Have you given up alcohol to lose weight?

I haven't necessarily quit. Some where along the line I realized it just wasn't as important anymore. I enjoy having the energy to workout. I'll still enjoy having a few drinks but it's maybe once a month or every other month.

I haven't given up alcohol. I try to have a drink every day.

For me to lose, I have to not be drinking. If I'm maintaining, then I can have a few drinks a week. But yeah, if I have more than a couple drinks in one night, I start craving pizza and chips/cheese and whatever else I can find in the pantry. It's no good.

I did at first but now I generally eat/drink what I like in moderation, won't lie, still have the occasional drink binge but I find it easier to moderate now I'm closer to goal. I think it's learning to fit it in with the lifestyle change, that's why it was easier to go withoyt at first but now I'm near goal weight I've had to just learn that I won't go without it forever and need to enjoy it within my goals!

If you did, or tried to how is it working for you? I have found, for me personally, most of my success disappears as soon as I crack open a beer. Sets off more beer binges and food binges. If you quit, do you miss it? Thanks for the input!

I mostly gave it up, yes. My reasons were partly I didn't want to waste calories, but moreso I had been unhappy with unpleasant hangovers anyway. I had been drinking a couple/few glasses of wine most nights while cooking/eating. Afterwards my evenings would be sluggish, sometimes I'd even get cranky. Than I'd have a poor nights sleep and suspect I'd heavily snore LOL. Next day I'd be so tired, crabby, and would find myself ravenously HUNGRY! I'd attempt to 'cure' my hangover by eating crap

So it was a vicious cycle and I consider myself 'allergic' to booze

But, I have had an occasional cocktail, wine, or beer since (yesterday for example ).

Honestly I assumed I'd miss it, but I really haven't. I stopped buying it to avoid temptation and now look forward to going out for the occasional restaurant dinner or to friends/family houses and having a drink

:drinker: Hail no!

X2 :laugh:

I have drank around 30 units in total, this year. Compared to last year, when I would drink 30 units a WEEK.

I actually stopped drinking alcohol before I started losing weight - I was addicted to it, and would chase it down at every opportunity. My weight started to drop when I stopped drinking 3-4 bottles of wine a week. I also felt a lot less crappy physically, but a lot lot worse mentally - alcohol was my diversion to ignore my illness.

Has it helped with my weight loss? Probably. Since I've been committed to MFP, I think I've had 3 small glasses of wine in 80 days. I'm not a teetotaller - I wouldn't put that pressure on myself because the moment I do, I will buckle. It definitely eliminates that burning desire to grab junk food which was very common with me when I drank lots.

Obviously, this is quite different to the original question and I'm rambling. I think it boils down entirely to how much alcohol you would "choose" to drink given the chance. A year ago I would have said "x bottles of wine a week" - now I am more content to say "on social occasions/events" - if you are spending a good portion of your calorie allowance on alcohol regularly, I would suggest cutting down a bit. BUT - I agree with everyone who states that if you want something, you should have it and make it work into your plan. That is why I don't profess to being abstinent from drink - the moment I try and eliminate it completely, I will probably end up craving it again!

Yes my OH and I have cut down loads with the result that I have lost 23 lbs and he is no longer type 2 diabetic though only lost 10lbs so far. We both drank at least half a bottle of wine every evening and that led to cheese, biscuits and nuts in the evenings.

He went virtually cold turkey but I cut down more slowly. Now I have one bottle to last all weekend and he may have just a couple of beers or nothing. We are recently returned from a 5 week overseas trip where we drank every night again and gained several pounds in process but no problems going back to our regime and losing again now.

It really makes a difference and as we are both over 60 it has given us a wake up call healthwise and our blood test results are better

Yeah I was never much of a drinker (a real lightweight) but when I realised how many empty calories were in alcohol it was a no-brainer.
Anyway I think drinkers tend to fall into two categories: the overweight ones with beer bellies etc (eat a lot, drink a lot); and the skinny university girls who eat nothing and get all their calories from alcohol...I'd rather eat.

Nope haven't given up alcohol!! I do however, try to limit my intake. I have a love for margaritas..very high in calories. Thank goodness I found a solution.'Margaritas to Go' its a flavored drink packet 5 calories only..mix with tequila 79 calories and some water.. Margarita under 100 calories!

I quit drinking entirely for about a year, and that's when I lost 60 pounds. Of course, it must also be take into account that I sold my car and started walking everywhere at about the same time. When I bought another car to accommodate a 40-mile commute, the weight started to creep back. And when I taught my darling hubby to homebrew, it really hit the fan :drinker: I've put on 45 of the 60 lbs I lost and am starting over.

I haven't fully developed a strategy yet. I like my whiskey neat, which saves on calories and unnerves the boys :smokin: Other than that, I will develop a plan as I go. Progress, not perfection, as they say in AA.

No I haven't given up alcohol - but I have found because I'm counting the calories, I limit my drinks more - and I measure what I have (sometimes).

I never found that drinking alcohol particularly made me need to snack though, so lucky that way.

But I do feel like a kid let out of school when I earn myself extra calories from exercise, and realise I can have a couple of glasses of wine :drinker:

I know I should give up beers. But, I have to be honest love the buzz I get after 2 or 3. I have limited to 2-3 beers 2xweekly.

I haven't eliminated it completely but I don't drink much of it at all. I probably average about a drink a week. At the end of the day, I like sweets more than alcohol, so that's where my "junk" calories go