To drink or not to drink......that is the question?

I've never had a bad experience when I chose to order non-alcoholic drinks at bars.

Not sure what you're looking for here. I've gone without drinking for a month or more, but not really by intent. Just happens sometimes. Never during football season, but sometimes.

Probably want to address the "all or nothing" thought process. Moderation is important, especially when driving.

I don't understand what "all or nothing" means. Why can't you have a couple of drinks when you want and then stop? I wouldn't stop drinking, but that's my decision. You can drink without driving. I am not sure why you are intent on stopping unless you can't control yourself.

That probably is my biggest issue - it is literally all or nothing.

That's something you can change you know.

I would say, in the interests of experimenting, why not? Why not try giving up for a month and see how you get on. If you find it's a nightmare, and you really do *need* to drink, then that will be useful information to work with. If you find it ok to go without, then at the end of the month you can add it back in - or not - as you see fit.

In my humble opinion, here are the biggest issues with drinking. First, upon consumption, it almost immediatly turns to sugar, and then fat (unless you're drinking while exercising, which is not likely but possible, especially if you're at a road house dancing your tail off). But bigger than that is it breaks down all your inhibitions. All of a sudden those chili-cheese-fries at the bar are looking pretty nutritious and low cal, and before you know it you've eaten 1,200 calories.

I don't think there is anything wrong with a drink now and then. But it pains me to think of logging 165 calories for one cocktail, or 120 cals for a glass of wine. My calories are too precious. If I give up 120 calories of healthy food for a drink, what is that doing to my body? Finally, it makes me retain water, puff up, and look swollen. I want my new-found-thin-face to look thin, not have a 3mm alcohol-induced puff under the skin.

I, the one who drank my whole adult life, gave it up all together about 5 years ago. That was the second phase of "how does a 240 lb. woman lose weight" and to be honest I don't miss it. I look back at pictures of me when I imbibed, and I'm puffy, not just fat, puffy as the Michelin tire man, and really not so healthy all around.

In my opinion, if you want a really nice glass of wine with dinner now and then, or need that shot of tequilla to get the courage up to go talk to the handsome guy across the dance floor, go for it. But if you're trying to find a way to be a regular drinker and lose weight, I don't personally believe it is possible while still maintaining balanced nutrition.

I suppose it really boils down to what matters most to you, going out for a cocktail or avoiding the empty calories that you've worked so hard to keep off (else why would you be on this site?). I don't mind a glass of whiskey or bourbon myself every now and then, but quite frankly I work way too hard to burn the calories and eat right to set myself back by drinking. I have a bar in my house that has enough alcohol to keep a drunk happy for days yet I haven't touched it or any other type of liquor in probably 6 months. Do I want to look good or suffer a setback? And yes it is a setback. People might think I'm overreacting, but if you have a hard time losing weight and you work your tail off for what you've got, it makes you think twice what you ingest. In your situation, you might be best curbing what you eat during the day to enjoy that drink later at night. Another slippery slope of course, but everything in moderation if you can't go cold turkey.

When I had a lot of weight to lose, I didn't find that alcohol substantially interfered with my goals so long as I kept it in check in RE to calories. Once I really started leaning out though...and now at a healthy BF%, I've definitely found that regular consumption of alcohol inhibits my ability to get to and maintain BF% in the mid teens, let alone getting into single digits.

It sucks because I'm a lover of all things beer....but when I really want to cut, I have to cut it out. Generally if I cut it out 5-6 days per week and only indulge in beer 1-2 days per week, everything is hunky dory. When I'm having a couple beers every night after work, not so much.