No alcohol for 30 days..

Megclark37

Decided to give up alcohol for an entire month starting today. Has anybody cut it out and noticed a difference? I am a huge binge drinker so I'm hoping to see awesome benefits. Does anybody want to join me!? My only concern is that I honestly don't know what else to do on the weekends now- it''s all my friends do

Zichu

I'm not trying to be harsh or anything, but even if you do keep it up for 30 days, what do you think will happen when you start it up again after that month is up?

bryan02

Im with you

Boonster001

My husband and I both enjoy a drink on the weekends, but have really started to question whether it is worth the calories. When I think of the exercise it takes to make up for a glass of wine... sometimes it is just not worth the trade off. Try to fill you weekend with activities that get you moving, hiking, swimming - even walking around the mall. There are so many other things to do - decide what you enjoy and pursue it. (Good luck!)

nichole325

I drink like once a week...I was trying to look for a good alcohol that I could mix with spring water and I found Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka, I mix it with water and a little bit of fresh lemon and IT IS SOOOOO GOOD and it does the trick alcohol is supposed to do! lol

I am 24 it is not realistic for me to completely cut alcohol out just like I wont cut out pizza or any of that because then once you start drinking or eating that stuff again the weight is going to come right back on.

hauer01

You can still go out! Just drink water with a slice of Lemon! Nobody will know the difference. I go out all of the time with my friends and I dont' drink.

freeasharold

I lost weight in the past by giving up alcohol and living on 1200 calories. Let me tell you when I brought craft beer back into my life, those pounds packed back on like fire in just 6-7 months. This time I am including alcohol in moderation among other deliciousness and keeping calories between 1400-1800. I am losing weight slower, but I think in the long run it is much more sustainable.

lizard053

I've cut out all alcohol. It really helps! Being allergic to yeast, and I think I'm hypersensitive to it right now, I can't have alcohol. I've gotten rid of a lot of bloating I used to get when I drank wine or beer. And fewer calories I have to watch, that I can eat instead of drink! Yeah, really helped getting rid of the alcohol.

Megclark37

I don't like going out sober- I'm just not into the whole bar scene anymore. So I'd rather not even go out at all I just really don't want to piss of my friends. My boyfriend recently stopped drinking (he used to be a huge partier) and he tells me how happy he's been since he's quit.

ALSO- I'm on a medication that I'm not supposed to even drink with- but I don't really want to tell that whole story to my friends

alucard75

I'm with you no alcohol for 30....

nichole325

I don't like going out sober- I'm just not into the whole bar scene anymore. So I'd rather not even go out at all I just really don't want to piss of my friends. My boyfriend recently stopped drinking (he used to be a huge partier) and he tells me how happy he's been since he's quit.

ALSO- I'm on a medication that I'm not supposed to even drink with- but I don't really want to tell that whole story to my friends

If pissing off ur friends is your worry- then that is silly. If your friends are really your friends then they will not get pissed and realize your priorities are in a different place

merakesh

Wine in moderation (100 calories per serving) has many additional benefits not to be discounted. It is heart healthy for one. There are also many options for liquor that are not heavy on the calories, again in moderation. Beer is a no no unless you are drinking the light stuff, and at that point, why bother.

The trouble starts with mixers, which are typically sugar laden. Or things like Sweet Tea Vodka mentioned earlier - the sugary calories are rather heavy in those types of flavored liquors.

I gave up alcohol and beer for Lent and this time around I have not noticed much difference in weight loss - it gets more difficult the older you get. Substituting cookies hasn't helped either!

Zichu

Well if you aren't meant to be drinking while on medication, I would suggest not drinking lol. You can still go out with your friends and not drink.

If they pressure you into drinking, just say you can't drink because you are on medication. You don't need to explain to them or to anyone what the medication is for because it's up to you who you tell and who you don't tell. I'm pretty sure they will understand if they are good friends.

lthomas2541

I was a social drinker. But because I love sweet white wine and light beer, my nutritionist recommended that I give up alcohol completely due to the amount of liquid calories. My start date was 2/8/12. I notice a difference in my calorie intake and my waistline! I love to hang out with friends and still find myself at happy hour and the bar with water in hand. You can still hang out and socialize minus the alcohol....

bbrown426

I gave up alcohol between the time I was diagnosed with gall bladder issues and about three months after. I didn't notice a difference since I was still tracking my calories.

Occasional drink should be fine, just record it. Try lighter versions of your favorite drinks if you can.

Just my 2 cents

sprinkies

i'll do it with you! i def could use 30 days without alcohol. i don't drink more than once a week usually, but when i do it's at least 3-4 drinks.

mozartsghost

I've cut it out almost completely. Though I'll drink every now and then for special occasions, and yes it does make a difference.

Much easier on the bank accounts, too.

jrodx2

I don't like going out sober- I'm just not into the whole bar scene anymore. So I'd rather not even go out at all I just really don't want to piss of my friends. My boyfriend recently stopped drinking (he used to be a huge partier) and he tells me how happy he's been since he's quit.

ALSO- I'm on a medication that I'm not supposed to even drink with- but I don't really want to tell that whole story to my friends

If you're "friends" really get pissed off about you not wanting to go out drinking, maybe you should start looking into getting together with other people who share similar interests with you. Maybe get together with friends for dinner before hand. The you can choose a healthy option for yourself, hang out and after, they can go to the bar if they would like and you can head home.

I haven't been a big drinker for a few years now and then just quit it all together and no one has ever given me a hard time for it. If we have a bbq at the house, we still provide for everyone else and I walk around with a bottle of water. I honestly don't even miss drinking anymore. To me, it's just not worth the money or calories.

jesusHchris

Yep, I'm at 31 days now. Check this thread: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/530214-one-month-of-no-alcohol

CrazyDaisysMommy

I noticed when I gave up drinking that my face was less bloated and my belly trimmed down. It also improved my vision. When I went out to a bar after not drinking for a while, I could finally see clearly how obnoxious drunk people were! Have a club soda with lime. People will assume it's vodka and soda. And then sit back and watch the show.

pinuplove

I don't like going out sober- I'm just not into the whole bar scene anymore. So I'd rather not even go out at all I just really don't want to piss of my friends. My boyfriend recently stopped drinking (he used to be a huge partier) and he tells me how happy he's been since he's quit.

ALSO- I'm on a medication that I'm not supposed to even drink with- but I don't really want to tell that whole story to my friends

Honest question - if you don't like going out sober, why go? Especially if your boyfriend is of a similar mindset. Add that to the fact that your medication is counter-indicated with alcohol (I am on one that is as well, and don't drink) it seems like a no-brainer to me. Maybe you and your friends are just in a different place now and it's time to expand your social circle.

AliceKlaar

I don't like going out sober- I'm just not into the whole bar scene anymore. So I'd rather not even go out at all I just really don't want to piss of my friends. My boyfriend recently stopped drinking (he used to be a huge partier) and he tells me how happy he's been since he's quit.

ALSO- I'm on a medication that I'm not supposed to even drink with- but I don't really want to tell that whole story to my friends

If pissing off ur friends is your worry- then that is silly. If your friends are really your friends then they will not get pissed and realize your priorities are in a different place

^This. True friends will support your decision, and your boyfriend will obviously be supportive. I used to drink a lot, now I've decided it's really not worth the calories - I'm not saying I'll never go on a bender again, but I've found it easier than I thought to limit my drinking to a couple of glasses of wine at weekends. Maybe you've found yourself in a place where it would be beneficial to quit - if your friends don't understand then they're not true friends.

skinnybliss

Skinny Girl Margaritas are low calorie and STRONG. You can have like 2, feel great and work the calories into your day.

seebeachrun

There are four major options here if it were me.

1. Stop drinking forever. Better for you in the long run because alcohol is obviously not good for us for the most part (I know, I know, the one glass of red wine per day blah blah blah.)

2. Stop drinking for a few weeks or months then reincorporate it back in.

3. Continue drinking but cut back to one or two days per week and make sure you exercise on the days you drink.

4. Continue drinking as much as you like whenever you like regardless of exercise or calories.

I chose option 3. I enjoy my nights out too much to give up drinking forever and drinking the amount that I was drinking before I started paying attention was way too much. I try to make better choices about what I drink as well (i.e. I order vodka and water instead of a pina colada.) The upside of paying attention to my caloric intake is that since I am no longer engorging myself it takes less alcohol to give me that good buzzy feeling.

Again, do what is right for you and make sure it is a lifestyle change you can sustain rather than a short term diet that will fall by the wayside when you're tempted.

JoolieW68

I cut waaaaayyy back when I started getting back into shape. The calories weren't worth it, and it made me retain a lot of water. I will still have a drink now and then, but nothing like I used to.

GuruOnAMountain

I don't like going out sober- I'm just not into the whole bar scene anymore. So I'd rather not even go out at all I just really don't want to piss of my friends. My boyfriend recently stopped drinking (he used to be a huge partier) and he tells me how happy he's been since he's quit.

ALSO- I'm on a medication that I'm not supposed to even drink with- but I don't really want to tell that whole story to my friends

I don't drink (never have) but as other people say, you can go out without getting drunk. Like I don't know what your friends are like or what it is like in the USA (I'm guessing that's where you are) but here in the UK, people tend to go to a pub until maybe 12-1am and then go onto a club. Pubs can be manic on the weekends but you can usually at least get a bit of conversation and stuff, whereas the clubs are all about booming music, pulling and dancing. Stone cold sober as I am, clubs don't appeal to me, but I will meet my friends for a drink in the pub before they go clubbing.

And maybe I'm just really open but I'd definately have no probs telling my friends I was on medication that I couldn't drink with. If they are good friends at all, they'd be supportive of that and be happy to try to meet you halfway, either by meeting at a quieter place for a chat before they go out partying or meet you for dinner/cinema etc. another time in the week. If they're only interested in spending time with you when you're drunk, then I'd say they probably aren't really worth hanging onto, anyway.

fittiephd

I gave up alcohol for 3 weeks during a cleanse last summer. It was really difficult since I had just turned 21 finally and am in college and basically picked the worst time to stop drinking haha.

Alcohol has a lot of empty calories so it might help to cut it out, or maybe to lessen the amount you drink. Not being hungover hte next day will keep you from avoiding exercise and eating "hangover food" so that might help too..

good luck!! You could just go down to maybe 1-2 drinks on one weekend night instead of cutting it out all together?

happyjoyousfree1

I know it's not my business, but you asked. it's all empty calories and if you can't cut it out for 30 days you might want to do a little personal inventory.
Good luck either way!

lady_in_weighting

the past week ive been having a glass of pepsi max and a single measure of spirit with my dinner in the evenings. i hate binge drinking but enjoy a drink during the week. this would be a healthy alternative. ive cut down on how much i drink at weekends even though my friends still go wild!

good luck with it, hope you can find a happy medium too (:

lorenzoinlr

I've gone from probably averaging two or more drinks a day to maybe two per week. I just don't want the calories to be wasted but even more important is with a few drinks my discipline is a shadow of what it normally is. Some of my friends haven't been inviting me to stuff as they feel guilty about their influence. It's a trade off that for now I'm willing to make.

However, I don't agree that it's either a permanent lifestyle change or you'll go back to your before state. When I reach my targeted weight, I'll be able to consume another 700-800 calories. Some of that will go to a glass or two of wine a night. Yes, it will be a challenge maintaining discipline, if I can't then back on the wagon.

BruteSquad

If all your friends do is drink. You may find by not drinking you may be more entertained watching them. Just sayin.....