Do you drink alcohol?

Jesung

I still drink occasionally with my roommates but not too often because it messes with my recovery.

choconuts

Yes, though not nearly as much as before MFP. I love beer, all beer. Light, dark, cheap, foreign---if it's beer, I.love.it.

brit49

A glass of wine now and again, I don't over do it not everyday

MB_Positif

Not nearly as much as I used to. It's definitely not worth the calories...or the hangover which will make me skip my Saturday morning run!

TheGoktor

I'm Venetian, of course I drink! I like to have a gin or a vodka when I finish work, and a glass of wine with dinner. I drink because I enjoy the taste, the way wine enhances food, and the feeling of relaxation... not because I want to get drunk. :bigsmile:

Shortly after I met my partner (eight years ago), I became teetotal for several years (he's never touched alcohol in his life); however, I did find that I missed wine - not in a "OMG I must have it" kind of way but in the sense of a meal being incomplete without it. I asked my partner how he felt about me drinking, and he had no problem with it at all, so the next time we went to a restaurant, I had a glass of wine with my meal - it was probably the best I've ever had! :laugh:

Since I've been running, I've found my tolerance for alcohol has reduced considerably - two glasses of wine really is my limit now!

arissamay

I attend a lot of events involving social drinking, but I try to only have one drink per week that is between 100-150 kcal. I will sip a glass of wine for over an hour and intersperse with water to really savor the taste of the wine. Of course, I plan for having wine or a low calorie mixed drink and will have something lighter in calories for dinner.

I also pretty regularly turn down drinks and opt for water or iced tea instead when it's available - even though turning down drinks inevitably leads to speculation about whether I am pregnant . . . because why else would anyone turn down a drink?

My career will be like this until I retire, so I will always have to have a mental plan that allows me to partake in social drinking in business settings and stay under my calorie goals. On the plus side, one glass of wine is usually the same amount of calories as 2-3 Oreos, and the wine lasts a lot longer!

jarrettd

Yes, I do! I don't know that there is "motivation", per se, but I have a few mixed drinks when I go out to a bar with hubs (very occasionally, like every 2 months or so). I'm the responsible one 99.9% of the time. Having a little alcohol lets me give myself permission to be a bit of an idiot for a while. It feels good to be a little uninhibited (notice I said A LITTLE!).

I'm so uptight ordinarily. I'm nearly neurotic about taking care of business. When I drink, I dance like nobody's watching! Day to day worries can wait and I can tell stupid jokes, laugh out loud for no reason, and just get caught up in the moment.

I occasionally eat more than I should when i drink, but I don't count the dancing calories, either, so I figure it evens out. And the mental health break is worth it, even if i do overindulge.

BigDaddyBRC

I appreciate good alcohol

KokomoJoe

I love beer, but the easiest way to loose the extra pounds is to not drink. I have drastically curtailed my beer consumption and "surprise" the weight has come off. Even now if I want to have a beer or two I'll walk to the bar (20 minutes) have a couple and walk home. I figure I have worked off those 2 beers.

bcattoes

I drink wine nearly everyday with dinner because I like it. When properly paired, it enhances the taste of food and makes the meal more pleasurable. I also occasionally drink beer, sometimes because it pairs with a food better than wine, sometimes because it's that kind of party, and sometimes just because I want the buzz.

BeccaB1981

:drinker: I really like drinking. I like to drink Jack Daniel's and Pepsi which I figured is about 172 cal per drink and I can easliy drink 4-5 in one night which is a lot of calories! Since I have been on MFP the only times I went over my calorie goal were on days that I was drinking so for that reason I have decided to really try to cut it out altogether. I won't say I will never drink anymore or even that when I do drink I will limit myself to one or two but I definitely will try to make it less often, maybe once a month or less.

fbmandy55

On the weekends I spend my daytime getting in some good burns so I have plenty of calories to work with. I'll have 6-9 vodka sodas and maybe a couple shots. I do this 2-3 times a month and it hasn't hindered my weight loss.

RAFValentina

I drink on big social occasions, but not really during the week. I'll have what I want. I love a good cold Gin and slimline tonic, but I also love a delicious fruit bellini or glass of champagne. Not a huge fan of red wine or still whites but will drink when it dictates. Have a cheeky glass of port at dining-in nights. Other than that, its very dehydrating and can't afford to be dehydrated with my phys levels so don't drink much or often!

klewis81

I used to drink a lot, I was probably a borderline alcoholic. I was drinking 2-3 glasses of wine every night, sometimes more. It had caused a lot of my weight gain and general unhappiness with myself. Finally, I decided that I was wasting my life, and my liver, away and I stopped. Not completely cold turkey, I will have a glass of wine at a restaurant every few weeks, but I don't drink at home anymore. I feel a million times better and it is really helping in the weight-loss department.

skittybang

Yes - I do drink and it's pretty frequently. I do drink in social situations but I have obtained it also as a habit (with dinner, watching a movie, etc.) I'm attempting to ween off it a bit as I know my weight-loss plateau and my drinking are in direct correlation. I am, however, quite proud that I can drink most of my male friends under the table. :bigsmile: I drink it all, too. As of late, my typical order is some Jack and Coke Zero :drinker:

bugsygal89

I do. I used to drink a few times a week but I realized that the calories really add up and it just isn't worth it. I'll have a glass as a treat every once in a while but limit myself to that. Then again, when I drink I get the munchies so I have two reasons to avoid drinking frequently :-P

ninerbuff

If so, why? If not, why not?

Just wondering, as I am considering going tee-total for a number of reasons, mostly health/diet related. (I'm not an alcoholic) So do you drink? What are your motivating factors for drinking/not drinking?

No judgement either way

edith xx

Nope. I have the yearly beer (usually with pizza), but after watching many friends get DUI's and a couple being hit by drunk drivers, I find that SOMEONE should be sober at all times at any party or social gathering.

bluegirl10

I used to drink every weekend when we went out with friends, but nowadays I rarely have a drink. I may have one here and there, but it will be months in between.

Bankman1989

I'm a social drinker. A run and diek coke but only 1 (never more than 2). I would say every other weekend or 3 weeks to a month.

ebonaskavi

I think that if you want to avoid the "spoil sport" issue and not make a deal out of it, order your drink at the bar and get a club soda or a diet coke and ask for them to put it in the same glass as they would serve a mixed drink. I've done this on a number of occasions when I just didn't feel like drinking or didn't want the calories.

I think when one person in the group isn't drinking it can make the other people feel uncomfortable or judged and that's why they pressure. Faking it alleviates the pressure.

ahavoc

It's my only vice left, thank heavens! Wine, yes! essence of the god's, and I only drink reds. Red Bordeaux, Argentinian Malbecs, Spanish Tempranillo and Italian deliciousness. Some Californians aren't bad either, but I don't like Cabernets, I stay away from whites mostly, but I've found a nice white I can cook with that's got a flavor that enhances the food and doesn't over power it, and once in a while I'll have a glass.

And since I'm sensitive to wheat and sprouted grains, Potato vodka from Poland. I even entered it as a food here. It's only 75 calories for 1.5 ounces, I only drink at the end of my day when I'm done with everything that having a full time job, being a wife and mom, cook, housekeeper, and all the stuff that goes with it will allow.

So, yes, yes, yes, I drink it! Everything else is illegal.

edith_t

I think that if you want to avoid the "spoil sport" issue and not make a deal out of it, order your drink at the bar and get a club soda or a diet coke and ask for them to put it in the same glass as they would serve a mixed drink. I've done this on a number of occasions when I just didn't feel like drinking or didn't want the calories.

I think when one person in the group isn't drinking it can make the other people feel uncomfortable or judged and that's why they pressure. Faking it alleviates the pressure.

that's a good idea, as it is hard to be the only one! thanks

Gigi_licious

I drink. I don't drink often, usually only about once every few months or so. When I do drink, it's because I feel like it and I've been known to drink a bottle to a bottle and a half of wine at one time, or 2-3 of the biggest size swirl margarita's On The Border has. I drink it, I enjoy it, then I go another few months without drinking because I just don't feel like it.

bethgarzonie

I do have to have a margarita about once every 2 weeks on Friday. I have changed it up and cut the calories and sugar with the "skinny margarita" though. I have also tried diet margarita mix (it's ok, but I prefer the fresh squeezed lime).

heidiberr

I have a glass of wine or a beer about once a week. My fiance enjoys beer and wine and it's nice to relax I work it into my calories. I'm such a lightweight now because I've lost so much that it gives me a pretty good buzz--I can't drink more than 1.5 drinks before being pretty drunk now haha

Cathy92

to those of you who drank and then gave up on account of diet reasons, how have your friends reacted to this? whenever i have gone out with friends who are drinking and have told them i'm not, i get the 'spoilsport, you never let your hair down' looks/speech. yes this is peer pressure, but it's not so easy to say 'well don't be friends with them' when i do consider them to be very close friends and i value their friendship enormously. has this happened to anyone and how have you dealt with it?

One of my best friends drinks a lot! She's asked me if I'm going to have a drink and I say no...I no longer like the taste and I'll have Perrier when she has wine...we just let each other do what we want and aren't judgemental. Life is tough enough. I'm too old to care what others think...my problem is eating too much and if I 'binge' my friend is supportive, not critical.
Sounds like your pals aren't true friends, but more like people who just want to be part of a like-minded group. Or let them know how you have changed. Maybe they'll be supportive. If not, find another group who won't try to make you feel bad about yourself...especially since it seems you are trying to do some good for yourself.

rybo

I like to drink good beer on occasion.
Sometimes I will go weeks without one, sometimes I will have one or 2 a night for 2-3 nights in a row if I have a nice mixed 6 in the fridge.

iysys

yes. i am very into craft beers and bourbon. i don't drink much or often but i do drink. mostly because i really enjoy the taste.

iysys

I think that if you want to avoid the "spoil sport" issue and not make a deal out of it, order your drink at the bar and get a club soda or a diet coke and ask for them to put it in the same glass as they would serve a mixed drink. I've done this on a number of occasions when I just didn't feel like drinking or didn't want the calories.

I think when one person in the group isn't drinking it can make the other people feel uncomfortable or judged and that's why they pressure. Faking it alleviates the pressure.

that's a good idea, as it is hard to be the only one! thanks

i'm sorry but if your friends are giving you a hard time about not drinking then you really need new friends.

jlowensby

I am what you would call a "social drinker." Sometimes out with friends yes I will drink. That very rare occasion out with the hubby..I will drink some...about once or twice I year I drink a lot to actually get drunk or buzzed..but most nights you will find alcohol no where near me..