Hey! I'm new here! I was browsing alcohol related forums/groups and came across some that were about cutting back for weight loss. Some AA inspired, but I need one smack in the middle, I think. Ha. I'm 32, live in Toronto, Canada. I drink quite a bit, but it's a huge issue of reflection in my life. It's under the microscope lately. Probably 4 days a week, I'd say. I'm currently in the hospitality industry, have been on/off for years, so I'm around servers, bartenders all the time. We all like to party. Also, my schedule often varies so sometimes a Tuesday is my "Friday" night, etc.

My partner is also a drinker, but definitely follows my lead on consumption/abstinence. Where I have the crushing guilt the next day, he just picks up and carries on with his day. So often I'll pump the brakes or make some grand declaration of wanting/needing a break. We just came off a week of clean clarity, as I like to call it! Or sobriety works too. Anyway....sometimes partner and I can really support each other, other times enable.

I have a nine year old step-daughter also. She's with us every other weekend. We are clean and behaved those weekends for sure. We don't wake and drink or drink during workdays or anything like that. We just both enjoy unwinding after work, but sometimes it goes a bit to far for my liking. I would like to be the type that has one drink after work and that's it. Not four. It's the whole binge thing that pisses me off, stresses me out!

AND MAN, do I ever detest logging those drinks on here! It guts me! I try to be good with food, try to stay quite active. Then I add like six drinks after a night out and Boom! AND often it sucks having to deny myself snacks or sweets because I know that those calories need to be reserved for wine. Bah.

Anyway....so just wanted to jump in here! I read through a lot of forums but rarely comment. Guess I'm a bit shy...at least until you get a glass or two in me. Haha. Anyway....I just need a place where I can continue on my journey to cut down and be honest with struggles with minimal-to-no judgement.

Lastly, my fella and I are taking a dry month from mid-Sept. to mid-October! We do it every Autumn. Want to wait until summer is over, but be finished before Thanksgiving (Canada). We're getting married on the American Thanksgiving in Costa Rica! So a sober month will help with some weight shed, healthy skin, focus towards wrapping up last minute wedding details. BUT most importantly, we are becoming non-smokers during that time! When I've quit in the past, temporarily quitting drinking has been a huge help! I want to get married as a non-smoker. I'm really over it!


Anyway....lengthy, sorry! I hope I will fit in here, as it's nice to have support and see connection and similarities with others. It's soothing.

Thanks!

I'm with basically everyone else who has posted here! I love to drink craft beer (you know, the goooood stuff) and wine, and every time I have to log those drinks... man. Ouch. I'm like many of you in that I don't have just 1 or 2, more like 3 or 5. I calculated that I drank 1,600 extra calories in beer alone THIS WEEK. Wow. Considering that my daily calorie allowance is 1,400 - - that's a LOT of extra calories! I'm considering trying a week without beer and seeing how it speeds up my weight loss, which right now is a whopping 2 lbs. Anyways, just wanted to say how nice it is to see people who are in the same boat.

Good to hear! What I did was go into my settings, and create a new category just for beer/wine/alcohol, so I can log that separately and actually SEE how much I'm drinking in terms of calories, which motivates me to stay on track. So, I budget calories for each section, if you will. It seems to be working. It puts everything in perspective from a calorie standpoint.

Take a look at my diary! It was a challenge! My fella was trying to put out a spread like his Mom does....so he went crazy. Pork, beef and chicken? And insistent on having a bit of each...with potato salad (with bacon) and cabbage salad (with a buttload of feta and walnuts). Dinner was nuts and I hardly had a tonne on my plate. Just so high in calories for some things.


I felt more satisfied with the turkey sandwich and it was less calories!

Then the alcohol......Out of alcohol at the end of the evening, exhausted from 8 hours of talking/being hit with wedding questions....fella and I had a bit of sweet vermouth cuz it was all that was left in the house. I don't like when we do that. Makes me feel ashamed and shows my dependency.

Anyway....today's a new day....with a fridge full of leftovers .....hahaha.....maybe another turkey sandwich!