Who has given up Alcohol?

13

Replies

  • Magoo64
    Magoo64 Posts: 13 Member
    I have given it up except for the occasional planned days where I go off my diet, like I did this week with Xmas eve and day dinners. In general I have found that by cutting it out completely while trying to lose weight, i have lost weight way faster than those times I have worked it into my diet. I love wine with my meals, but have just found it way better and easier for me to eat healthy food calories instead of drinking them. My nutritional counselor firmly believes it is better to take it out while losing weight (save the occasional splurge) because it doesn't metabolize the same as food and makes your body less efficient. I'm sure others will counter that, but it is working well for me to eliminate it.
  • cjsacto
    cjsacto Posts: 1,421 Member
    I am not a big drinker and I'm on a tight budget so I can't afford to buy alcohol or other things that aren't necessary. Anyway, I like expensive sweet liquers like Bailey's - and that doesn't fit with my $$ budget, my calorie budget, or my lactose intolerance. [And I recently found out they make a CHOCOLATE Bailey's... drool.]

    I do cook with cheap wine from time to time. Tasty, the bottle lasts forever when just used for cooking, and I count in the calories.
  • CassieReannan
    CassieReannan Posts: 1,479 Member
    I havent given it up because I wasnt much of a drinker anyways!
  • Shas2228
    Shas2228 Posts: 187
    I've never been much of a drinker. However I use to love a glass of wine maybe once or twice a week. Apparently my body has an allergic reaction to it and my Dr. said I had to give it up...

    So, it wasn't that big of a deal for me, but it wasn't by choice either.
  • PattyfromToledo
    PattyfromToledo Posts: 74 Member
    Red wine is good for you ... I keep it in my diet for health reasons :smile: :wink:
  • butterfli7o
    butterfli7o Posts: 1,319 Member
    [/quote]

    haha!!! Pinot Grigio in hand as I am typing... some days after work I feel like a glass of wine just helps me unwind =\
    [/quote]

    Jealous...
  • butterfli7o
    butterfli7o Posts: 1,319 Member
    god didnt make boozer and loser rhyme just for the hell of it

    God must have never tasted this delicious, ice cold Sam Adams.

    :laugh:
  • Melo1966
    Melo1966 Posts: 881 Member
    Red wine is good for you ... I keep it in my diet for health reasons :smile: :wink:

    I get headaches from red wine I think it is the sulfites. Haven't stop drinking other stuff though, just have to work it into my calories. With a drink or two I take less ibuprofen for pain, not sure which of these are worse.
  • JosieJo2000
    JosieJo2000 Posts: 162 Member
    Given it up along with sodas and caffeine.

    I did this. Gave up caffeine and sodas when I was pregnant 11 years ago, never took it back up. Now I just drink filtered water, tap water or carbonated water and I don't miss other drinks at all. Never feel particularly good when I drink alcohol and we have addicts in the family so steer clear of it. Less liquid calories means I can eat more!
  • Bobby__Clerici
    Bobby__Clerici Posts: 741 Member
    double post...sorry
  • RobKarmic
    RobKarmic Posts: 108 Member
    Liquid calories never seem to be my problem but alcohol is absolutely a problem of mine... but you know I don't care what they say alcohol is technically a solution...LOL but really I only drink wine anymore
  • Bobby__Clerici
    Bobby__Clerici Posts: 741 Member
    I have for the most part....it's mostly empty calories.
  • basslinewild
    basslinewild Posts: 294 Member
    I wasn't much of a drinker to begin with, but I limit alcohol even more now that I'm working out. I do love Orange Dream Martinis at Applebees though! :wink:
  • ssl444
    ssl444 Posts: 88 Member
    No I haven't given it up and no I don't intend to, I keep my alcohol within my daily calorie allowance and I opt for low calorie drinks ie lambrini light as it is 40cals a glass, I am not gong to deprive myself completely as I know my diet will fail, I lost 14lbs prior to MFP and I have lost a further 5lbs since joining MFP. :drinker:
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Nope, and it hasn't hindered my weight loss thus far. I do track it and log it...usually if I'm over my calorie goal, it's because I've had an unintended glass of wine or something. I don't drink beer too often these days...one of my favorites has over 200 calories in a 12oz bottle, so I'm pretty much screwed if I have a couple of those.

    So, I haven't given it up, but I do watch it much closer than I used to and I pretty much stick with vodka and soda these days.
  • Laces_0ut
    Laces_0ut Posts: 3,750 Member
    havent given it up but i drink a lot less than i used too. i miss beer, wine and whiskey way more than any food.
  • endlesoul
    endlesoul Posts: 98 Member
    Its been about a year for me, use to drink beer almost daily. About a year ago I had an infected tooth and had to have antibiotics. Didn't know that "Clindamycin" has a high rate of C-Diff infection. Long story short I was sick and the doctors took awhile to figure it all out since I didn't have a severe C-diff infection. I was off alcohol for about 3 mo. and decided it was the best thing for me.
    My weight loss was quite a bit and I think stopping the drinking helped.
  • Legs_McGee
    Legs_McGee Posts: 845 Member
    You can have my vodka when you pry it from my cold, dead hand.
  • firemanfive0
    firemanfive0 Posts: 228 Member
    why give it up when there are alternatives like this out there...

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/323651-74-calorie-margaritas-at-our-house-even-the-margaritas-have
  • bgelliott
    bgelliott Posts: 610 Member
    I gave it up because it was empty calories and prefer to eat my calories rather than drink them only to still be hungry. I was a Vodka/Cranberry Juice drinker and 1 drink would net 240 calories...yikes! I have only drank a handful of times since August 2009 and I like it this way. Saves $$$ too!
  • jsickman12
    jsickman12 Posts: 139 Member
    I like to drink, and have figured that into my calorie content for the day. I have also replaced high calories mixers, Vodka and V8 Splash is my go to these days. Replaced high calorie beer with the 64 calorie variety, drink most stuff on the rocks (wild turkey 101), and if I am having wine, well, I just keep drinking, lol. I try to work out extra on those days to give me the extra calories to be able to not worry about it.
  • kdz526
    kdz526 Posts: 210 Member
    I have a once a month Girls night out and have no intention of giving up alcohol. I rarely drink anymore but on the occasions that call for it, I thoroughly enjoy my beers. I try to work out extra the day of and drink lots of water before going out to make up for the damage I am about to do to my body :) The whole lifestyle change means to me not giving up the things I want or like, just partaking of them less. I have found that, yeah, I retain water for a couple of days after, but then drop back down to where I should have been anyway. So far It has not seemed to be an issue for my personal journey.
  • digressions
    digressions Posts: 19 Member
    Based on the previous replies, I'm guessing my reply won't be very popular, but...I am a drinker and I do not want to give it up at this point. I drink just about every day, vodka soda (or diet 7). I log it, in fact I plan ahead for it, but I also eat extremely healthily and I am under my goals 99% of the time.

    I am 37, and have been on my weight loss/fitness journey since May 15th. In the past 7.5 months, I have lost 76 pounds, and am 9 pounds from my "ultimate" goal weight...surpassing my initial "I would be happy with that" goal weight by 26 pounds already. I exercise a lot, incluing taking up running in July (doing my first race on New Years Day) and improved my fitness immeasurably. My blood pressure has dropped from 180/120 (while on BP medication even! My doctor once said I was a "stroke waiting to happen!") to now 127/80, which is the higher end of normal. My resting heart rate has dropped from 90+ to 55. I am most certainly in the best shape of my life, and I feel (and look) better than I ever have.

    So say what you want about alcohol affecting weight loss and fitness, but you can't argue with my results. I'm just saying, it IS possible to lose weight and get in shape without giving up alcohol.
  • vanguardfitness
    vanguardfitness Posts: 720 Member
    I reduced my intake to about 1 session a month and its around 5 drinks. I wasn't much of a drinker to begin with. I do like red wine though
  • LetsMakeupXtina
    LetsMakeupXtina Posts: 627 Member
    You can have my vodka when you pry it from my cold, dead hand.

    love this!!
  • LetsMakeupXtina
    LetsMakeupXtina Posts: 627 Member
    I reduced my intake to about 1 session a month and its around 5 drinks. I wasn't much of a drinker to begin with. I do like red wine though

    mmm me too, red wine is the best..
  • Cassierocksalot
    Cassierocksalot Posts: 266 Member
    I haven't completely given it up, but I have Hashimoto's so I need all the help I can get. I used to drink heavily and then I was down to a glass of wine a night. Now I'm limiting myself to special occasions only and even then only 2 max. It seems to be helping me so I'm going to stick to it.
  • theryan244
    theryan244 Posts: 65 Member
    This will be considered overkill by many but you could track your drinks. 7 calories per gram of alcohol, 4 calories per gram of carb. I don't know of any alcoholic drinks that contain protein and fats so generally the calories will come completely from alcohol and carbs. You can find many drinks in the database.
  • Restlessme
    Restlessme Posts: 191 Member
    Honestly, alcohol does nothing good for me, I gained about 30 pounds my freshman year with that as one of the reasons. I'm definitely limiting myself and even as I lose weight, I find myself drinking less anyways.
  • a_certain_shade_of_green
    a_certain_shade_of_green Posts: 134 Member
    i have no intention of giving up on alcohol. i find drunk people are really annoying when im sober, so i would probably start to hate my friends after a while. and seeing as we only tend to hang out on a weekend and drink while we watch sports... or just drink... and pretend we're watching sports... then i cant imagine a scenario where i would willingly give it up.

    i would have to become a recluse, and sit at home replying to threads on mfp like this one saying "ohh nooo i dont drink. i dont like it. it does nothing for me!" while dying on the inside :smile:

    i sometimes go a few weeks without a drink, if ive got more important things to do on a weekend. im sure my weighloss would go more quickly if i didnt drink at all, but then i'd just be thinking about drinking, and for me thats worse

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