cutting alcohol

Logging it, along with all your other foods helps put things in perspective. In my mind, it's similar to considering a financial budget. If you have so many calories per day, is it worth it to spend a few hundred on wine or would you rather spend it on real food instead. Not sure how active you are with your instructing but working out a bit more would earn you extra calories to help too. Going back to the monetary comparison, it's like earning overtime or extra from a side job - then you can afford little extra indulgences.

I've definitely cut down my drinking since I've started this. Used to drink nearly every night but now it's pretty rare for me - mostly stick to special occassions like when I meet up with my besties or go to a party. It's a bit easier to avoid this time of year but summer can be difficult with BBQs and the like.

There are a lot of other things you can do to fill your time in other ways - pick up hobbies, take classes, volunteer, etc.

:drinker: in for tips

You are using wine to comfort you due to your loneliness. I am not judging you, I had the same problem with chocolate and cakes... Get sugar to make me feel better about my depression... That was in the past, though. I am still tempted at times to take out on food when I am anxious but then I stop myself (most times) by acknowledging what's going on. Sometimes it's all about dealing with true emotions rather than mask them with food or drink or whatever. Facing up to it worked with me and from what I have found it has worked with many people as well. I guess there is comfort eating and comfort drinking!

Positive things would be reading, joining a club and making new friends, getting a pet to keep you company, watching films, finding an online game or wii game you like and play it.... Any hobby really.

If you can't stop at one or two glasses you could drink something non alcoholic but that will still feel like a treat: home made fruit juice, a smoothie, a hot chocolate...

I think if you find a way of sorting out the loneliness feeling you won't need all that wine any more. You can do it Especially if you are a fitness instructor... You know full well what we can be capable of if we truly put in the effort

I completely understand how you feel, I drink about the same amount. In the past 5 years I put on approximately 25lbs and I attribute that to my pleasure in drinking wine and Jamison. One of my hobbies is making wine so I have plenty on stock. I know the only way for me to lose the weight is to reduce the amount of alcohol I intake. I have just started using these message boards to connect with people to help motivate each other to change our lifestyles and meet our goals. All feel free to send me a friend request hopefully we can help each other out.

I quit drinking outright December 21st. I would have a couple of cocktails every night, wine occasionally and when i went out it could be significantly more.
A bottle of Wine a night is a significant amount (if you know the UK system it's about 12 units of alcohol and the recommended daily level is 3-4 a day - no saving up for weekend binges lol) a bottle should yield 4-5 glasses so a largish glass of wine is the daily target
If you want to cut alcohol all together try drinking seltzer with bitters. and decent cocktail supply store will have a tone of different bitters to add flavour. Or make you own (I make cherry bitters and add them to my sparkling water for variety, and when I go out to a club or restaurant I drink soda with Bittters (usually the selection is angostura or maybe peychaud....good bars and restaurants will have a selection and maybe make their own)
I'd also look into going out and doing something different socially on those nights you are left alone since that is a trigger. Hit a movie with a friend, put some more time in at the Gym, Take a long walk....

bump

I, too, have gained weight from what I believe was too much alcohol. I went through something very difficult that led to major marital issues back in October, and in from then until now I have gained 10 pounds. I have a small frame, so the tens pounds makes me feel huge. The only thing that's changed is nightly drinking since October. I've recognized it's a problem and have cut WAY back and so far I'm only down a pound and a half. It's a start though. It's far too easy to drink away a days worth of calories, so actually counting those calories out in your head is a good idea. Good luck to everyone that's cutting back.