Blame it on the ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, alcohol

crescentwire wrote: »

After reading through this entire thread almost twice ... I'll throw in my 2 cents. Now, please understand that I'm speaking only from my personal perspective, since that's really all I can offer anyway. Hopefully something in here helps you to sort through what your options are.

I never drank in college (in fact, swore it off because in part of my upbringing, and in how I observed others abusing it at that time in my life), so when the time came when I started tasting a beer here and there, it was like the lights and color in life suddenly burst into full array. I loved it. And I couldn't get enough of it. Over the years, I tried other kinds of alcohol, wine, you name it... I drank it. Most days I couldn't wait to get home to hear the clink of the glass and the feel the soft, warm fire sloshing down my throat, bring the world into muted clarity. Sound far-fetched? It's really not... and I'd wager lots of us on here know exactly what I'm talking about. At a certain point, I was so enraptured with the acquisition, consumption, and involvement of alcohol in my life that I began hiding how much I had really had from myself, my friends, and my wife -- indeed, even casually storing alcohol in places people weren't very likely to look (the garage). Looking back, though having moved through all of that, the regret, shame, and conviction I feel is profound.

Why am I bothering with all this back story? To frame how I've more recently seen alcohol as a (in large quantities, destructive) influence on my life, my personal relationships, and its effect on my ability to drop weight.

So ... fast forward a few years. I had topped out heavier than I ever had been in my life, and I wanted to start losing. Alcohol still sat on the glowing altar of praise in my life, though I had cut down considerably in comparison. When I first started trying to lose weight (and this was literally EVERY time) ... any time I drank alcohol during the week, even in moderate amounts (I don't mean light -- I mean moderate ... roughly 2-3 drinks a night, a few times a week), I would utterly sabotage any weight loss that week. Yes, I was drinking water beforehand and during. Yes, I logged all my food. Yes, I was conscious about the calories. It was something with the way my body processed it (perhaps after all those years of abuse?) that totally jacked my ability to lose weight that week. And it's truly like clockwork for me. Each time I've tried to include alcohol in my weight-loss routine for any certain week, I am literally choosing to not lose for that week.

I don't imagine this perfectly applies to you, or even anyone on here. But in my personal experience, it's not worth the (1) empty calories, (2) tendency to overindulge in really garbage-y food once your inhibitions are shot, or (3) wickedly dehydrated state your body enters. Alcohol is a poison -- don't forget that. Your liver works really hard to get it out of your blood, and that process takes a toll. Also don't forget that your body will break down alcohol WAY before it breaks down any excess fat you're carrying around. For me, it just doesn't make sense.

When I enter maintenance mode (hopefully soon, in a matter of a few more pounds), I imagine I'll reconsider what, and how much, of a role it plays. But having gone without it for so long, I'm at the right place for where it fits in my life -- both as a way to continue my weight loss, and to reflect on it very seriously in the damaging role it's had in my life.

Thanks for reading the dissertation. Hope this (somehow) helps you, or someone reading it now or in the future.

Jesyka_Gee wrote: »

Here's what I do. Not sure if anyone else has mentioned this but when I'm out with friends and we are grabbing drinks, either stick to light beer or if you want the hard stuff go for a Vodka Tonic or Gin & Tonic. Tonic is a form of water, which will help with hydration throughout the night and a minimal hang over. This always works for me. My go-to drink is either Grey Goose and Tonic with a few lime wedges or Kettle and Tonic the same way. Hope it works out for you!

DiabolicalColossus wrote: »

I'm really disappointed in myself that I didn't make a "Blame It On The Rain" joke in my answer to the OP.

::hangs head::

Kruggeri wrote: »

DiabolicalColossus wrote: »

I'm really disappointed in myself that I didn't make a "Blame It On The Rain" joke in my answer to the OP.

::hangs head::

OP is too young to get the joke, probably many of the people here as well... I will get it though - so go ahead, it's not too late!

The revelation that Milli Vanilli were lip syncing was one of the defining moments of my high school years.

Torontonius wrote: »

1) No "binge" nights. You can't consume 3000+ calories in a night and expect to get lean, period.