Anybody else quit drinking?

MrFatLegs

I feel like I need to start going to A.A meetings and it's only been a little over 2 weeks since I've had a drink (Christmas didn't count). I never drank a lot but I'd have a few beers about 2 days a week, after work or during the weekend. And to top it off the beers I like are really thick ( Blue Moon & Arrogant *kitten* Ale) and I just looked them up and a 6 pack of this stuff has about 1000 calories! anyways my mouth is WATERING just thinking about it...I know I can't drink though because I always order a pizza when I get drunk :blushing:

Anybody else dealing with this? or know of anything to get my mind off it? I need a site like MFP for beer though!

TMLPatrick

I've never quit, but MFP definitely made me cut way down... maybe a night or 2 a week I'd have a few beers, but had to make sure to drink lights to keep the calories down.

netsirk12

If I am craving something sweet I will have a glass of wine before I dig in to the cookies. Wine is safer and I tend to enjoy it more slowly than eating 2 cookies.

coloradotiff

I did not quit completly either but before I started back on mvp I was literally drinking everyday and once I graduated on to being able to drink the LARGE double bottles of wine to myself in one sitting I woke up. Booze and overeating go hand and i would suggest giving yourself more time or if you dont have a problem with it do some extra exersises so you can fit in a beer or 2 once in awhile

missfluffyuk

I recently cut WAY back on my drinking, and what I drank -- partially to do with calories, more because drinking a bottle of vodka at home, I get bored and mean to my friends.

But these days, I almost exclusively drink water.

MsD1984

I haven't had a drink in... nearly 2 years! OMG... I found it quite easy though!

hsmithway

I love a good beer, and I live in Wisconsin, land of wonderful micro-brews. These days I don't drink often because I just can't budget that many calories for it with any kind of regularity, but once in a while I'll have one. And I'll usually pick something dark or really hoppy with a strong flavor that's good to savor for a while.

For me, most light beer is just not worth wasting calories on, even if it does have way less of them.

Everyone has their weaknesses. Walking past the dessert tray at a party isn't a big deal for me, but beer and cheese is much more difficult to turn down.

fishndad

I haven't drank for 25+ years, & when I quit, my favorite saying was "This will pass", meaning the mouthwatering desire will pass. Un less you just don't let it. I was sitting here looking up pizzas (which is my downfall) & there nutritional values & was I surprised!! I was thinking "I've been a good boy, I should reward myself", but when I started looking at how badly I would blow all my hard work, I said the heck with it. I know the feeling will pass eventually. I think I'll go fill up on some veggies.

SherNY

I'm a light weight...max 3 beers one night ever....one class of merlot puts me to sleep. Lol! But I also realize that when I have a drink I eat anything and everything without thinking and that is soooo bad. So now I have a drink maybe once a week and usually savor some Glenlivet single malt scotch to make the wait and calories worthwhile.

mmuzzatti

I cut way back and when I do go out to hang with the guys I almost do a 2500 calorie burn at the gym that day to "pay" for my beers!

velvetwing

Im allowing myself wine or drink twice a week... never get drunk but I like my wine with dinner. Getting used to replacing it with water

MrFatLegs

well thanks all who replied, I got over the craving.... I decided to use it as a Mini-Goal at my 15lbs lost mark. hopefully by next weekend :bigsmile:

sarah307

It's really hard to quit.. but once you make the lifestyle changes that help reduce it .. then it gets a little bit easier.. but it's still hard!

xtina2800

yea i just stopped drinking and its EXTREMELyYhard bc the weekends was my time to hang out and have a few! i tried to rationalize it as well if i sub a 100 calorie beer for a 75 cal malibu and diet then its ok! but u still consume the same amount and ive decided im working too hard to los this weight to then drink it all back and make the normal 3am taco bell run! I think that its an eventually... kinda thing! i wish u luck and just remember its all worth it!

bjs06

I have some issues with it. I used to love to go out ALL the time, especially dancing and spend all my money on drinks. of course I like all the drinks that have like a billion cups of sugar because they taste better. i was dancing all night which is deff good for me and awesome but i dont know if it evens out after all the drinks and an intoxicated visit to jacks pizza that is conveniently placed RIGHT outside the bar doors. then the next day i cant exercise because my body is wtf'ing over a week of exercise then a total alcoholic shock to the system.

iv realized though that drinking makes me extremely depressed and i barely ever drink anymore. i make it a special occasion type thing - birthdays, holidays. i dont just drink to drink anymore. when i do go out, its fun and its awesome but i try not to make a habit out of it because i have to sort of go all out with this lifestyle, i can't be amazing and in shape and sexy while poisoning my body twice a week aha. its a sacrifice though, i dont love it all the time.

dcmat

I'm down to about 5 units a month, if that. Didn't even drink on New Years Eve

ZombieKillaPrincess

i gave it up for a month starting sunday, the 1st... and it's already been tough! I miss beer so much! and I have some nice Stone IPAs in the fridge just waiting for me... i swear one of the gargoyles on the bottle winked at me... ARG! thank god it's only a month... if i even make it that far!

ZombieKillaPrincess

i gave it up for a month starting sunday, the 1st... and it's already been tough! I miss beer so much! and I have some nice Stone IPAs in the fridge just waiting for me... i swear one of the gargoyles on the bottle winked at me... ARG! thank god it's only a month... if i even make it that far!

lackie09

I quit with a buddy of mine on here for the month of jan but I think ima see how long I cant go

_Timmeh_

I didn't quit but I cut way back. Lifestyle change like someone else said.

MrFatLegs

i gave it up for a month starting sunday, the 1st... and it's already been tough! I miss beer so much! and I have some nice Stone IPAs in the fridge just waiting for me... i swear one of the gargoyles on the bottle winked at me... ARG! thank god it's only a month... if i even make it that far!

MmmMmmm.. Stone IPA!! I used to put them in the freezer for a few minutes before i drank them so the were ice cold! so good!!

eatlift

A few beers a couple of time a week. Thats only like 4 or 5 beers. That actually sounds really good. But considering theyre high in calories, then yeah you should probably cut down to maybe one or two a week.

chevy88grl

I gave it up when I got serious about my weight loss. I was never a big drinker and it tends to make me feel sick even when I would consume a small amount of it. Why do something I don't really enjoy? AND waste a ton of calories on it?

Decided if I'm gonna waste calories on a drink - I'd rather it be a flavored coffee.

rajivdubey

Quit Drinking? No way!! Why do we live?

JaymeLS

I haven't drank in almost 2 years and haven't smoked cigarettes in a year. I crave for a cheeseburger way more than I did for a smoke or a drink.

eatlift

Spend a year working out and get addicted to the high you get from self generated success. It's taken me about 10 months to start loving this *kitten*. I'm a recovering alcoholic.

Christine42012

I've stopped with the exception of new years eve. I knew that my wine and whiskey were high in calories but WOW! I look at it as really what is the point. If I want to hit my target I could have a glass or maybe two, but is it really worth it. I don't even get tipsy off a glass of wine or a couple shots of whiskey. But with that being said I'm still having a hard time saying no. No slip ups yet, I just remind myself that its not worth it. Keep up the good work, you can do it

Mcmilligen

Man, that sounds like my situation. I'm not a heavy drinker, but when I do- I love beer. Luckily, I'm pretty cheap... So I don't need a whole lot. But still, I was going out nearly every weekend with a group of "friends" a few months ago. Turns out, all they really DO for fun is get blasted drunk... Unfortunately, I had to stop hanging out with them because it seemed they didn't want to do anything with me unless it involved going out for drinks. Too bad, but hey. I guess they weren't genuine friends anyhow.

Anyway! Sorry, I enjoy rambling. I haven't had a drink since NYE and Christmas Day . If a special occasion hits, I usually try to go for just one beer (and nurse the HELL out of it... which is difficult). But most of the time, I find if I just have a cup in hand (filled with water, or whatnot) - people leave me alone (I am also pretty good at imitating drunken idiots, so that always helps).

Keep it up man! I'd say cut it out if that is what you are aiming for. But for me, I don't mind having a beer on a special occasion. It's a rarity- but I always manage to "work it in" to my food diary. :drinker:

david581c

To those cutting back, Id say thats def. a good choice.

To those here who are stopping or have stopped already, best of luck and youre a lot further ahead than me.

It blew my mind when i found out Wild Turkey 101 had like 856+ cals in a bottle, and if i start @ 7 or 8am, that bottles gone by 7pm, not to mention all the crazy drunk food i buy like super nachos or carne fries! Thats like 1000 cals a plate. lol i also drunk dial pizza places to a friend of mine and demolish whole large pizzas or blocks of cheese when drunk. I become a disposal and its really gotten in the way of my progress.

Not to mention burning a hole in my pocket :S
So im going from drinking regularly and often since i was 14, and recently a 5 month binge of drinking hard liquor every night and all day on sat+sun, from that to drinking nothing at all. My tolerance is ridiculous and its effecting my job and weightloss. I never figured id be a 21 year old alcoholic. But my resolution is to stop completely w/support from my mfp friends and new friends @ the gym, theyre the ones who got the ball rolling.

So best of luck to all of you, this will be gnarly.

zombiefruit

I don't really drink (much though my penchant for falling off of things seems to indicate otherwise) - maybe 2 or 3 times a year. But I think it's good to look at it as something you'll do very occasionally rather than trying to convince yourself never to do it again. Obviously YMMV - if you're an alcoholic, then you probably need to go about it very differently - but one of the ways I keep myself motivated is by reminding myself that I'm not never going to have nice things again... I'm just going to have them in moderation and as a rare treat.

My 30th birthday is coming up at the end of this month, and when my husband takes me out I'm going to have a fillet steak from an amazing restaurant in Manchester. On that night, I won't be counting calories and I'm going to have some really wonderful food. I'm going to be careful to really enjoy it, and not just shovel it in... And I'm going to Albert's Shed, which does really fantastic food. And in the days leading up to that one, and in the days after, I'll be counting my calories and eating healthily.

Weight loss isn't about losing it all as quickly as possible, it really is about making lifestyle changes that you can sustain throughout the rest of your life, and that means occasionally indulging yourself.

MaximalLife

I quit drinking the hard stuff and still enjoy a few glasses of vino during the week.
AA is for those who quit everything entirely.

No way!