WAYY too much alcohol

As far as the concerns about alcoholism, my advice is if you think it's a problem then it is. Admitting there's a problem is the first step and there are lots of sources of help available. Good luck.

That being said, alcohol and weight loss just don't mix! It's a sad fact, but true. I've found scientific studies that say alcohol is processed differently in the human body than any other calorie because your body views it as a toxin that needs to be eliminated as soon as possible. Because of that your body will process the alcohol first to get rid of it and store whatever other calories you've consumed as FAT. To make it worse, alcohol stimulates hunger. I've cut down drinking to special occasions only. Generally like junk food and sweets, alcohol should be limited as much as possible to lose weight (or eliminated!).

Hi,
I can relate to the alcohol problem. I started MFP one month ago and for the first two weeks decided to include a scotch ration into my calorie allowance. I allowed myself six standard drinks each evening as part of an 1800 calorie plan.
While we are talking full disclosure, it was not uncommon for me before to ease half a bottle of scotch away (13 standard drinks) every night - and then sometimes a red or two! Just the scotch equated to 900 calories - or just over half of my new daily allowance.
Surprisingly, I did lose a few kilos during those first few weeks as I had also increased (started) to exercise.
I then decided to accelerate my weight loss to see some immediate and more fulfilling results. I went on to the cabbage soup diet which brought my calories down - especially the first four days! - for one week and stopped drinking. After the cabbage soup diet I stayed off the alcohol and am really enjoying the results.
I drink lite cranberry juice, soda water and lime and the occasional diet coke when I want a drink.
I am feeling great and even though I fell off the wagon last Sunday - Fathers Day - and dropped a quick half a bottle, (I felt a bit cloudy Monday morning) I am back to no alcohol and actually feeling great.
The other tough fact is that when your body receives alcohol into the system it is recognised as a toxin. All work on food and nutrition processing stops and the food is turned to fat. All attention is turned to dealing with the alcohol - which has no nutritional value, but still plenty of calories. No wonder we struggle to lose weight whilst drinking.

We all have the will power - you just have to find it. I will not give up alcohol for good - but I know the affect it has on my weight loss efforts and for me that has been my motivation to cut right back. Without a really good reason to drink - don't.
Good luck to you.

When I started MFP seriously in June, I decided not to drink at all. This was the beginning of the summer and I live in a city where drinking is the center of almost every social event. My friends go out for drinks 3-4 times a week. I enjoy trying new beers and old favorites. It was hard. Really really hard. My friends questioned me. Told me I could have one drink and it wouldn't kill me. But as soon as I realized not only how much money I was saving, but how many calories I was saving, it didn't bother me as much. I'm not going to pretend that I haven't missed out on the occasional social event, but I still can't bring myself to go to a crowded bar on a Saturday night without a little liquid courage. Still working on the self-confidence a bit! But I've also been able to find new bars in the city and dragged my friends to different neighborhoods in order to get away from the crazy bars we usually frequent. And did I mention how much money I've saved? I'm not saying I'm going to be sober for the rest of my life, but this is the first time since I started college that I have had more than a week or so without drinking. I am not going to not drink for the rest of my life, but I will find a way to enjoy it more healthfully. Soda water instead of tonic mixed with vodka instead of any dark liquor. Light beers are okay too. Any other suggestions are welcome!

When a hard apple cider (220 calories) is 1/6 - 1/7 of my total daily calories it's just not worth it to me. Good luck! *HUGS*

I used to have a problem with alcohol. I actually don't believe the AA version of alcoholism holds true for me, well-intentioned as it is.

Some things that helped me, with no particular reference to anyone else's situation, are:

1. Go on a night out and look at the drunks. Everyone looks like that when they're drunk including you.
2. People make stupid decisions when they've been drinking. Would you deliberately do anything else that affected your judgement? It's a bit like driving a car while wearing a blindfold.
2. It's a habit that took years to form. You are going to feel wrong doing it at first, because your body expects it.
3. No-one actually notices if you don't drink as much as them. A couple of people may nag about it. Ignore them, they're going to be dull (see no.1).
4. It doesn't matter if you do drink too much one night. Feel stupid the next morning, then start not drinking again.
5. If you do feel the urge to have a drink, it goes away in a bit.

I'm sending you positive thoughts. I have a much better life now I drink less - wouldn't you like to join me?

I am very curious as to what you think AAs version of alcoholism is?

If you need 5-6 drinks a night, moderation for weight loss is definitely not what you should be worried about. You need to go to AA or get help of some kind. Take care of the drinking first and then worry about losing weight. It's not good for your mental state or your physical well-being. I wish you the best!

I drink ALL THE BOOZE!

Also...

HAHAHHAHAHA I love every bit of this post!

It is too easy to drink too many calories! I started my 30 day no alcohol "challenge" on September 1st. Then only weekends for this girl. And, way more self moderation. If I can't do that, I am quitting altogether. Good luck everyone.

I am very curious as to what you think AAs version of alcoholism is?

Well, I should preface this by saying I've never been a member of AA, or gone to a meeting.

But based on what I've read about the AA method, I don't believe that (a) I need to find religion, or (b) have to never drink again.

Of course, if it helps you live a happier life, then more power to you. It isn't for me though.

These days, I genuinely could take it or leave it. And it doesn't fit in with my goals, so I almost always leave it.

Is my understanding of this wrong?

Well, it kinda is. Religion is a no no in AA, we believe that a power greater than us can lead us to sanity. Religion is not what AA is about because religion has nothing to do with spirituality. We do believe in a higher power, but it does not have to be an imaginary air god, many people choose for their definition of GOD as Good Orderly Direction.

And as far as never have to drink again, well, its not a club that has rules that will kick you out if you do not abide by. I am what is called a one chip wonder because I have only picked up one white chip. That does not happen very often. Many people relapse, many people drink again. We are alcoholics, drinking is what we do. I have sat in many meetings with people reeking of booze. Unless they become disruptive and violent, they are as welcome as anyone else.

Working the steps of AA is the single best thing I ever did in my life. I wish everyone far and wide would be willing to work on themselves with the steps.

The representation of AA that the movies and tv shows drives many of us crazy because they are not represented accurately..

There are also some people that replace drinking with meetings. Some take the teachings to a radical extreme and can represent the program in a negative light as well. So I beg of you, do not count AA out unless you actually try and and see it is not for you. And I will agree, it is not for everyone. But if you want to stop drinking AND be happy about it, then AA is a wonderful way to get there.

I'm also not into the AA thing. I won't define myself as an eternal alcohol and start every day with "Hi I'm an alcoholic." I believe in positive thinking, not negative thinking. With an attitude like that I would be doomed to failure.

But, I am starting my 30 day no alcohol challenge today.

Absolutely, Im absolutely convinced the only reason I can't shake the last 10-15 is due to my red wine consumption......working on it

I'm also not into the AA thing. I won't define myself as an eternal alcohol and start every day with "Hi I'm an alcoholic." I believe in positive thinking, not negative thinking. With an attitude like that I would be doomed to failure.

But, I am starting my 30 day no alcohol challenge today.

It's obvious that you don't know what AA is or what it's about. You don't start every day stating "Hi! I'm an alcoholic!" and it's not something that you go to forever. Admitting you have a problem isn't a negative attitude nor does it mean you're doomed to failure. There are plenty of recovered alcoholics who have gotten that way through the help of AA.

Sure you can wake up every morning and state "I'm not an alcoholic!" but then it's just a question of whether or not you're trying to convince yourself of that.

Good for you on your 30 day no alcohol challenge but what happens if you fail? What happens after the 30 days? Do you say "Woah! I made it 30 days. Time to celebrate with a 6 pack!" or do you say "You know, I really don't need alcohol and I like not drinking." Not saying you have a problem but there is no shame in admitting that you do and seeking help for it.

I'm glad to hear it's going well for you!!

Early on I decided drinking my calories just didn't cut it, whether it was orange juice, a smoothie or an adult beverage. So I've mostly cut alcohol out of my diet. I rarely drink these days.

As for social occassions, I'll either obstain or just have one drink and then call it good. If going to happy hour, I can usually just get away with having a soda and no one balks because I have a long commute - no drinking and driving! If going to a BBQ, I'll bring my own mixed drink in a sports bottle and then drink water or diet soda once that's gone. The only time I totally let loose is when I'm with my girlfriends and we're doing an overnight - thankfully that's only once or twice a year.

While I didn't get to read every post in this thread, the ones I did were SO supportive and nonjudgmental. I am very proud of the MFP community here. I also find it very comforting to know that there's a lot of us in this boat. Without going into every last detail, I can say I definitely consume WAY too much alcohol too. After the birth of my daughter (who didn't sleep for more than 15 minutes at a time till she was 2 years, 9 months old) my husband and I both started drinking a lot more than we ever had. The drinks were high in calories, high in quantity, and we packed on pounds like mad. I am the same weight now as I was four years ago when I was 9 months pregnant. Like so many people, we lead high stressed lives. Kids, full time jobs, a business, not enough money, not enough time, major health issues, etc... There's few ways to relax and cracking a beer or six open a night is the only way I can figure. There's kids to take care of, dinner to cook, after work I should be studying for a test I keep failing (can't pass the Bar exam) so to say I'm going to leave and go exercise for an hour or two to relieve stress the healthy way- not possible! That said, I am going to do what I can even though it's not what I WANT. I quit work at 4:30 and I need to get my daughter from daycare by 6:00 pm, not a minute later. After work I'm going to hit the gym for an hour, get my daughter from daycare and THEN go home. If I go home straight from work, I'm going to want a beer. But, if I go to the gym before going home, odds are I'm going to crave water after a work out. The stressors are still going to be there and I'm not sure I can cure all my problems (I'm still not going to have time to study or clean), but right now I'm not effectively tackling any of them. I hope that by exercising right after work (which means sacrificing the only minutes of calm I have before all the kids are home), I will drink less, lose more weight and begin to find my way back to better mental and physical health. It's going to be a long journey but you have to find and do whatever you can from taking that first sip. While I still plan on enjoying a drink 2 days a week when my mom watches the baby till 8-9 at night (our "date" nights), I need to break the habit of relaxing with a beer after work all the other days. I wish us all the very best of luck in our journeys to mental and physical health and happiness.