Quitting Drinking

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electricxstars
electricxstars Posts: 4
in Health and Weight Loss
Hey All!
So I'm somewhat new to the forum, but been a member for a long time. Currently I've been having problems quitting drinking. Most likely just because of lack of control, but it's become a bad habit and pretty much a go-to for my friends to do when we hang out. Whenever I do try to stop drinking cold turkey I usually gain weight because I'll turn whatever drinking I do into eating. :(

Do any of you have tips how to cut down or quit drinking without the ramification of stress eating?
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  • hmg90
    hmg90 Posts: 314 Member
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    Having the same problem. Have crashed a couple of times and not only is the alcohol in itself terrible to my diet, but I get so hungry after I completely ruin my week. It's a big problem, but I'm not trying to just work it in slightly rather than going "cold turkey", i.e. eat healthy and just have a little gin/wine.
  • Kanuenue
    Kanuenue Posts: 253 Member
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    How about you start planning more interesting activities than drinking when you go out with your friends? Drinking is easy, it's also easy to do something else. Try hiking, bowling, indoor rock climbing, go to the movies, take a healthy cooking class, try zumba/salsa/new dance class, see what's going on in your local scene that isn't at a bar, take a mini-road trip, have a picnic, go to a poetry reading, you get the idea. If you plan your evening around drinking, it's going to get out of control fast. Find an activity that isn't centered around booze that your friends and you would enjoy. Many of these activities COULD include alcohol (our theaters sell for example) but it will be a lot easier to go without drinking if it isn't right in your face like it is at a bar or house party. Good luck!
  • abihaila
    abihaila Posts: 24 Member
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    I quit drinking 60+ days ago by joining a 12 step support group and I gained 5+ pounds. I was assured that I would eat more sugar and that not drinking was more important than the weight gain. All true. I've lost the five and more! Increasing my exercise and finding friends who don't drink has helped so much. Good luck!
  • elsinora
    elsinora Posts: 398 Member
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    Quitting / banning anything always ends up reverting back to bad habits (unless you're an alcoholic).

    I have yet to meet a single person that has quit drinking for good (i.e. longer than 2 years at least) or have quit and not been utterly miserable (as it usually goes with a lot less socialising).

    Cut back and of course go without weeks of not drinking if there's not really an ocassion or you're not going out but I've found that drinking here and there has never hindered my weight loss nor stopped me running those marathons, triathlons or rock climbing.

    As always - it's down to calories in vs calories out.

    If drinking makes you not exercise and binge when hungover then address this and do things in advance to stop yourself! :)
  • Rosie_McA
    Rosie_McA Posts: 256 Member
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    I'm about 40 days in since I stopped with the alcohol and am enjoying the dual benefits of generally feeling more on form during the day and have more calories available to use elsewhere!
    My strategy was to reduce steadily to zero rather than an abrupt stop. I asked myself whether I really needed that cold beer or glass of wine rather than just unthinkingly taking one.

    Being out with friends was more of challenge. Most were supportive but one or two less so. One in particular would say things like "what's the point of living without a good glass of red wine". The change came when I stopped worrying about what others thought and concentrated on me. Now I just get asked what non-alcoholic drink I would like and my refraining is no longer a topic.

    My only problem right now is the lost storage space taken up by all the unopened bottles of wine, beer, whiskies, and liqueurs!
    I won't get rid of them though as I don't intend to try and make my place a teetotal zone for friends and relatives.

    Best of luck!
  • hmg90
    hmg90 Posts: 314 Member
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    This thing is killing me tonight. I had two gin tonics and then I attacked the chorizo in the fridge. Luckily I stopped at a few slices, but still - the damage is done.

    I'm trying to survive on 1200 calories - when I ate more I didn't lose. I have NO problems eating healthy in general. I grew up on a lot of seafood, well prepared meals, never really had junk food. I'll usually eat broccoli or cauliflower with a little bit of low fat cheese, and some lean meats or fish.
    But as soon as there is alcohol in my body, I go crazy. I can actually feel my stomach rumbling and screaming for food and I look for the fattiest food I can get.

    I'm depressed now. I feel like the only way to lose weight is going cold turkey, but at this point I don't see how. Am a full time student with an internship in the evening, struggling financially and without a drink at night, I'd actually slit my wrist. Might come across as an alcoholic, but I swear I don't drink a lot compared to most students, I never actually get flat out drunk.
  • Rosie_McA
    Rosie_McA Posts: 256 Member
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    This thing is killing me tonight. I had two gin tonics and then I attacked the chorizo in the fridge. Luckily I stopped at a few slices, but still - the damage is done.

    I'm trying to survive on 1200 calories - when I ate more I didn't lose. I have NO problems eating healthy in general. I grew up on a lot of seafood, well prepared meals, never really had junk food. I'll usually eat broccoli or cauliflower with a little bit of low fat cheese, and some lean meats or fish.
    But as soon as there is alcohol in my body, I go crazy. I can actually feel my stomach rumbling and screaming for food and I look for the fattiest food I can get.

    I'm depressed now. I feel like the only way to lose weight is going cold turkey, but at this point I don't see how. Am a full time student with an internship in the evening, struggling financially and without a drink at night, I'd actually slit my wrist. Might come across as an alcoholic, but I swear I don't drink a lot compared to most students, I never actually get flat out drunk.
    I have total sympathy because I was out drinking significant quantities during my student days but remained quite slim simply as a consequence of my sporting activities - football (sorry soccer), tennis, cycling, squash, swimming, cross-country running, skateboarding, surfing, and karate. Surprised I got time to complete my studies!

    You also raise the other consequence of drink and that's the attack of the "munchies" once you start. I was terrible for it - cashew nuts, cheese, crackers, pickled onions, salami, etc.
  • D_squareG
    D_squareG Posts: 361 Member
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    One thing that helps me is not having my drink of choice in the house. Switch to something you don't like as well.

    2. Put the bottle somewhere it isn't as easy to get. I put it in the basement.

    3. Weigh the alcohol and log it. I know that you should measure, not weigh, liquids but they are almost the same. I find it very easy to set my glass on the scale and weigh out my liquor.

    4. Best to stop at 4 ounces of hard liquor. I do go over, but I'm more likely to eat something I shouldn't.

    5. Look at increasing your calories. You are hungry at only 1200. Easy to eat after drinking.

    6. Think of the good things you are doing for your liver and brain when you don't drink. Not just your weight.

    7. Think of alcohol just like anything else you have to control. You wouldn't pig out on french fries when with your friends. Think of drinking in the same way.

    Good luck. It isn't always easy. You won't be perfect. Don't beat yourself up when you fall. Just keep trying.
  • quirkytizzy
    quirkytizzy Posts: 4,052 Member
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    I quit drinking 60+ days ago by joining a 12 step support group and I gained 5+ pounds. I was assured that I would eat more sugar and that not drinking was more important than the weight gain. All true. I've lost the five and more! Increasing my exercise and finding friends who don't drink has helped so much. Good luck!

    I'm a recovering addict, too. I agree that getting new friends can help. OP: If you're having a truly hard time quitting, you might try a 12 step, even for a little while.

    And congrats on your 60 days!
  • Autk79
    Autk79 Posts: 283 Member
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    Im with ya. I dont drink daily but I can seriously drink my 1200 calories in one night. I quit drinking a couple years back and lost 20 pounds in a couple months. Of course that was working out too but I worked out just the same when I drank alot. Now I only drink one day a week which is still at least 600 calories and I know I should stop but I dont. If you really wanna stop and wanna lose the weight you will. Just like I did before. Im trying to get to that point again lol. But the crown and cokes or jager are calling me every sat :ohwell:
  • KatherinesRiver
    KatherinesRiver Posts: 128
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    I used to be addicted to a variety of things. A new group of friends to hang with is my best suggestion. I gave up the old friends at the bars and beach hangouts. Too bad but just being around them was killing me. That was 1992. Life is better now!:flowerforyou:
  • WhiteRabbit1313
    WhiteRabbit1313 Posts: 1,091 Member
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    Hey All!
    So I'm somewhat new to the forum, but been a member for a long time. Currently I've been having problems quitting drinking. Most likely just because of lack of control, but it's become a bad habit and pretty much a go-to for my friends to do when we hang out. Whenever I do try to stop drinking cold turkey I usually gain weight because I'll turn whatever drinking I do into eating. :(

    Do any of you have tips how to cut down or quit drinking without the ramification of stress eating?

    AA. You need to address the underlying reasons that you binge on alcohol, food, etc.
  • Brianna716
    Brianna716 Posts: 303 Member
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    I'm not sure how I did it. I just decided one day in October to quit and didn't look back. I must say, my wallet and my waistline are happier for it. I think it had more to do with being ready than anything else. If I had tried to quit at any other time it may not have worked.
  • GertrudeHorse
    GertrudeHorse Posts: 646 Member
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    Quitting / banning anything always ends up reverting back to bad habits (unless you're an alcoholic). I have yet to meet a single person that has quit drinking for good (i.e. longer than 2 years at least) or have quit and not been utterly miserable (as it usually goes with a lot less socialising).

    Hi! Just wanted to introduce myself as someone who has quit drinking for longer than 2 years :-) The last time I had more than one sip of alcohol was in 2010. Every few months I will have a taste of some fancy new wine/beer someone else is drinking, but I don't count that as drinking.

    While it was very difficult at first (and I did lose some friends who I am better off without anyway) it is one of the best decisions I've ever made in the long-term. Initially I cut down on social events, but after three months of sobriety I was able to reintroduce socialising to the same extent as before. Having fun without alcohol is truly possible and rather satisfying when you master it.

    To the OP, I would suggest finding non-drinking activities to do with your friends instead. Once you have confidence without alcohol you should be able to socialise with people who are drinking and not feel tempted to participate. And don't worry about any initial weight gain, you can deal with that further down the track. Good luck!
  • rockmama72
    rockmama72 Posts: 815 Member
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    Yeah, me too. In my diary, alcohol keeps coming up as my most frequent food! Well actually, it goes back and forth between raw spinach and alcohol, which is hilarious.
  • electricxstars
    electricxstars Posts: 4
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    Thank you for the tips everyone! I agree about changing activities with friends would be a big help. I have also thought about joining AA, but my husband doesn't really support that idea. Are there any good sources online that have more info on a twelve step program?
  • starkitty4
    starkitty4 Posts: 17 Member
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    I actually took part in dry for january to raise money for alcohol concern.. And I didn't miss drinking, in fact I felt better without it, so I've just carried on with being tee-total (if that's how you spell it) I think having a goal to reach that I could only do by not drinking made it much easier :-D
  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
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    I have yet to meet a single person that has quit drinking for good (i.e. longer than 2 years at least) or have quit and not been utterly miserable (as it usually goes with a lot less socialising).

    Four years of not a drop, happier than I ever was when drinking (I wasn't/am not alcoholic) and my social life is better than ever.

    Nice to meet cha. :smile:
  • rejectuf
    rejectuf Posts: 487 Member
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    My wife and I follow the same rules for drinking. It helps to have a partner keeping you honest.

    We have one drink Friday, one drink Saturday. We love beer and good whiskey. We look forward to the drink and we always plan on it. Either a delicious and unique craft beer or an excellent hand crafted cocktail.
  • walterm852
    walterm852 Posts: 409 Member
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    I quit drinking 60+ days ago by joining a 12 step support group and I gained 5+ pounds. I was assured that I would eat more sugar and that not drinking was more important than the weight gain. All true. I've lost the five and more! Increasing my exercise and finding friends who don't drink has helped so much. Good luck!

    Congrats ... keep it going :-)

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