I just can't give up Alcohol

loxleys

I'd rather have a gin and tonic than a bar of chocolate, but whats worse for weight loss?

melodymartinez

I don't know the science behind that, but I would think if they are equal calories they would be equal (see the Twinkie diet post). I find for me personally, drinking tends to make me eat more. So I try to limit it.

RushinBruisette

I haven't given up anything since starting. I just eat/drink in moderation. I use to be a shots girl, and LOTS of them. Now I just have a glass of wine or whatever and call it a night. Of course, there are certain times when I expect to indulge a little more. But moderation is key. So have your drink every so often, there's always low cal versions of just about everything any more

And as for your question, really they're both not the greatest choices, but again, you can opt for dark chocolate and a low cal drink on the occassion

SaraTN

I'd rather have a gin and tonic than a bar of chocolate, but whats worse for weight loss?

Here is a thread I posted about a week ago that discusses how the body processes and metabolizes alcohol. I, too, don't really want to give it up so I cut back significantly from having a glass or two of wine almost every night to just once or twice a week. Moderation is key. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/130545-the-real-effect-of-alcohol-on-your-waistline

danmullen

As others have said, there's no need to cut out alcohol completely. When I go out I now have gin and slimline tonic instead of beer - it's only around 56 calories per glass! I also have the odd glass of wine. As long as I stay within my calorie goal each day, I think it's fine.

aippolito1

The alcohol is worse because it makes your body stop burning fat. The more alcohol you drink, the less body fat your body is burning. Your body has to burn the alcohol first so the more you have in your body, the longer it takes to get back into body fat burning. You can learn your body's tolerance... for me, I can have a small drink with about 2 oz. of an alcohol with a lower volume % and not gain weight or stop losing weight... but that's just me. I try not to drink more than 2 drinks because that seems to be my limit as far as weight loss/gain/maintenance.

TK266

I feel the same way about micro-brews. just a little moderation under the new life style. check out the thread "like minded lushes" for other who are losing weight without loosing the booze :happy:

AlyRoseNYC

You CAN give up alcohol. You are just not exercising enough will power. Just try harder.

PJilly

I agree that you most certainly can give up alcohol. It's possible you've weighed the risks and the benefits and chosen not to give it up, but that's entirely different. I love my wine, and I have a glass with dinner almost every night. I have chosen not to cut it out entirely. On the other hand, other than the rare special occasion, I have given up chips, cookies, fast food, pizza, cake, brownies, and many other things because, although I still like the way they taste, it's just not worth it to me. Someone else may prefer to give up alcohol completely but have that weekly cheeseburger and fries. It's all about choices and zero about "can't."

lilrhody

Wine is my hobby - and I most certainly haven't given it up. I've picked up the pace of my exercise to make sure that I more than offset those wine calories. I've lost 20 pounds over the last 3 months (yes, a bit slower than some are losing) - so it can be done.

rckola911

yeah alcohol is worse because it slows down your metabolism. But were human do it in moderation and no problem.

macw1_2000

I'm with you. NOT giving up the wine.

Yes, it does slow down the metabolism but I add it to my calorie count. If I have two glasses of wine, it's 288 calories (12 ounces). If I'm having a particularly hungry day, I have 6 ounces and eat more or have the twelve ounces and I'm hungry for something and end up over the limit. It's a choice that I have to make and sometimes I end up at the gym for 2 hours if I blew it the night before.

NYIceQueen

gotta have something every once in a while or you'll binge. That's true for chocolate, alcohol, food, etc.

As for me, I'm trying to keep it to about a drink a month now.

kdiamond

I drink at least 2x a week - hasn't ever inhibited me. Moderation is the key for sure. )

TateFTW

I'm pretty sure that's called alchoholism. You might want to take care of that before you worry about weight loss.

PokenStick

It's a choice you're making, don't say you can't give it up....you're refusing to give it up.

LilynEdensmom

From my personal experiences with addiction...there is a huge difference between can't give it and just don't want to give it up...If you truly can't stop drinking, then you need to focus on the issue of that...But if it is something (like chocolate is for me) and something you just don't want to give up, then moderation is the key

SweetPandora

I have thought the same way, I'm not giving up my wine with my dinner. I allowed for the calories.

After a few weeks of gaining weight due to thyroid issues and reading the article that SaraTN posted http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/130545-the-real-effect-of-alcohol-on-your-waistline I decided to give it up during the week and only indulge on the weekend with dinner.

What do I have to lose other than weight which is my goal.

So far I have survived 3 days without having wine at dinner and I'm just fine. I still use my wine glass at the table but fill it with water.

Karen

loxleys

I'm not an alcoholic - i just like to have a drink some nights! I'm not getting up on a morning and pouring a vodka and coke!!! I do find that drinking has a negative effect on my weight loss so am cutting it out during the week.

@Karen - thanks for the link - I have read it and think that I will stick to only having a drink at the weekend so it doesn't stop my weight loss. The desire to lose weight is stronger than the want of a drink.

dzdame

I think you have it figured out...You don't have to give up your wine (I know I choose not to), but limit the amount and the # of times/week you enjoy it. It is all about moderation. I have lost 30lbs and never gave my wine up completely. Red wine (again in moderation) is good for you, too-so enjoy! Life is too short to not have some simple pleasures and for every person that means something different...

arewethereyet

It is extreme to suggest alcoholism........What I hear is "I want to lose weight, but do not want to give anything up" I understand this.....^drool^ white crusty bread and real creamy butter :laugh:

What you have done is key to changing your lifestyle. You know your weakness, you found a solution to the problem. The funny thing is after a few months of refusing to give up my bread/butter I WANTED to let it go because I losing weight and feeling great became more important than the vice.

Keep doing what you are doing,. When you stop losing (shiver, the dreaded P word) you will make another decision.

GOOD LUCK!!! :glasses:

macw1_2000

I totally agree with what you want to give up and what you don't. I am NOT giving up my wine at night and will work extra hard to make up the exercise or figure out what I want to give up in the day foodwise so I can have it. That's NOT alcoholism.

Say you like carrot cake...and ice cream. You are NOT going to give that up for anything because - well - you love the taste. Does that make you a carrot-cake-aholic? An ice-cream-a-holic? Gimme a break.

With weight loss (an althought I am losing SLOWLY, I am losing), if you have to give up something that you love to eat, you are not going to do very well. I always thought that it meant that I had to stop eating everything i loved (and i am not giving up what make sme happy). When i figured out it was a balance, I was better off. Ok...I want a glass of red wine - I can't mack down on chips before dinner. Weigh it - what do you want? If I want the wine, I cut myself some fresh veggies to snack on while I'm having the wine. (Before all of it meshed into one big food orgy - now I make a choice.)

Hang in there and feel free to add me as a friend. It's all good.

soze

Do you have a problem with alcohol? If not, moderation. I still have a beer every now and then and if it fits into my daily allowance. I enjoy one with a good movie.

AmberElaine84

I also have a glass of wine if it fits into my daily allowance! A glass of Lambrusco is only 98 calories, and it is light enough to just sit and enjoy without feeling guilty. I think it's just up to you....you have calories left over and you want a drink, go for it! But if you are going over on your calories by drinking, then I can definitely see it causing a problem. :drinker:

jschwarz3531

I have this same problem. It really has nothing to do with alcoholism- for me, it has more to do with being young and my social circle. I can (and often do) go all week without a drink but every time I go out with friends, it seems to be involved. We play in a darts league at a bar, two of my best friends work at a bar, watch football every sunday (usually at a bar), haha you get the point. Its hard because no one else seems to mind this, so it comes down to dealing with the constant temptation (and pushing from others-just like food pushers!) or staying home. Its a bummer sometimes! Lately I have been volunteering to be designated driver so I cant be tempted and I have a reason to tell others I am not drinking besides weight loss. Or i'll drink a seltzer with lime and say its vodka haha.

SaltFiend

My entire social life revolves around alcohol- where I live this is pretty much all people do - meet up at the pub to catch up (drink), go to see bands play (drink), go to peoples houses for (drinks). I have one friend who doesn't drink - and he's the only person I hang out with that doesn't drink. -and by drinking- I mean binge drinking.

Being a non-drinker means either a) I don't get invited to things anymore or b)I get pressured heavily to drink. Not drinking basically takes away from my entire social life.

So there's the social side of it, and also that I do enjoy drinking.

I've cut back my drinking to one night a week - where I do still drink quite a lot, but I drink vodka with soda water - which is the lowest calorie drink i can find.

loxleys

@saltfiend - i'm with you on the social side, Its always been part of my life, i used to binge drink and be horribly sick then i grew up a little bit but only after having kids and realising that they always get up at 6 am and they don't understand what a hangover is!

I like to have a vodka or few at the weekend still, always within my calories but I still enjoy it so i'm not giving it up completely.

elizabeth9474

I understand the frustration too because being 28 years YOUNG, drinking socially is "what people do". I used to go out for dinner/drinks a few times a week - for the social aspect of it - not just to get a buzz. I've cut this back to just like on a Sat. night. And then I STILL account for every drink.

If I'm drinking beer, I put the caps in my pocket so I know what to log for the night Liquor I limit. But since a Select 55 has less than most liquor (and def. less $$ than liquor) I usually do that.

You can STILL have drinks in moderation. For instance tonight we're going downtown to a festival, I know I'll have a cpl of beers, so I am eating EXTRA healthy today. Baked fish/veggies, etc.

hanna541

beer is the one that made me gaine weight it gives u munchies lol not only that but it has alot of calories try 64 cal miller ligtht i actualy drank this last weekend for the first time since i started my slim fast diet and dident gaine weight just control your hunger when u get beer muchies cuse belive me u will get them. oh and wach how many of em u drink i drank about 8 or 9 lol and of course go to the gym the next day burn it off usaly when i go to the gym i burn a lil over 700 calories oh and dont know how to put this tickker thing on here mso please someone help

start weight 142
goal weight 120
now 134
loss 8 pounds
in 2 weeks and 3 days

hanna541

i could so realate to u i talk to ppl that they all drink doing something social means drinking also going to ppl house geting ivited somewher specialy in the spring and summer thows r days of drinking night lol. i know gym and all is a life time thing but i want to injoy my summer with the weight i want to be and just go to the gym the next day and burn off the beer or even bbq i ate. iam staying away from alcohol for now till i get wher i want to be i just look at it like iam a have a blast this spring and summer. beer could waite for now u should set a goal

musicboy9

I totally agree, I'm 25 and I go see bands and go to peoples houses and my flat mates love drinking. When I tried to not drink for a month I basically saw no one and even my flat mates and I were kind of distant. Having a six pack is no fun if there is no one to show it too ;-) But really I guess it's just about balance. I found that Gin and Slim line Tonic is the lowest cal/carb option but it's not very sociable at a dinner party when everyone is drinking wine with their meal. I think it's unrealistic in your 20's and early 30's to not drink at social occasions at all but staying to spirits and away from beer and such makes a bid difference. It's NOT healthy but on days when I know I'm gonna have a big night out with mates I just eat less during the say so that the bad calories won't be as hi I try to stick to hi protein lo gi carb meals and have what I would have for dinner at lunch that way the pasta or sushi or whatever soaks up more of the alcohol. Drinking water in between each drink also cuts down the urge to binge out once you are drunk.

M