Trying To Cut Out Alcohol...HELP ME!

fragileelegance

Does anyone have any suggestions on what I could eat or drink when I get the urge to have alcohol?

janejellyroll

It really depends on what kind of alcohol you like. If I'm just wanting to sip on something, I'll have hot tea or coffee. If I'm wanting something bubbly or sweet, I'll do diet soda or some sparkling water.

cmriverside

When I quit drinking several years ago I ate a fairly high carb diet for quite some time. It seems to be a pretty common thing to do, and there are even suggestions that it is beneficial for people quitting alcohol.

You can Google alcohol withdrawal/recovery nutrition. For me it was high-ish carbs, and that meant sugary things for the first few months which gradually gave way to a more balanced nutrition. I'd say eat what you want within calories. I didn't try very hard to replace drinks, I just drink mostly water or water with lemon. Caffeine makes withdrawal harder, so watch that.

LZMiner

It's really, really hard. I'm doing Dry January, basically NO alcohol for a month. Spouse and I did it last year, and we felt really good after. We tend to drink quite a bit, so it was a hardship. Any way, sometimes I do soda water with lemon, or just Sprite Zero or Diet Coke. My trigger for wanting alcohol is being around others who are drinking, so basically I sit home a lot in January! Good luck.

cathipa

janejellyroll wrote: »

It really depends on what kind of alcohol you like. If I'm just wanting to sip on something, I'll have hot tea or coffee. If I'm wanting something bubbly or sweet, I'll do diet soda or some sparkling water.

^^^this

wizzybeth

I guess it depends on how much you drink. I look forward to my one to two glasses of wine a night several nights a week. I don't always drink two glasses and I don't drink every night... But if I had to cut it out completely I would be very very sad. I just make room for it in my day.

Any plan that tells me I have to stop drinking alcohol is not considered by me. Because even if it's just one glass, once a week... I want my wine.

If however you don't want to spend the calories on alcohol that should be incentive enough. There are a lot of things that I used to like but when I look at the calories I just consider them not worth it. Such as Little Debbie snack cakes and Pop-Tarts. I used to love them until I looked at how many calories are packed into a relatively insignificant snack.

Just yesterday I was considering eating one of the Little Debbie Star Crunch snacks I got for the kids. But when I added it to my diary and saw how few calories I would have left for other things I wanted to eat... I deleted it and did not eat it.

I didn't deny myself ; I just considered it wasn't worth the cost. I think it's a matter of mindset.

teknosprite

I'm not sure, to be honest, but I am trying to cut out/cut down on alcohol myself. For me its definitely habit (not physical), so I'm trying to find things to fill my time up. Like trying to go to the gym after work rather than having a drink ... but that's really hard. Trying then to go in the AM before work, get home a little later from work and then need to just stay busy until bed. I need more hobbies I guess! Let me know if you find something that works!

lemurcat12

I liked wines, so it was helpful for me to make iced tea with a bunch of different flavors or combinations of flavor I liked and then drink it out of a wine glass so I could feel like I was having something special in the evening. I'm sure that would horrify some people, but it worked well for me.

I'd make the iced tea and chill it overnight, and I never added sugar since I don't like sweet iced tea (and never liked sweet wine).

Sparkling water and infused water (water with fruit in it) also helped; just something that felt more special than plain water.

lemurcat12

Other tips are that it helped me a lot to change up my routine and do things that didn't have such a strong association with doing them while drinking, if that's a possibility.

mph323

lemurcat12 wrote: »

I liked wines, so it was helpful for me to make iced tea with a bunch of different flavors or combinations of flavor I liked and then drink it out of a wine glass so I could feel like I was having something special in the evening. I'm sure that would horrify some people, but it worked well for me.

I'd make the iced tea and chill it overnight, and I never added sugar since I don't like sweet iced tea (and never liked sweet wine).

Sparkling water and infused water (water with fruit in it) also helped; just something that felt more special than plain water.

I used to do this with diet coke - glad to know I'm not alone!

sstrack123

I am soon to be 4 yrs alcohol free and actual did the same with filling wine glass. I had the habit of always having a beer or wine or margarita in my hand. Good luck!

fiddletime

I stopped drinking 7 months ago and consider Kirkland’s sparking water my treat with dinner. I couldn’t lose weight with alcohol even though I logged it because I overate once or twice a week. Not the alcohol’s “fault”, but it did loosen up my inhibitions and affected my resolve.

fragileelegance

janejellyroll wrote: »

It really depends on what kind of alcohol you like. If I'm just wanting to sip on something, I'll have hot tea or coffee. If I'm wanting something bubbly or sweet, I'll do diet soda or some sparkling water.

I’m usually drinking tequila or red wine. I just had some coffee and it supressed the urge...thank you!

fragileelegance

teknosprite wrote: »

I'm not sure, to be honest, but I am trying to cut out/cut down on alcohol myself. For me its definitely habit (not physical), so I'm trying to find things to fill my time up. Like trying to go to the gym after work rather than having a drink ... but that's really hard. Trying then to go in the AM before work, get home a little later from work and then need to just stay busy until bed. I need more hobbies I guess! Let me know if you find something that works!

Had some coffee and it took the urge away. I’ve been over eating to compensate for not having any liquor so I really need alternatives...I’ll let you know if anything else works but coffee worked for me (at least for today lol)

fragileelegance

fiddletime wrote: »

I stopped drinking 7 months ago and consider Kirkland’s sparking water my treat with dinner. I couldn’t lose weight with alcohol even though I logged it because I overate once or twice a week. Not the alcohol’s “fault”, but it did loosen up my inhibitions and affected my resolve.

I know what you mean, after the drink always comes the food. Ill look into the water, thanks!

tadiqueo

I haven't drank in 3 months and lost 20 pounds without doing much more than walking regularly. Alcohol messes with your body's metabolism, swells your organs, and makes midnight eating irresistible. I was told to load up on B vitamins about an hour before my favorite times to drink to help with cravings. I don't know if it's a placebo, but I think it works. Good luck

grinning_chick

fragileelegance wrote: »

I’m usually drinking tequila or red wine. I just had some coffee and it supressed the urge...thank you!

There are nearly alcohol free wines out there...http://www.frewines.com/wines

Cooks Illustrated blurb regarding: https://www.cooksillustrated.com/how_tos/5445-dealcoholized-wine

Kelkat405

I learned from my friends in AA that once you cut out alcohol that many people develop a “sweet tooth” per say. That’s your body craving the sugar that was in the alcohol. So maybe try some healthy sweet treats. Fruit, Dole dippers, halo top, sweet rice cakes, etc.

3bambi3

What about non-alcoholic beer and wine? It would give you the taste without the booze to help you cut back. I know a few people who have done this when they wanted to lessen their alcohol intake but still wanted the feeling of having a beer in their hand.

jlynn1991

Tequila and red wine were my go to as well. I never had the goal to stop drinking but when I got serious about changing bad habits and stopped going out much it just sort of happened. Now I get stressed and think oh wine would be amazing right now, but instead I opt for flavored teas. There are sooo many teas out there! Once you realize how good you feel without alcohol and see the results in weight loss and overall self-being, it becomes much easier to say no.

dsboohead

fragileelegance wrote: »

Does anyone have any suggestions on what I could eat or drink when I get the urge to have alcohol?

Admire you for getting a handle of what you feel is a problem. I can't even have one glass of wine cause it leads to two which leads to munchies
Alcohol led to significant weight gain and now I don't do it I feel soooooo much better!
I've gotten into ginger hot tea cause it is a nice pungent substitute!

dsboohead

Alcohol made me kinda puffy too as well as gave me a ruddy undertone

Teresastandard

I’m trying alcohol free for thirty days, started 1/13/18. Fighting the evening wine habit with Pelligrino and hot tea. Definitely clearer headed and easier to get going in the morning. And I’ve lost four lbs. Two years ago moved to a house with a wine cellar - which is awesome except my two glasses a weekend changed to two glasses a day.

motivatedmartha

@dsboohead I agree hot ginger tea is great. My husband gave up alcohol 3 years ago now for a specific health problem and drinks Becks alcohol free or San Miguel zero as he finds other soft drinks to sweet. Hate to admit but I halved my alcohol intake by adding water to my wine as a calorie reducer - now I can't drink it neat. I am down to about 3 units a week or less while hubby is at 0.

dsboohead

motivatedmartha wrote: »

@dsboohead I agree hot ginger tea is great. My husband gave up alcohol 3 years ago now for a specific health problem and drinks Becks alcohol free or San Miguel zero as he finds other soft drinks to sweet. Hate to admit but I halved my alcohol intake by adding water to my wine as a calorie reducer - now I can't drink it neat. I am down to about 3 units a week or less while hubby is at 0.

Before you know it...you'll find yourself saying "whats the point?!"

Cyprus_Girl84

La Croix, decaf coffee with unsweetened almond milk, decaf herbal tea, soda water

if out, soda water with lime

give yourself permission to have other things because quitting alcohol is a big deal

there is a great sobriety community on Instagram if you feel you may have a problem controlling whether or not you drink or think you may want to lead an alcohol-free life

strshllw84

If I have the urge for a cocktail I mix juice and sprite. Pineapple juice with sprite is suprisingly good. So is raspberry lemonade and sprite. Sparking water is an alright substitute too, I just can't drink too many because they give me migraines if I drink them too often.

crs256

Spindrift sodas are great for this. They have a little squeeze of fruit (instead of sugar substitutes) that I find meets the craving. They range between 2 and 15 calories, depending on the flavor. Often found at target.

amyf2000

When I quit drinking my sweet tooth came back in a big way! It is really ok to eat what you want if you find cutting out alcohol to be difficult - I had a three or so drink a day habit and quitting really destabilized my body chemistry for a while. I found I couldn't just substitute a non alcoholic drink - I had to completely change my schedule and how I spent my time. It was hard. But it was WORTH IT - not just for the health benefits of being sober but for the HAPPINESS. I'm so much happier now. I keep a variety of sparkling waters and fancy sodas and ginger beers on hand for relaxation and to take to parties. Club soda and lime is also good (I was a gin and tonic or vodka tonic drinker). Full disclosure: I had to go to AA to get sober and it was marvelously helpful. If you've wondered about it, give it a try. The people I met there were amazing.

Lean59man

Get the booze out of your house completely. Don't go to social situations where booze is present.

googsgirl

I cut out booze completely 10 months ago. Sparkling water ( zero calories) was my go to and I'd put it in a wine glass . For about three months I drank so much sparkling water it was nuts. If I went out, I'd bring non alcoholic beer or wine and have a few. Now I rarely drink the sparkling water and it's super rare for me to have the non alcoholic substitutes. I also eat a ton of chocolate and deserts. I work out 6 times a week and lost 17 lbs. I'm 47 and I weigh the same I did at 16 years old.
Prior to quitting drinking, I couldn't lose a pound. After a few months, not drinking was way easier and I actually find I'm more relaxed and genuinely social without it. Good luck to you. For me it's the healthiest choice I've made.