Alcohol

OP I find it difficult to fit alcohol in when I'm trying to moderate, so lately I've only been including it on cheat days. Maybe abstain for a week then try adding it back in moderation. If you can't do that some might say you sound like an alcoholic and may not be able to drink in moderation. But that sounds sad. Even so, if you can't moderate you may be better off abstaining.

I've had to limit myself to one glass of wine on most weekends with a good dinner, and then a once a month cheat night. It's tough, but at least this way I limit myself to one hangover a month. And I need a lot less alcohol to make me get tipsy.

this is my demon too....but i lose control and undo all my hard work so ive made a pact with myself...no alcohol unless it's part of a planned cheat meal (my cheat meals are once every 3-4 weeks and take place in a restaurant as a night out).

I once spent 4 years on the same diet, restricting in the week and binging at the weekend, and getting nowhere (4 YEARS)!! So, no, never again.

I do have the same problem. My eating is actually pretty healthy aside from the booze. Curious for any advice given in this thread.

I seriously struggle with this too. For awhile, I would require myself to work out to burn the calories prior to what I knew I would drink (e.g. a bottle of chardonnay has 800 calories, so 8 miles of running or so). Sort of planning that I was probably going to drink too much and prepping in advance to have the "calorie budget" I needed. It did work (sort of). I did lose 32 lbs. in that time frame and completed a marathon that year (still overweight, very slow, buy did the full 26.2). However, my belly never really lost any weight, just my legs, arms, and upper torso) Then...back to drinking too much and eating whatever was at hand when I did. Of course, I gained back everything I lost. Fast forward to this year...now I'm sincerely trying to stay away from alcohol for awhile (I haven't set a time here, just a general idea). I quit smoking this way over the last 2 years. I don't beat myself up if I fail, have a cigarette or too much to drink. I just wake up and start over. As an Associate Behavior Analyst, I recognize that it rarely works to say "I'm not going to....". It is impossible to reinforce the lack of a behavior. What is working better for me is to say, "I want to complete this 12K or 1/2 marathon and drinking/smoking is incompatible with training." Then I simply focus every spare moment to getting in more steps, finding different shoes I like, looking at running gear, reading Runner's World, and focusing on what I eat. I know it sounds off, but it worked for smoking, and I hope soon to say it worked for drinking as well. Wish me luck!

I like your strategy and I am going to give that a try too. If you can give up smoking, you will be able to reduce drinking. I find having a glass of water each time before refilling my wine glass helps. This is my secret self imposed contract.

I was drinking everyday and sometimes all day.. I cut mine back little by little and now I only have one every now and then.. Keep your spirits up!!!! If I can do it so can you....

It is not easy.... Just start cutting down little by little and if nothing else get it out of the house....

I understand this! I'm like the story "if you give a mouse a cookie."
If you give me a glass of wine, I will want some cheese. And some crackers. And another glass of wine. And some more cheese. And maybe some of those other crunchy things I had stored away...

I love this analogy! I can envision the pictures to go along with the words...should write a book. Lol

I have the exact same problem you do, and currently, I keep gaining and re-losing the same 4 pounds because of it. What I've found is that you have to set goals for yourself. Realistic goals. I love having a good time out with my friends, but I realized that I can't lose weight anymore by drinking 3 nights out of the week. Slowly make a goal to cut down your drinking per day a week. When I go out, I like to drink a pretty good amount.. so, for me, it isn't realistic for me to limit my drinks to 3 a night like other people do... At least not yet. I decided to cut out one whole day of drinking per week, and for a while, I began with drinking 2 days per week. Now I've successfully cut down my drinking one day per week, and it's slowly but surely getting easier to not drink at all when I go out. Just take it one day and one week at a time. Any small step toward cutting down in this area is actually a really big stride.

Also, I also recently moved away from my family from work too so I definitely know how you feel there!

im a college student. alcohol screws up my diet every weekend too

When I gained all my weight, that's exactly the reason. I would consume about a weeks worth of calories in drinks on the weekends, awful foods to 'cure' my hangover (which were always MASSIVE) etc.

When I cut all this out (I still get drunk occaisionally - though before I averaged on 1L of hard liquour per week plus a few beers, now I'm probably on ½L per month!), changed nothing else, I dropped 22lbs almost instantly, and another 11 fell off over the next few months.

Usually what I do is make my drunk days maintenance days, and try to leave about 400 calories at the end of the day aside from that. I find that's usually enough to allow me to have a good time without paying for it the next day. I only really do this about twice a month or so, though.

I understand this! I'm like the story "if you give a mouse a cookie."
If you give me a glass of wine, I will want some cheese. And some crackers. And another glass of wine. And some more cheese. And maybe some of those other crunchy things I had stored away...
I do much better when I work out in the evening and come home TIRED!
I also substitute flavored seltzer for beer. I find it just as refreshing, but it is not an appetite stimulant, and I don't get into the eating spiral.

Also, try alternating having a drink with have a glass of water/seltzer/diet pop when you out.

Good luck!

LOVE THIS! This is also me, btw.