One Month of No Alcohol

jesusHchris

I tend to party it up on the weekends. About a month ago today, I decided to give the booze a break. I have not had a sip (beer included) since then.

Just some benefits I've noticed:

- A bit more consistency in my calorie intake on the weekends
- I've gone from 3 minute drills to 10 minute drills (muay thai) ** in a 60 minute workout **
- Have not had to kick undesirable girls out of my apartment the next morning (haha)
- Sleep patterns much more stable
- More time for healthy hobbies on the weekend
- No calls from fraud prevention at Visa wondering what the F I'm doing with my ATM card
- Six pack kicking in nicely
- No problem with Monday workouts

Anyone else have this one as a bit of a thorn in their side when it comes to nutrition / exercise?

_snw_

how much did you usually drink? damn!

coloradocami

Good for you!!!

jesusHchris

how much did you usually drink? damn!

MORE than enough.

AshleyLauren589

Glad to hear it worked out! I'm starting a two week (maybe longer) detox today (had to wait until after St. Paddy's, haha!) just to see if it significantly helps my weight loss, since I've been stuck for a while, and I think alcohol is the reason. Thanks for the insight!

girlwapp

I did that for a month and really should go back to it. I definitely agree that there are so many benefits to not drinking! Sadly, I'm currently under a lot of stress that I'm finding difficult to deal with, so I've been drinking more than I should. Worse yet, I'm such a sucker for microbrews that I'm not even drinking low-cal stuff

Best of luck with your sobriety!

ekeledo

Well done!!! Lots of benefits there eh?? )
I am not big drinker myself at first place but am thinking of kicking the booze out for a while too.. as i just want to get in a great shape ( long way to go though ..ha ha).. it is, however, much harder to stop smoking!!!!

mslack01

Actually, I do have this problem and I need to stop it too. Although, I don't usually have to kick out undesirable women! LOL...

Qarol

I've given it up for the month of March, just to see if I can. I usually only drank on weekends. It's been two weeks...I haven't noticed much except for a pissier mood. Three more weeks of this...my reward is a camping trip first weekend in April. With lots of booze...

jesusHchris

Actually, I do have this problem and I need to stop it too. Although, I don't usually have to kick out undesirable women! LOL...

You let them stay!?

ReverendJim

Thanks for the motivating post! Alcohol is my singular weakness. Well, that and short skirts... but short skirts don't kill the liver.

neverstray

I might give it up for April. Although my birthday is in April, so maybe May. Lol.

ccadroz93

I have been sober from alcohol and other "accessories" for 27 years. Off cigarettes for almost 5 years and quit caffiene 4 months ago. I must say I also sleep much better, and seem to have been cured of my Shift Work Sleep Disorder I was diagnosed with....LOL.....I also haven't broken out in a pair of handcuffs in a long time or lost my car or felt like chewing my arm off the next morning rather than wake up the individual laying on it.....yes, there are many benefits to not drinking alcohol (at least if you drank the way I did..LOL)

kballard66

Guilty as charged! I want to stop or at least give it a break but it's really hard for me because my husband is a drinker too and when he has some I want some. I am starting to try harder by only having a few and I have switched to Michelob Ultra....yes, I do log it and I do more workout if needed.

jesusHchris

... or felt like chewing my arm off the next morning rather than wake up the individual laying on it.....

HAHA! I might have to steal that quote.

lucky1ns

Definte problem for me. I used to be able to drink wine and still lose but all of a sudden I cant. I am going to give it up during the week and see what happens.

EzraCCM

Although I am not a heavy drinker (Moderate- and I prefer wine) I did give wine up for lent last year and it helped SIGNIFICANTLY with weight loss. I did notice that I slept more consistently, too (fewer wake-ups at night). Even three-four glasses a week was impeding my weight loss. Of course, at the end of lent I started drinking wine again and gained it back

I've cut back a bit, no only have a glass or two on weekends, but I couldn't give it up for lent again this year as my IN-LAWS were in town for a week... In situations such as this, the wine helps subdue me when I have 7 days of entertaining my mother-in-law!!!

Ashleysh22

I think thats wonderful! I haven't drank much since my freshman year of college. Keep up the amazing work!

bopefas

The only way I could lose any weight was to stop drinking.It's just empty calories that lead to bad choices.Keep going sober,you get used to it and really get to know what makes you feel good.

RAFValentina

I generally don't drink alcohol, except for special occasions. I don't miss it, I don't find it hard to say no and choose something else and it means I get to eat those calories which are far more satisfying... plus have more control..when you're drunk you tend to eat and snack on crap. And can't remember that...

ArchyJill

I got pregnant and so gave up drinking entirely. Now that I'm breastfeeding I'm still not drinking and I have to say, it's not like I'm dropping the pounds like I'd hoped! Doesn't give me much incentive to not drink once the little one is weaned...I miss my whiskey!

**Edited to add that I like my whiskey a LOT, like maybe 5+ ounces a night way back when (last year)***

MsFat2Fit

Great job!!! I love to party as well; didn't drink any alcohol between New Year's and Valentine's - felt great!!!

bigd65

big difference when you drink . I quit for 19 years when my boys were born and took it up again a few years back, but am getting tired of it already. I agree it makes for bad things afterword, weight is harder to control after drinking, poor choices the day after. I am giving it up until the 4th of July, and gonna push the weights and cardio hard until then. Health is way more important than a night of fun

Pronoiac

Amen, brother! Very timely. I barely maintain a light social drinker status, at best (in recent months I may have bordered on moderate/social), yet when a lay off the hooch all elements align in a much more positive way. I most definitely achieve better fitness results, have better sleep, zero% super-nacho-at-1am sessions, no waking up with strange women- which my woman seems to appreciate, and smoke far fewer cigars.

Yesterday was my Irish Fat Tuesday and I am taking a planned separation from the fire water for a few months. After reviewing the bar receipts in my pocket this morning perhaps a week long detox session. I did not drink for three years straight during college and I was always on my A game.

Kerri_is_so_very

Good for you!!!! Loved your post!!! Let us know how the next 30 days go!

onawhymm

I hopped on the wagon 2 weeks ago with the idea I would go for 30 days. I live on an island in the Bahamas where everyone is either on vacation or retired and all they seem to do is drink. It's easy to fall in with them. But when cocktail hour started at 4 instead of 6pm and was a nightly event - I decided I need a break so I could get back into check. I used to enjoy wine with my diner and a cocktail if I went out or had company - I would like to get back to that. Plus it's not helping me weight-loss-wise.

I have noticed many of the same good things being on the wagon - much better sleep - able to eat more food since I am not saving cals for drinks - better runs in the morning - more productive in the evenings (working on craft projects that I wouldn't have after 3+ glasses of wine!!) and best of all - weight loss.

Heading to a belated St. Patty's Day bash this afternoon and I may be the only sober guest!

Cheers!

Ireshgurl

Great Job!! I myself am in no way a big drinker. I'm a social drinker, and only to the point of being lightly buzzed. HOWEVER, I am a Dr Pepper addict. I know if I was to give up the Dr, I'd be able to lose weight easier. It's just soo hard because it's my only means of caffeine intake and somedays at work I NEED my caffeine!!

kate_sunflower

That's awesome! Good for you!!! I don't drink much but I'm one of those who goes out once in while for a friend's birthday but goes out hard :embarassed: and will usually end up drunk eating (UGHHHH) and that can set me back for a while. Finding a balance and not being all-or-nothing is hard.

I'm happy I wasn't pressured to go out drinking this St. Patty's Day because I had to work. But damn, I admire your willpower, good job!!

Kissybiz

Thank you for the post. I scaled wayyyy back 3 months ago when I started working out and eating healthy, but lately I've had a few happy hours and went out last night for St. Paddy's day. This morning I woke up (alone... I never bring anyone home) and I have a headache and a kitchen full of fast food wrappers. Back on the wagon today. Drinking for me is definitely a diet killer... leads me to binge and hangovers aren't very motivating for working out.

mikey1976

- Have not had to kick undesirable girls out of my apartment the next morning (haha)

does this mean i can have your little black book of girls number lol

i haven't had a drink in over two years

dcjackson50

Good for you, and I'd have to agree,.....drinking does not help with weight loss
I think I have been fooling myself into thinking that as long as my calories are ok I can afford some wine or a shot or two of vodka after a stressful day at work.
But like many said,....bad food choices and energy saps prevail. I lose 2-3 pounds a week,.......problem is they are the same 2-3 I gain each weekend after doing great all week.

I am going to go without drinking anything this week and think its going to show on the scale