honestly think that's genetics...Polish, French, German, and Irish...I just don't do it every day any more
Good luck, OP!4 -
I think you are very brave to see that you might be teetering on the top of a slippery slide, and to admit it.I don't drink all the time but when I do I binge drink. I drink roughly twice a month. It's just easy to find yourself on a slippery slope when it comes to alcohol. I have noticed my habits lately have been a little worse. So I'm trying to be proactive about it.
Binge drinking is so bad for you on so many levels. It makes you vulnerable to accidents, to unscrupulous sexual advances not to mention general health. And it wrecks a diet.
Even drinking a tiny glass of white wine with a meal completely closes down your digestive system while the alcohol is metabolised. Your body sees alcohol as a poison, so it gets priority.
I think you should take your brave stance to the next level and go to your doctor, a health councillor or contact Alcoholics Anonimous.
This is beyond the advice that fellow dieters can or should give.
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Also, belly fat is half gone. Another 4 lb loss and it should be flat once again.
And trigden1991, alcohol IS calories and helping each other is what these forums are about.
Alcohol has calories, we can agree on that! However binge drinking is defined as consuming excessive amounts of alcohol, which is beyond the scope of these forums.1 -
I drank heavy for 12 years, and gained 150 pounds. I tried MFP 2 years ago and it took 3 months to lose 20 pounds, and i got frustrated, i wasn't adding in my alcohol and was still eating bad, but less. I'm sober 5 weeks now, realized it was my problem, I've lost 14 pounds in 4 weeks.
What i did was make an excel spreadsheet, added all the beer i drank, whiskey, wine, totaled up all of my calories and cost per week and found out i was drinking 6000 a week !!!! That's what hit me like a brick to the face, and came to a realization i just needed to stop entirely, because i couldn't fit it into my lifestyle. I don't plan on drinking anymore, i lost interest.
After the first few weeks, i stopped thinking about he liquor store, i stopped wanting drinks, i got motivated to shed pounds.8 -
adamyovanovich wrote: »I drank heavy for 12 years, and gained 150 pounds. I tried MFP 2 years ago and it took 3 months to lose 20 pounds, and i got frustrated, i wasn't adding in my alcohol and was still eating bad, but less. I'm sober 5 weeks now, realized it was my problem, I've lost 14 pounds in 4 weeks.
What i did was make an excel spreadsheet, added all the beer i drank, whiskey, wine, totaled up all of my calories and cost per week and found out i was drinking 6000 a week !!!! That's what hit me like a brick to the face, and came to a realization i just needed to stop entirely, because i couldn't fit it into my lifestyle. I don't plan on drinking anymore, i lost interest.
After the first few weeks, i stopped thinking about he liquor store, i stopped wanting drinks, i got motivated to shed pounds.
congrats on being sober. and congrats on the weight loss as well.2 -
That you describe it as a 3-day bender is really alarming... Calories aside, you really need professional help in dealing with your approach to alcohol--please contact your doctor/counselor/other health professional.0
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I think it's good to have something you've quit and never gone back to. Gives you more and more resolve and willpower. Recently it was fast food for me - stopped four months ago and will never eat it again. Twenty years ago I stopped smoking, never looked back, every day was a day stronger.4
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I don't drink all the time but when I do I binge drink. I drink roughly twice a month. It's just easy to find yourself on a slippery slope when it comes to alcohol. I have noticed my habits lately have been a little worse. So I'm trying to be proactive about it.
I know exactly what u mean...sometimes it's hard for others to understand. I used to drink all the time but for years now I only drink about once a week and when I do it's an all nighter. Such fun. Lol. My issue is the opposite of what's supposed to happen. I dont gain from the empty calories and I lose my appetite when drinking, just back to back drinks with friends. I always see a big dip in my weight the next day.
My advice, tell ur friends about ur concerns. Good friends understand and can either help cut u off after a few or find other activities to do together. Also try to remain active while drinking like dancing or walking around talking to ppl. I cant keep still when I'm drunk. Lol.
If you must munch prepare for it ahead of time...make something or plan the destination and factor it into ur calorie count. We're stronger than we think. I'm sure you can handle this. :-) Best wishes!
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I was thinking a few months so that I don't feel like I need to binge drink anymore. I do catch up with a couple of friends here and there over 1 or 2 drinks. Maybe instead of alcohol I could have just a soda or something.
I find alcohol to be a temptation too, so I've teamed up with one of my girlfriends and when we go out with friends we both have two- three logged drinks and stop together. Then I'll drink just plain club and lime. It's a lot easier to stay accountable. Also, we plan something fun and active for the next day so we have something to look forward to and are up burning calories early in the AM. Hiking, kickboxing class, swimming, city your, etc.
Good luck! You're doing the right thing.1 -
If you are concerned about alcoholism then yes, you should stop immediately. If it's just the occasional weekend bender that leaves you feeling awful, you can (should) modify. I modify my diet daily to fit in *one* alcoholic drink at the end of the day (3oz vodka mixed w/soda and limes). Knowing that I can have that "treat" every single day makes it a lot easier.0
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Recently I have come to the conclusion I'd rather eat my calories than drink them.. just have to commit to yourself and your health. Because you are worth it.2
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I did dry January this year because I realized how much alcohol I was drinking, especially over the holidays. Like you, OP, moderation does not work for me. I'm definitely all-or-nothing. At first, it was easy. Get through the week days without a drink? Sure, easy. But then comes the weekend...what to do on Friday, Saturday night that doesn't involve drinking? My social group is very much centered around alcohol. I can resist at home, especially if I don't keep it in the house, but what if we want to go hang out with our friends in one of our regular spots (wine bar/cheese shop, lounge, and/or happy hour...seriously, they're all about booze)? I just had to not go for a month. It drove my husband crazy and we had our first really serious fight about it...he called it stupid, but I was adamant. I needed to do it for myself.
When the month was over and I finally opened a bottle of wine, I found that I was able to enjoy two glasses (instead of the whole bottle). I got buzzed sooner, didn't feel the need to keep going, and when we did go out with friends, I only had one or two before I was done for the night. I was able to pace myself instead of slamming them back.
Here we are 5 months later, and I'm still holding on to only drinking 2-3 nights a week. I can very easily polish off a whole bottle still, but I honestly think that's genetics...Polish, French, German, and Irish...I just don't do it every day any more
Good luck, OP!
I can totally relate and am in the process of cutting out alcohol so I can get to a place where 1-3 drinks is fine maybe once or twice a week at most. It makes me eat like I shouldn't and has played a huge role in the 30 pounds I have gained in the last 6 months.
To the OP. I understand. Good luck...you can do this. We can do this. I wish you the best 0 -
It's been suggested here before, but volunteer to be the DD more often. And limit yourself to 1 drinking night a week if you usually do 3 a week. Do something like that. Honestly, being DD can be super hilarious laughing at all your drunk friends. There's many options to take without cutting it out completely. You can also limit the amount of drinks per day when you go drinking, so you only have 2 or 3. Any decrease in drinking will substantially help you with weight loss as long as you don't just substitute booze for pop/soda.0
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I work at a winery on the weekends and we get 2 after shift drinks. I try to only do 1 per week now that I'm serious about losing weight.0
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If you know you are a problem drinker but it isn't interfering with your life or health? Can you try taking it from twice a month down to once a month? You are able to enjoy life events without alcohol, obviously, if you are only drinking 2x/month, but as someone with an ex who was an occasional but very problematic (violent) drinker, I know that it doesn't have to be a daily habit to be a problem, if it changes your personality very much, then yes I agree you might want to stop.
But if you are able to keep it to once or twice a month, is it actually hurting your health? If not, do you think you should try to learn to manage drinking? I hate hangovers so much that I never go to sleep drunk, so if I do drink enough to get drunk (it happens occasionally!) I have to stay up until I un-drunk. That's uncomfortable so I usually alternate alcoholic drinks with water if we go out, so that I end up with only 2-3 actual drink drinks; at home I generally just make ONE big fancy-pants drink, not even that alcoholic, and enjoy it, or something strong that is sippable but again just one.
If the thought of managing it is really uncomfortable and you are already not drinking 29/31 days, then yes quitting altogether is probably the best idea and I am 100% sure you will succeed at it.0 -
This may not work and I'm unsure your drink of choice, but any time I get a craving to drink, I drink non-alcoholic beer. It takes some searching around to find a brand that sort of tastes like proper beer lol however it's only 50 calories a bottle, and it tastes enough like the alcohol that after one or two bottles I've gotten the "fix" but don't feel obligated to keep going (but if I do, it's all good).....and in a social setting, unless someone is really paying attention to the label, it also looks like you're still drinking but no one will be the wiser 0
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People have this all wrong.
There's a trick is to finishing your bender each night that will reduce weight gain from poor eating choices and simultaneously minimize your hangover.
Te quila!
A few shots of tequila at the end of the night (or as many as required), has the magical medical property of causing your system to reject excess booze and snacks, which helps leave you feeling good enough to tie on another one the next day!
YMMV
(This advice came to me from a well known researcher of the topic, Jim Breuer. I believe a summary of his strategy can be found on Youtube, https://youtu.be/7g0AJPqKybs)0 -
I have similar problems but I'm going to recommend club soda with lime. If you've got a peer pressure situation, soda with lime looks enough like a cocktail to evade questions. Drunk people aren't looking that closely anyway. And if you're drinking at home, it feels substantial enough to get you over a craving. Hot tea can help in that situation also.
Remember cravings pass if you just give them a couple minutes.
Not to be that person but have you tried yoga? You can get a nice little buzz from it. After a couple basic poses I generally lose interest in whatever contraband I'm partaking in.0 -
Yeah I believe I need to remove all temptation to be honest.
You already know the answer.
You tried moderation, it didn't work.
But, to be successful at quitting at your stage is only going to happen when you quit for the right reason. For your health.
Meaning its not court ordered. A doctor hasn't told you it's killing you. It hasn't caused you legal problems, or marriage problems, but deep down you know it is the right thing for you.
For your health.
I quit after about 35 years of drinking which went from once a week, to twice, to daily.
Always wine. Never got in trouble. Never got sloppy drunk.
I just knew one day that I wanted better for my body.
Right at first (first month it so) it may be a challenge. New habits. New way of thinking.
You'll have to come up with other stress relievers( mine's exercise).
I'll be 2 years without alcohol come next month.
Best thing I ever did.
Message me if I can be of any help.
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I assumed a few things from reading your post. It didn't seem like your drinking had caused you any other problems...0
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I've lost 30+ pounds since April. I've gone from 223 to 191 - with still a ways to go to get to my goal weight of 170. I was a drinker before as well. But I've figured a way to allow myself quite a few drinks, while still losing weight at a good clip.
You can't drink all the time. Once a week is the maximum. And this is my 'cheat'. The problem is that after drinking, your body can't help you lose weight. You hit a plateau of sorts for 24 hours, where whatever you eat won't be metabolized the same way without drinking. And the day after, you'll WANT to overeat. You have to get through the hangover without binging and while still sticking to your diet. It's very hard. It takes a lot of self-control. I now plan 1 night every 2 weeks that I can drink.
First, you have to drink something with LOW calories, which means no beer or white wine. Very dry red wine or hard liquor. I drink whiskey straight. One shot is about 120 calories. I'll drink about 5 shots (600 calories) over a period of a few hours. I have to plan the food I'm drinking with that carefully. I choose about 10 cocktail shrimp (only about 20 calories each) with some ketchup/horseradish mix sauce. I eat a handful of nuts as well. All of this adds up to about 1000 calories.
I'm on a 1400 calorie diet. So, when I do this I skip dinner. So, I eat about 2,000 calories for the entire day, around my maintenance. So in and there, my 'cheat' won't kill my diet. I'm managing my 'cheat'. My diet is CONSTANTLY on my mind. If you feel like you can't constantly manage yourself, even with a buzz, then you can't do this.
If I went crazy and drank mixers of like 400 calories each along with cookies, chips or wings, I'd be eating more like 3,000 calories which would kill my diet.
So, you CAN do it, it's a lot of work, and the next morning is tough. Funny thing, when I weigh in the next morning, I lose about 2 pounds. It's because the alcohol made me dehydrated. It's all water weight. The next day, I'll gain that all back. So, I sort of ruin 2 days of dieting. Plus, I can't really exercise that next day after drinking. It needs to be one of my 'off days'. So this has to be planned very well.
So out of 30 days of dieting, by doing 2 cheat days of drinking, I've 'lost' 4 days of dieting in my book. Is that worth the binge every few weeks? It seems worth it at the time, with the buzz, being with friends, but it doesn't in the overall picture. I want to drink less and less now. This is a way to help me get off the drinking mentality. I didn't quit cold-turkey, but I'm drinking less, and this will definitely help me when I get to my maintenance weight. I know how to drink without going nuts calorie wise.
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If the thought of managing it is really uncomfortable and you are already not drinking 29/31 days, then yes quitting altogether is probably the best idea and I am 100% sure you will succeed at it.
I don't agree. If you love chocolate cake, but eating it makes you really uncomfortable... I think it's better to be able to plan 'In 2 weeks, I can eat a slice of chocolate cake with ice cream'. And be able to count down to that day. And know you WILL get it.... soon... instead of saying to yourself that you can never eat it again. And then be sick of your diet someday and pig out with the chocolate cake and leave your diet.
In my diet, I eat anything I want... just not in the portions I used to do. If I have a craving for a fast food hamburger, for example, I don't go without - but I must get a regular McDonald's hamburger, not the BigMac. And no fries, and no soda. If I want a piece of chocolate cake after dinner, I can have it, just a portion of a bout 25% of a normal slice. I think this type of mentality has allowed me to stick to my diet. I'll have ONE oreo cookie, 3 pringles chips, etc.
I think it's easier, for me at least, to have the willpower to say 'I can eat anything' - just not in huge portions - and I don't feel like I'm missing out. For example, last week I bought a donut. It took me FOUR days to eat the donut. I cut it into 4 pieces and ate a little bit each day. It was a treat I looked forward to each day. It's a lot better than telling myself I can't eat it until the diet is over, then I'll have a cheat day and eat 3 donuts. I don't feel like having cheat days like that anymore.
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beaglebrandon wrote: »If the thought of managing it is really uncomfortable and you are already not drinking 29/31 days, then yes quitting altogether is probably the best idea and I am 100% sure you will succeed at it.
I don't agree. If you love chocolate cake, but eating it makes you really uncomfortable... I think it's better to be able to plan 'In 2 weeks, I can eat a slice of chocolate cake with ice cream'. And be able to count down to that day. And know you WILL get it.... soon... instead of saying to yourself that you can never eat it again. And then be sick of your diet someday and pig out with the chocolate cake and leave your diet.
In my diet, I eat anything I want... just not in the portions I used to do. If I have a craving for a fast food hamburger, for example, I don't go without - but I must get a regular McDonald's hamburger, not the BigMac. And no fries, and no soda. If I want a piece of chocolate cake after dinner, I can have it, just a portion of a bout 25% of a normal slice. I think this type of mentality has allowed me to stick to my diet. I'll have ONE oreo cookie, 3 pringles chips, etc.
I think it's easier, for me at least, to have the willpower to say 'I can eat anything' - just not in huge portions - and I don't feel like I'm missing out. For example, last week I bought a donut. It took me FOUR days to eat the donut. I cut it into 4 pieces and ate a little bit each day. It was a treat I looked forward to each day. It's a lot better than telling myself I can't eat it until the diet is over, then I'll have a cheat day and eat 3 donuts. I don't feel like having cheat days like that anymore.
eating certain foods in moderation is not necessarily the same as drinking in moderation - especially if someone is an alcoholic and going on 3-4 day benders!2 -
Muscleflex79 wrote: »eating certain foods in moderation is not necessarily the same as drinking in moderation - especially if someone is an alcoholic and going on 3-4 day benders!
Agreed. If you're going on 3-4 day benders, you're not dieting. Those need to stop before you can successfully diet.
To me, the fact that I'm dieting has got to be on my mind 100% of the time. I'm looking at food more as fuel, not as something fun to do. When everyone at work is going out to a restaurant to eat, I'll tag along, but I need to be careful what I eat. I can't order the same double bacon cheeseburger with fries and a soda like a coworker. I'll order the ham and cheese sandwich, dry, with a water. Same with going out with friends drinking. They'll order wings, fries and a pitcher of beer. I'll have water and peanuts, pickles, or eat a small bag of chips over the course of 2 hours, and have the occasional shot.
But if you have no self-control, like going on 3-4 day benders, you're not ready for dieting. My solution is to cut down the drinking at first, not cut it out completely, because I feel cutting it down will be better for some people.
Interesting aside: RedRobin gives a free burger on your birthday - a week from now. I used to love Red Robin, and the penny-pincher in me doesn't want to turn down a free meal. But their burger/fries come to over 2,000 calories even if you don't order a second bottomless fry! I want a burger and fries, not a salad there - what's the point in going to RedRobin for just a salad? So, I've been planning on what to do, so I can still enjoy it. I'm thinking about taking a friend, we can cut the burger in half, I'll make sure I get no mayonnaise, and I'll only eat 800 calories as a splurge. But this all has to be thought out beforehand. I can't just go and get a meal there.
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