"Sobering" stat about my alcohol consumption...

What do you want the most?

If you're having trouble quitting, I'd recommend something like AA or an outpatient alcohol treatment program. These programs offer a lot of methods for coping with the need to binge and will help you learn why you're doing what you're doing. They aren't just for stereotypical "addicts" anymore.

I hope you can find some relief soon and best of luck to you!

I would love the link to this "tool"...I want to see if I need to increase my consumption.

I think a better question is why are you drinking so much? There really isn't enough information here for us to really help or advise you. Do you have friends who like to party? Do your coworkers go out after work for drinks frequently? Are you stressed, and therefore looking for a way to cope/escape/whatever? Or, if we really wanna go there, do you have alcoholic tendencies?

The long and short of it is this: at one point, you had this under control. Now, it's out of control. You know yourself best.

My best advice is to just be honest with yourself about the reasons and work towards change. If you are *not* an alcoholic, here is my suggestion: cut yourself off completely from alcohol. When you think you want it, do something else: exercise, go for a drive, whatever it takes. Then, once you've gotten the parts of your life back into control, reintroduce it in moderation.

Every now and then a drink is awesome. I probably have a drink twice a week. However, when it's a constant and it dominates your life like it has been, you need to step back, assess, and change.

Best of luck to you!

It depends how much motivation you need. Try pre-logging your calories so you know how many drinks would fit in your goal - it won't be many. Don't go over your allotted amount. Also, go do a hard workout the day after you drink. If you're like me, you'll be panting as you run, lifting badly, and generally feeling like crap. Then plan to work out every day that week, and you'll think twice before reaching for a beer or few.

It's really about what you want more - boozing it up, or being healthy? I still have the occasional weekend binge, but it's certainly not a daily thing. You have to take care of yourself, that liver's gotta last a long time!

I come from the same lifestyle.
Things that are helping me: Not having as much in the house, pre logging it and not going to the bars for no real reason.
So far, so good.
Although when we went out for Halloween, I still drank until I blacked out.
Am I doing better? Maybe. Am I doing it as often? No.

When I sat down and evaluated my life, I realized that I did not need the alcohol - what I really wanted was something to do when enjoying a relaxing evening watching tv.

Now, instead of a glass of wine (that was really 2 glasses of wine) I have either water or tea...... and save my liquid calories for a margarita or draft beer when I go out for dinner with my wonderful husband.

HAHA!

http://www.alcoholscreening.org/Home.aspx

I definitely self medicate. I have a lot of anxieties in my life, be it from two jobs, to things at home, and honestly it has just become a really comfortable routine. I can go a night without, but once I really say "OK, no more" I get anxious about it.

My life is a little complicated right now, and I don't have a whole lot in the way of solutions, so I really need something more constructive to give me the same satisfaction being ****-canned does. haha.

Thanks for the kind words everyone!

Sounds rough.

Don't say "I'm done with booze!" and create anxiety. Just start to cut back. It's easy to drink when there's a bunch of beer (or whatever your poison of choice is) at home. Find ways to trick yourself into buying less. Bike to the booze store so you can only carry so much, perhaps? This would be a great choice because biking is exercise, and it will help you relax! Don't be a ***** about the weather; it's 26 degrees here, and I biked 5 miles to work!

Also see if you can tackle the things that are causing you stress. If you keep drinking, that's probably not going to solve anything. Instead, see if you can figure out what at work is stressing you out (can you re-examine your budget, and work fewer hours?). At home, have a talk with your loved ones. Say you are working to change, and that you will need their support. Discuss what you find frustrating, but also be willing to find out what frustrates them, and work together to have a more harmonious home. Are you living with a partner? Perhaps buy some massage oil. Then, when you feel stressed and feel like drinking, you can instead give each other massages. Sounds way better than alcohol, if you ask me!

Good luck! You can do it!

Only 9% of females drink more than I do.

I'm struggling with this same thing - as horrible as it sounds. I live in Wisconsin - we DRINK!!!! Everything we do revolves around drinking. I do the same thing.... drink... hungover... eat... auuugggg I'm getting no where. Even though I only do this once a week - on the weekend, it's ruining my progress.

I did decide after this past weekend that I have to be done. For both my weightloss, health and a relationship I'm trying to salvage.

How I'm going to deal with social situations - I'm not sure yet. But I'm curious to see who will be standing by my skinny self in the end!

I got this same stat as well. I don't think they ask enough questions to be accurate. What if I'm the person who has ONE glass of wine everyday with dinner? That's healthy enough. It said on a "drinking day", how many drinks do I generally have... 5. But how often do I do that? It never asked me that. Once a month - IF that. Maybe once every 2 months. Happy hour, anyone?

If you are self medicating, it's time to get help. I had wonderful results going to counseling. If you can find a good counselor, he or she can direct you, whether it is an inpatient or out patient rehab. You have to get to the bottom of your issues in order to help you stop drinking. Hang in there and Good Luck to you!!

I had a similar experience when I started MFP... it wasn't binge drinking so much as social events over the course of a week amounted to over 3000 calories per week. (We're talking 2 at each weekday event and more on the weekends.) While I'm in the beginning stages of learning how to handle it, the first thing I did was stopped drinking completely for 2 weeks. It was really hard, especially watching college football with my friends. (I'm a huge Texas fan and even skipped a week of tailgating!) *Did I mention this was really hard?

This is what is working for me so far: 1) Planning my alcohol intake ahead of time and trying to stick with Mich Ultra and red wine 2) limit myself to 2 because I know for me, 3 is the threshold when I start to rationalize "just one more" or "let's order a healthy appetizer". (FYI- There are no healthy appetizers in Texas.) 3) I don't normally drink soda, but I do at social functions just to fill the habit of having something in my hand 4) I arrive late and leave earlier than I would before- less time around the temptation.

Good luck!

PS- I actually made it through an entire day of Beer Olympics (8 hrs) and only had 3 beers! (That was big accomplishment.)

I've been sober for 4 years. I was doing it because I was self medicating due to bipolar disorder. The only way I was able to stop the cycle of drinking every day was to take a medication called Campral. It took away my cravings. I wasn't able to stay on it longer than 3 weeks because one of the side effects but it was enough to break the cycle. I have been sober ever since. If you can't break the cycle on your own (I had tried so many times but just couldn't stop) then I would seek help from your physician. I sought help from my psychiatrist when I told him how much I had been drinking. I kept it to myself for so many years. I wish I had done it sooner. I did so many things drunk that I would NEVER do sober. I cringe at the things I did. Don't let it go until you bottom out. Hope this helps. :flowerforyou:

This is what is working for me so far: 1) Planning my alcohol intake ahead of time and trying to stick with Mich Ultra and red wine 2) limit myself to 2 because I know for me, 3 is the threshold when I start to rationalize "just one more" or "let's order a healthy appetizer". (FYI- There are no healthy appetizers in Texas.) 3) I don't normally drink soda, but I do at social functions just to fill the habit of having something in my hand 4) I arrive late and leave earlier than I would before- less time around the temptation.

This is all great advice! I have to plan my drinks too. Although, I have cut down significantly not just because of my weight loss, but because it really affects me personally the next day. It really is a depressant and I noticed it's effects days after consumption.