Anyone else limiting alcohol?

hillview2

I used to drink every night -- 2-3 beers. Then I went to light beers but still 2-3 beers. Now I am just drinking on the weekend (Fri and Sat night). It seems to be helping a lot (expect it is better for several reasons!). Anyone else with me?

Atlantique

Yes. When I drink, it's one and one only.

lizzil0

Sure, but I just don't really drink at all. I used to love going out drinking in my twenties. Now that I'm mid thirties it really doesn't appeal anymore. Why drink all those extra calories, then feel hungover and dehydrated the next day and want to eat a bunch of unhealthy food? I hope that might motivate a bit.

dad106

Oh yea! I hardly drink anymore.. like once a month or once every two months. It's honestly cheaper this way and it helps with the bloat factor.

CraigIW

I just don't have the spare calories for beer! Even the light ones are ~80 cals each.

cfrasson

Honestly, I've gotten rid of all drinking except for special occasions, like at the wedding I went to yesterday. I had 1 mimosa and that was it! I was always taught to not drink my calories.

elgface

i rearly drink anymore although I`m only 20 :P
I drink at dinnerparties and that is once every couple of month or so, and then I only have 1 glass of wine.... If I am out with friends, I rearly go out clubbing and only have one bear, but that happens like once a month tops, its not worth the calories really...

Helice

Hahaha i don't drink anymore iver.
Im only 18.. but at 13 i was an alcoholic and a stoner..
But at 15 i managed to pack them both in.
And now even though i still drink when im going out for the evening.
Like today..
Apart from that i don't drink at all..

thirteenblessings

Used to have a glass of wine or two every night with dinner, now I limit it to once or twice a week. Baby steps

jeff261159

Off the acohol, went ona cruise a few weeks ago, excerised every day, didnt do the cake thing, had plenty of salads and no fatty foods, had wine and port with dinner, gained a pound!!

If i have any alcohol in the future i will make sure it comes off my allowance and i work that little bit harder to get them off.

supersecretsquirrel1877

If I drink alcohol, I instantly see a weight gain. With no alcohol I am not drinking all those empty calories and no extra bloat. Last thing I need is anything that makes my stomach appear bigger. I have also noticed easier weighloss when I cut the adult beverages out of my life.

Keri_girl

I'm a very random drinker but was successful at avoiding it at a cookout yesterday. Let's see if I'm as successful at todays cookout!

tproctor

I limit myself to one glass of wine per night... Of course, I use THIS glass!!!

http://www.target.com/Entire-Bottle-Wine-Glass-750ml/dp/B000VKOK6O

johicks

Drinking alcohol doesn't fit into a regular fitness program. It should be limited to special occasions, and even then- lmited. Besides the age factor (40+), the day after feeling, AND not wanting to drink my calories (I'd rather chew them); here are some motivators for those who are still on the fence.

Alcohol is a triple whammy!! YES! A triple whammy!
1) Of course, the extra calories
2) Increase in appetite
3) Slows the metabolism!

So the next time you reach for a drink, think about the strike-out ( baseball) that you are about to apply to your body. Instead choose a hit.... I tend to take flavored waters (Sobe Life waters) to a party w/a diet sprite or club soda. If you drink from a wine glass it makes it fun!! For beer lovers, drink from a frosted mug. I've never checked into the calories of the NA beers. !?? An option?

Anyway. CHOOSE HEALTH & FITNESS. CHOOSE YOU!

Angela4Health

I'm with you! I used to drink a glass of wine every night, sometimes 2, plus more on the weekends but now I limit myself to once a week at the most, and I don't even drink wine every week anymore. I'm going to a food and wine pairing at a balloon and wine festival next weekend though, and well, let's just say I'll have my fair share LOL but I yes I'm totally with you on the limiting of alcohol!

irisannRN

I limit myself to one glass of wine per night... Of course, I use THIS glass!!!

http://www.target.com/Entire-Bottle-Wine-Glass-750ml/dp/B000VKOK6O

Hahaha, that's the best

tproctor

laurabeerotten

I used to be a big social drinker. Meals included a sugary girly cocktail, splitting an appetizer, having the course and sides, and of course, splitting dessert. I nixed the appetizer and am making better choices with courses and sides. My final choice came down to losing the drink or the half of a dessert... and the drink lost. I like desserts better.

I would also do the bourbon and ginger ale thing at the bar a lot. But I've made it a personal choice to avoid drinking my calories as much as possible. I enjoy eating too much to justify losing food to a drink. I can have plenty of fun without a drink, I've found.

This, of course, doesn't mean I never drink anymore--just less.

lovecola06

before I started trying to lose weight, I drank one glass of wine most nights. Now, it's just not worth the extra calories. I still drink once a week on my "cheat meal/day." I usually only have one drink though. It's not really as much fun for me to drink anymore, b/c all I think about is the calories lol. I agree with what others said about feeling more bloated, dehydrated, etc when you have a couple drinks. It's all about what works for your weight loss program though - think about permanent lifestyle changes instead of drastic changes. Like someone else said... baby steps ;-)

JMun

I limit myself to one glass of wine per night... Of course, I use THIS glass!!!

http://www.target.com/Entire-Bottle-Wine-Glass-750ml/dp/B000VKOK6O

:bigsmile:


I have given up booze almost entirely. I used to drink wine every night and beer on the weekends. Last December I only lost 3 lbs. But when I cut out booze completely in January I lost 7 lbs. Even with me entering booze into my counter and consistently coming in UNDER calorie my weight loss slowed to a crawl thanks to daily alcohol consumption.
So now I might let myself have a beer here and there but I recognize that it stunts my metabolism so I try to keep it in check.

Stuartm1

Personally I think everything in moderation. Everyone is different what works for some doesn't for others. I go out once a week and I have a drink. Occasionally I will have one at home but I drink White Rum 65 calories a shot with diet Coke (Zero Callories. Hence 4 = approx 2 beers) Build up extra calories with excercise (you need a heart monitor to log calories burnt|) If you feel like a beer and you have spare calories have one. This is not meant to be a diet it's controlling amounts of food and drink combined with excersise which will help you lose weight in a steady manner. Remember 1lb a week is 52lbs a year !!!

jb_2011

I do love my 2 glasses of wine at night, but for awhile there I limited it to weekends only. It wasn't terribly difficult, and weight loss was easier. I would fix myself a nice, big glass of sparkling mineral water with lime and a splash of POM or OJ. Sure am glad you posted this topic, I'm inspired again to get back with the weekends-only plan.
:drinker:

mrrodriguez

This has been an interesting conundrum for me. I drink champagne, but had cut back to twice a week and only one glass prior to beginning MFP. I had successfully lost weight drinking beer when I was running all the time, and much younger. Even then I noticed that the alcohol made my weight loss slow or stop, and sometimes I would even gain weight. The thing was I could always run 6 miles and get rid of the calories. Can't do that anymore.

The reason I say it is a conondrum is that I like alcohol. When I mentioned to a friend that one couldn't lose weight if one had alcohol they replied "Why bother." I think they meant that life was supposed to be fun, so why worry about being thin if I was bored. I didn't quite feel this way, but I do think that enjoying life is important, and so is having fun. I switched to champagne from beer about 10 years ago, in part because I didn't want to have a "beer belly." I really didn't notice that champagne was less caloric than beer, but it was a statement of my maturity. Didn't want to drink beer at my age, I needed a "mature" drink.

Anyway I have read many articles, from Jillian Michael's and others that you "absolutely, positively" can't lose weight and drink alcohol. I disagree, as I have been able to lose weight using MFP provided I log the champagne. I am however contemplating just stopping totally because I don't need the calories. I am also not sure if the alcohol is that much fun anymore. I am now trying to balance the "fun" value to the caloric one. As I lose weight I think the caloric one is going to win.

That's my $.02 worth.

jpooley1988

I drink still! I've just changed from drinking Cider or Wine to Vodka Diet Coke at 50 cals a glass! I had 6 or7 on Friday night, was very drunk and all for the cheap price of 300-350 cals!

jeff261159

Sounds good to me!!

LushLoni

Doing a 30 day challenge.

I wouldn't say I was drinking every day, but I LOVE WINE and I LOVE VODKA and I LOVE CIDER and beer... and oh god, champagne when I get it.

Figured I'm going to do 30 days and then see where I am with drinking.

On day 16...