Tips on reducing wine consumption?

ejwme

I read somewhere (likely on the interwebs) that there are two types of people - those who can "cold turkey" and those who can "moderate". When identifying a habit that one would like to change, success is dependent on accurately identifying and accepting one's personal nature.

Me? I'm a "cold turkey". I don't moderate. I can't have just one serving of ice cream a week. I might be able to buy a little container, but eventually that will become habit and not treat. It's easier for me if I simply don't buy ice cream, ever. If I try to wean myself gently off of things or take "baby steps" towards change, I fail miserably.

Of course I married a "moderator". He can just cut back... in fact, if he tries to make drastic changes, like I do, he fails just as miserably as when I try his baby step approach.

So, OP, if you've had best luck kicking or starting a habit by going whole hog and jumping in with both feet - do that. Cut it out completely. If you've had the best luck by making small changes here and there, do that - wean, dilute, skip days, buy small bottles, whatever. There's some really good advice everywhere in this thread for both, no matter what kind of wine drinker you are.

But if you try one approach and can't make it work, don't give up. Just recognize that you may need to change differently.

Best of luck to you and your hubby, kudos for keeping after improving your diet in the midst of such stress - it will help!

missyfitter

I like pouring POM wonderful in a wine glass. That way i'm getting the antioxidants with less calories and more health benefits. Pouring it into a wine glass also makes it feel 'special'.

Good luck

tessangel7

I have 1 glass of wine each night. I've started making sure I stick to 5 oz... no more, which I agree some days can be tempting.

I just cork it back up and put it in my fridge since I prefer it cold. Pour one glass and walk away.

LoosingMyLast15

What the hell kind of wine are you people drinking that you think it's ok to mix it with seltzer or diet soda? Did someone suggest wine in a box!? Is there no one who actually appreciates wine?!

Agree! No -one, I mean no-one wiill mix wine with soda in my house. What a waste of a decent wine. Much better by far to buy a good quality and have as a special treat. Cheap wine is a waste of calories. Take note local pubs!

in the summer i love to drink a very nice light white wine with seltzer especially if i'm spending the day on the river. this way i can drink all day long, not get trashed and feel good that i'm not completely ruining my entire day drinking my calories. i would never mix sprite though too sweet and it has just as many calories as a glass of wine.

i prefer not to drink box wine but many people enjoy it.

melaniecheeks

Addiction is much more than the quantity you consume.

Addiction is the lengths you will go to to get it - the lies you will tell, the rules you will break, the friendships you ruin.

Wanting to cut down on alcohol intake, but not wanting to give it up altogether, is a very mature response. There's been some really innovative and useful suggestions in this thread - I'll be exploring some of them myself - so thank you OP for starting this thread!

Sabine_Stroehm

This thread could be titled "tips on reducing <cheesecake> consumption" or any other thing that we love to eat/drink. The formula is the same: eat less or move more.

EXACTLY.
But when the subject is alcohol, the arm chair AA sponsors come out of the woodwork and declare that everyone who asks about alcohol calories has an addiction.
I say this as the child of an actual AA sponsor.

Sabine_Stroehm

Addiction is much more than the quantity you consume.

Addiction is the lengths you will go to to get it - the lies you will tell, the rules you will break, the friendships you ruin.

Wanting to cut down on alcohol intake, but not wanting to give it up altogether, is a very mature response. There's been some really innovative and useful suggestions in this thread - I'll be exploring some of them myself - so thank you OP for starting this thread!

Excellent post!

Dave198lbs

This thread could be titled "tips on reducing <cheesecake> consumption" or any other thing that we love to eat/drink. The formula is the same: eat less or move more.

EXACTLY.
But when the subject is alcohol, the arm chair AA sponsors come out of the woodwork and declare that everyone who asks about alcohol calories has an addiction.
I say this as the child of an actual AA sponsor.

they are of the all or nothing mentality

it works for them (usually) and they are taught it is the ONLY way

Off_The_Record

Maybe you should change up your routine for a few nights so that you are not just at home with wine available. Maybe go to the movies or the mall, anything, to get out at night for a few days. Sitting at home is will just trigger that you will want a glass. Good luck xox

fionarama

this is definitely the big challenge for me, chocolate, junk food, all that I completely excluded from my diet years ago but I will never entirely give up a lovely glass of wine. And its true in times of stress in my life it becomes a problem.

I definitely have rules I stick to , (like every night definitely out) and I like buying those little minatures if I am going to have a drink at home, as once I open a bottle it will tend to disappear. So if I want a drink I buy one minature (or two ) and at least I know thats all I'm going to have.

Volunteering to be the driver when you are out is a great way to avoid alcohol and still socialise.

having children definite helps!!!!

if you think its a problem, great start would be to make sure you diarise each and every drink on here once you know how badly you are sabotaging your goals you will feel motivated to change your habits.