Giving up drinking?
megnay
Posts: 65 Member
I think something that's been hindering my weight loss a lot is my drinking habits. I go out a lot with my friends (I'm a university student) but I really want to try to cut down, or cut it out completely. Not only are drinks suuuuper high in calories, but it'll be better for my mental health too... and better on my bank account. I never even knew how many calories were in drinks, I always just ignored it. I drink cider and in ONE tall can there's 250 calories and I can EASILY drink 4 of them... That's insane.
Do you guys have any suggestions on how to cut back on alcohol?
Do you guys have any suggestions on how to cut back on alcohol?
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Replies
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I try to have a glass(s) of wine on the weekends. As I don't think if I was to obstain...it would be a practical or long term solution I could stick with.0
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Netflix and a Snuggie0
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I think just going dry and on wagon is the only real answer.
I went on the wagon Jan this year until Easter, it made change to my weight loss
I found one substitute was soda water with splash of lime
Maybe not the same as a lovely pint of cider, but a nice drink anyway0 -
Getting pregnant helped me. :laugh:
Joking. Sort of.
When I was trying to cut back on the calories but still have a few social drinks, I switched to hard liquors like vodka and rum with a light mix. I now prefer vodka and a lemon or lime Perrier water.
There are about 97 calories in 1.5 ounces of vodka. 0 calorie mix makes for a light drink (you can do "diet" drinks if you like).0 -
You can either...
a) Cut it out altogether - good for your waistline but carries a risk of falling off the wagon on those days when you just need a drink
b) Find healthier alternatives - dry white wine has less calories, or you could go for spirits with diet coke/lemonade. It's worth doing some research so that you don't end up completely depriving yourself.0 -
Save calories up for a drink and stick to more filling drinks that have different flavors to them. Pick one high calorie drink and sip it over a period of time and it winds up being more substantial and your night can last a lot longer that way. If you don't like high cal or girly drinks...vodka tonic or gin and tonic with lime. I'd recommend a cosmo because those you can sip on and get full. Or a screaming orgasm(I know) but that one just tastes like coffee and heaven in a glass.0
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I have cut down to one drink a week. But, I never drank a lot. I really don't handle alcohol well. When I was in college I went to dance parties. I dressed up in costume, danced, kissed. It was more fun not to drink. Outdoor activities like hiking. Being active, adventurous, outdoors, dancing. Finding other types of fun, excitement, enjoyment in an active mentally and physically way. Meditation and yoga for relaxation. Reading. Learning something new. Going out to see dance and comedy shows.0
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I haven't been a big drinker for a while (in my 30s now and married, so don't really go to bars much; self-employed so no happy hours or anything like that) but before I started this weight loss thing I'd have a few drinks at a time once or twice a week. I hadn't specifically set out to cut back, but tracking calories has had me wanting to save mine for food and not waste them on something that's not going to fill me up at all. So I mostly haven't been drinking. If there's a social event where I know I'll want to have a few, I make sure to save up some calories for it, and a few times I've specifically planned to have a drink with or after dinner and avoided snacking that day to make room. The desire to have more than one drink in a sitting (excepting the rare social event) doesn't really seem to be there- I think just the psychological effect of telling myself "ok, this is your one drink" causes me to slow down and enjoy it more, vs. just drinking as reflex and grabbing another when I'm finished.0
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Netflix and a Snuggie
^ This! Its hard to just have one, especially when everyone one else is drinking to get drunk. Maybe try and have a glass of wine, then a glass of water to always have something in your hand-you won't overindulge and you won't be deprived. Or just stay in, and study!
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I'ma college student too, so I totally feel you! Drinking is half of what made me gain so much weight over the past year... college kids drink on weekdays too, constantly.
I've found that the best thing for me is what other people have said; pick a drink you like, and stick to one, maybe two on a special night. My one friend that's losing weight too likes to take a tequila shot before we drink and then just get one so she doesn't feel like she has to drink her drink quickly to take off the edge.
I like wine, never been a big beer gal. But some girly drinks are great too! Good luck!0 -
Smart idea! Honestly, I just really enjoy being drunk so the idea of not drinking a lot is kind of weird to me. But I'm going to give it a go! It also really messes up my work out schedule, so this'll be a great test. I'll save SO much money!I'ma college student too, so I totally feel you! Drinking is half of what made me gain so much weight over the past year... college kids drink on weekdays too, constantly.
I've found that the best thing for me is what other people have said; pick a drink you like, and stick to one, maybe two on a special night. My one friend that's losing weight too likes to take a tequila shot before we drink and then just get one so she doesn't feel like she has to drink her drink quickly to take off the edge.
I like wine, never been a big beer gal. But some girly drinks are great too! Good luck!0 -
A lot of brands now are low calorie... I have seen it for beer and hard booze...0
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Well...I never really started drinking in the first place.
Maybe come up with a list of special occasions where it will be "okay" to drink? For example, I only drink when I'm at the Formula One (once every year) and on New Year's. It's very rare that I'd have a drink between those times.
So, maybe say, "A drink on my birthday, a drink on New Year's, a drink on Christmas, and a drink at the end of each exam period." Rather than going out all the time.
And honestly, if you need alcohol to have a good time, then you've got bigger problems than it being too many calories.0 -
I used to drink a lot and liked pretty much everything e.g., wine, beer, martini's, etc... and never really considered how many calories and how much sugar are in alcoholic beverages either!
Now, the only thing I can manage to drink once in a while is a sweet or dessert wine during a dinner out and I mean sipping it over the course of a couple of hours. Even then I have a hard time finishing it.
For me, the better I ate and healthier my body got the less alcohol it could tolerate. I mean, I don't get a buzz... I get physically ill off of even just one beer. So needles to say, I don't drink anymore. In fact, I don't drink any calories. I stick to water, black coffee and various teas and really just water and that works for me.
My body, head and bank account are all better as a result
It took me a little while to be able to go out with friends and family and be the sober person in the group but that changed too... in fact, I have more fun being the sober one now, I'm the life of the party and best the part is I don't feel like crap the next day!0 -
drink wine or vodka and water with a lemon or lime garnish..then and count the calories. beer will give you..the beer belly. and of course no mixed drinks with sugary mixers.0
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I think something that's been hindering my weight loss a lot is my drinking habits. I go out a lot with my friends (I'm a university student) but I really want to try to cut down, or cut it out completely. Not only are drinks suuuuper high in calories, but it'll be better for my mental health too... and better on my bank account. I never even knew how many calories were in drinks, I always just ignored it. I drink cider and in ONE tall can there's 250 calories and I can EASILY drink 4 of them... That's insane.
Do you guys have any suggestions on how to cut back on alcohol?
Sign up to an event such as a race and then tell yourself you should train instead of drinking.0 -
Unless you are an alcoholic, there is no secret to quitting drinking. Just quit if you want to. The only thing people tend to have trouble with is the pressure at social events - if you don't drink people tend to look at you like you are a) a freak or b) a recovering alcoholic. I, for one, am not afraid to stand up for myself and just say, "I don't drink much anymore". But you can also handle it with a quick joke like "I prefer to get my carbs from dessert!" or even just say that you are the designated driver (that usually scores some "awww, thats so sweet!" from the female bartenders/servers).
I am not a fan of completely cutting out foods long term, but I will say that it is extremely easy to completely trash your week with 1 night out involving alcohol and it can stall you if you do it every weekend. I still drink (mostly hard liquor), but I keep it to one or two drinks typically and that is maybe once every 4-6 weeks. Maybe once or twice a year will I go big!
Just realize that you are in college and parties happen virtually every weekend. You don't have to go get blitzed at each one!0 -
oh, and why waste your time on low cal drinks? Either drink what you like or don't drink... imo0
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workout first thing in the morning. ain't very fun hungover0
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I cycle it so I had 8-9 weeks not touching it, and then I'll have a week where I can
Even if this week I tend to not drink more than once, not because I only allow myself that, just because I don't feel the need to after 9 weeks without it
I get better results whilst I'm not drinking0 -
I hear ya... I much enjoy grabbing some beers with friends but MAN those calories add up quickly... (See Saturday diary, i was like, 1000 calories over)
Being at University it's even harder because you are right smack in the middle of that going out culture - plus its easier to drink any day of the week because you may not have class or work at 5 am the next day!
Drinking is a social thing... so here's what I do...
- Pick a spirit you like - like bacardi, and get it wil diet soda, or vodka with soda water and a splash of juice. Drink it slowly, and as the ice metls, ask for more ice. The drink still tastes yummy, lasts longer, and doesn't have as many calories as some of those college trendy micro brews that put on my freshman 15 way back when!
- After every drink, order a water....with a lemon wedge, a lime wedge, and a cherry hey why not! Or, jazz it up with a soda water and a splash of cranberry with lime! I mean these are basically cocktails in themselves, just sans booze, they are tasty, you can still hold a drink close to your chest while you chat (you know the drink hold pose) and feel social, plus with all that fruity jazz in your cup you wont have to succumb to the over and over and over question again and again of "why aren't you drinking????" because they will think you are....
- If you want to go the beer route just do a bud select... I think they are like 66 calories, and of course, a water in the other hand...0 -
I am a fan of nightcaps and working on limiting them, which to me is hard, because I am just not ready to do that. I like to relax after a long day with a Vodka/Diet Tonic as it's lower calorie. I have for the most part given up my love of red red wine. I believe eat or drink what you want, when you want it, but be mindful of portion control. Life is too short to limit things you like. If you want some motha ****a puffed Cheetos on the side, eat them, just make room in your daily intake. It's really not rocket science, intake+burns+logging=success....0
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Well how much are you willing to commit to it, because the best way to stop is to remove yourself from the equation, i.e. the bar scene. The temptation is going to be too great to go there with your friends and not drink; you’ll tell yourself well I’ll have just one, that’ll lead to two and so on. Just find things to do rather than going to the bar’s, movies, show’s, etc. Although, have a few from time to time is not a bad thing either. Perhaps allow yourself a single night out a week, that way you minimize the intake that way. I stopped drinking for the most part after the 1st of the year, and maybe have drunk on 12 occasions and only heavy on 3 or 4 of those times. The others were 1 or two glasses of vino while relaxing in the hot tub.
I can’t say how much my limiting my drinking has aided to my weight lost as I have changed several factors but I’m sure that it has.
Good luck and best wishes.
V/r,
DW0 -
I've found myself in the same boat. Though I'm 33 - must be even more tempting when you're a young student! It's good that you've started to notice how calorific alcohol is! It is a shame to work so hard on dietary changes and exercise, only to blow it on boozing at the weekends. Also, if you're really hungover, you have a day or two wasted, stopping you from exercising that day.
But I think you have to be realistic. Whenever I decide I'm giving up booze I never stick to it. There's always someone's birthday, or work drinks etc. And now it's summer!
I've cut down by introducing a few rules.
a) I stick to one drink, usually soda water and a single vodka with a splash of lime (75 cals) or a small dry white wine spritzer (120 cals with soda water). Avoid cocktails.
b) I aim to drink 4 of these on a night out by slowing down and having a break in between. I can end up going over by about two or three glasses on a proper night out but that's still good for me!
c) No mid week drinking in the house, which personally I hardly did anyway.
d) I get in a good exercise session that day to 'earn' my booze cals, say about 500-700 cals. Then I often find I can stay within my calories for the day. Never try to cut back on meals to allow for extra booze cals, been there, that's a disaster!!!
I've realised I feel so much better for having enjoyed a night out, spending less, not losing my phone/keys/purse and not wasting the whole weekend and being on track with my weight loss goals.0 -
Are you addicted to alcohol? If not, its easy, just don't order it.0
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Not only is alcohol high in calories....but it prevents the liver from burning any fat from the food you eat. So you get a double whammy there. That's how I gained 40 pounds without even blinking. Some drinks here and there and viola. It's the worst thing you can do for your looks and waistline. A girlfriend of mine gave it up completely cause she'd rather go nothing rather than try to moderate, and she lost 30 pounds without even changing her diet. She's gorgeous now and just got married!
Alcohol is also a nasty habit that gets worse and uglier the more time goes on. It may be fun now, but when the scale slowly climbs up and the wrinkles on the face get worse and then the things we do when we drink tend to get worse and worse (which they inevitably do over the years), it's time to think about giving it up. Or at least cutting way back. So get ahead of the game now! Only allow yourself a few drinks on special occasions or one day on the weekend and that's it! It's up to you and how serious you are about looking hot and being svelte and sexy. Is the alcohol really worth it?:flowerforyou:0 -
Well how much are you willing to commit to it, because the best way to stop is to remove yourself from the equation, i.e. the bar scene. The temptation is going to be too great to go there with your friends and not drink; you’ll tell yourself well I’ll have just one, that’ll lead to two and so on. Just find things to do rather than going to the bar’s, movies, show’s, etc. Although, have a few from time to time is not a bad thing either. Perhaps allow yourself a single night out a week, that way you minimize the intake that way. I stopped drinking for the most part after the 1st of the year, and maybe have drunk on 12 occasions and only heavy on 3 or 4 of those times. The others were 1 or two glasses of vino while relaxing in the hot tub.
I can’t say how much my limiting my drinking has aided to my weight lost as I have changed several factors but I’m sure that it has.
Good luck and best wishes.
V/r,
DW
BTW, prior to my commitment to get into better shape I was drinking on average 1-3 bottles of wine a week with several beers and rum’s and whatever’s mixed in there. I’d finish a fifth of rum of at least once a month with the wine and beers. I would have usually 1-2 glasses of wine a night and on the weekends would really mix it up.
V/r,
DW0 -
I get the draw of having lots of drinks when out partying with your friends during the college years. If you want to cut back though, you could also try getting water in between drinks. It will cut back on the number you end up drinking and keep you hydrated so hopefully reduce the hangover affects of alcohol. A few times of doing this and you will hopefully realize that you can have just a couple and still have a great time.0
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I've gone from higher calorie beers, ciders, sugary mixed cocktails, etc., to a few glasses of wine, chapmagne, or a lighter beer once a week (sometimes once every other week). I've tried vodka or rum with diet soda, and I hate the taste of it. I fit my drinks into my daily calorie allotment. If I don't have enough calories for 3 glasses of wine, then I won't have 3, but if I do have enough calories... I certainly will! :drinker: Losing weight has also made me kind of a lightweight... so now that one glass of wine has more of an effect on me than it used to, and I don't drink as much. I had friends that used to call me "The Hollow Leg" in college because I could drink so much.0
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Lately since counting my calories it seems I can't put them away like I used to. Or, you know, have more than one and a half pints/drinks in a sitting. It seems I may have a sensitivity as well. I have been having tonics lately for calorie counts, and having a water in between drinks if it even gets that far. Also trying to orient activities around other things is helpful, too. Personally I don't think I could give it up completely as it is sometimes expected in my social circumstances, but it's nice when it isn't a focal point.0
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