No Alcohol on a weekday!

Sad fact: Even a limited amount of alcohol can undermine a diet even as part of a calorie controlled diet. This is because alcohol slows down and changes the way that the body burns and stores fat.
http://www.builtlean.com/2012/11/26/alcohol-weight-loss/

When I first started to diet, no probs until I hit a wall even though I was still cutting calories. Turned out to be the alcohol, a real heart sink moment and had no choice but to restrict it and did so bit by bit until the weight started to shift again.

How much you have to cut out will be different for everyone but for me, this meant none all week and had to limit set at two bottles at the week end only. Misery making in the long term but I enjoyed it more.

Here are a few useful facts and very good luck cutting back:


Alcohol: Recommended Daily Allowance: Women = 2-3 units + 1 for men. The calculation for RDA is complicated by differences in the alcohol % (strength or volume) in each type of drink.

https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/check-the-facts/what-is-alcohol/what-is-an-alcohol-unit

Wine Measure Units kcals Carbs
1 bottle at 12% vol 750mls (75cls) 9.8 564 6
Half bottle 375 mls 4.9 282 3
1/3 bottle 250mls = large glass 3.3 188 2
¼ bottle 187mls 2.45 141 1.5
Standard small glass 175mls 2. 132 1.25
1/6 bottle 125 ml 1.6 94 1

A moderate amount of red wine (also pure cranberry juice) may help thin blood, raise levels of good cholesterol and dissolve ‘young’ artery plaques. Pinot noir has the highest anti-oxidant rate and other beneficial properties.

• Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Pinot Noir
• Waitrose Romanian
• Cono Sur - Bicicleta Pinot Noir or Chapel Hill Pinot Noir

Isoflavones also inhibit the growth of cells that form artery clogging plaque.
http://www.isoflavones.info/

• Soya Milk
http://www.happyjuicer.com/Dairy-Free/soy-milk-benefits.aspx

How did everyone do? Last night I had literally 1 sip of the Old Fashion that my SO made to taste it. Nothing besides that all week. Even abstained from opening the huge bottle of wine I bought for this weekend for my family who will be visiting.

runningforthetrain wrote: »

Thanks so much crunchy for this info- I know a lot of my friends will split a whole bottle of wine easily in one setting. I can do a third of a bottle but, looks like that should be even only occasionally.

Wow dbanks80 -- you are brave. I wish you luck. I am thinking the alcohol is making me fatigued the following day- keep this in mind as perhaps a little motivation

lizwooshy- I had one vodka soda water on Monday night. I am cutting my weekly total not, necessarily the weekend only- I think I'm doing pretty good...

Good Job even slight cutbacks are helpful for weight loss and more importantly over all health. My SO only had two cocktails this week at my encouragement, which is much better than 2-3 beers a night which he was doing.

I think I will just not have anything to drink for the rest of October. Seems like a much safer bet for me Glad some of you are trying it as well.

Yi5hedr3 wrote: »

No alcohol ANYDAY, even better!

Well the jury's still out on that. The following documentary has given rise to new research, yet to be concluded

https://youtube.com/watch?v=g0JL3Q-lpVY

kirstywillia wrote: »

I'm one who likes a drink literally everyday even if it's just a beer or maybe a couple glasses of wine, but I've decided to help shift a couple extra pounds it's probably a good idea to cut out the booze on a weekday and see how much extra I can lose. Who wants to try this with me for the rest of September?

anna418 wrote: »

I went to the wedding pre-party tonight and stuck to water due to my cold. At around 10 pm while the party was in full force I decided to ask for a small glass of Cabernet - it's Friday and I deserve it! And also everyone else was drinking too...Well, I don't know if it's my cold or if it's the wine, but it tasted AWFUL. I had 3 sips and ended up leaving it at the bar. And this was an open bar party!

I ended up driving my friends home. The couple I rode with clearly hadn't coordinated on who would drive and I was NOT about to get in the car with a drunk driver. So it worked out well for all of us in the end.

I feel like my mindset has changed since starting this challenge. Almost like I had a drinker's mindset of sorts, previously? Like yeah, let's keep drinking, it's fun! More drinks! Everyone drink! Why aren't you drinking?! And at the party tonight watching everyone drink heavily I was like...no. This does not look fun. But I had a great time without alcohol! I still enjoyed myself and I know I didn't end up saying anything stupid or something I would regret. Didn't make an a** of myself. Will wake up tomorrow morning bright-eyed and hydrated from all my sparkling water I was drinking. This challenge is really making me rethink my relationship with alcohol and I am SO grateful for it.

Me too. This thread has proved to have a different outcome on me than I expected. I had a medium rare burger last night and it was torture not to have a glass of cab with it. But, I waited it out, and since I have been so frustrated with my loss, it was nice not to have those empty cals to log. I never was a big drinker- except in my early twenties but, 4 or 5 drinks a week is at least 400- to 700 empty cals-- it adds up. I also think the fatigue from drinking I am noticing more.

All that went out the window this evening, dinner with the mother-in-law Lol- So I had a spicy pacific- vodka, passion fruit, and jalepeno.... I needed it. Tomorrow I'll abstain and I am already committed to a long walk. Anyway, back on the wagon tomorrow

elizabethymartin wrote: »

runningforthetrain wrote: »

Lol I said something similar in my status today too!! Stupid wagon! Lol...at least u stopped at one martini...I've had beyond several this w/e...oh well, I can't be all good all of the time!

lol

jmazlow694 wrote: »

I would like to not Drink during the week then start cutting back from there but it's hard since my husband drinks. He drinks during the week a lot and he's skinny already and is not worried about losing weight or being healthy. It makes it very difficult for me to abstain during the week . I'm hoping since I'm starting to work out again this will help keep me motivated to not drink during the week.....

I'm in the same boat. But in July I just decided it was only temporary and would help me achieve my weight goals. It's made a huge difference. I will save a protein shake for that time so I have something besides water to drink. Hang in there. It's only temporary.

Wasn't AF yesterday, had a mimosa at the wedding brunch. Argh. It was totally unnecessary. Back to it today.

I went away for a girl's golf weekend, lots of wine in the evenings, but none during the day, (that is a change for me). Sunday was wine free and controlled eating Yea me. I had a great workout this morning, Monday, and logging food so far today. All positive things until I saw a picture of me posted on Facebook from this weekend. Oh boy do I have a long way to go. I guess it is motivating me even more. No wine tonight

@swwass130 Great job!
@anna418 Excellent that you had None! Great job!

It is a struggle everyday, especially in the evening. Around 6:00 pm I start thinking about that first glass. Not today. Love the support here. Off to work and my normal AF day

SpecialKH wrote: »

I count all of my alcohol calories and measure it, too. But I have a high tolerance and can drink a bottle of wine between 6 and 10pm and never know it! I'm not drinking to get a buzz, but it's like my body doesn't get buzzed so I don't get a signal to slow down. So easy to have a glass of wine while cooking, one during dinner, one after dinner and then why save one glass worth in the bottle? Have a nightcap! LOL

I love to pair different drinks with different foods. Margaritas (made with lime juice and stevia) with Mexican foods, red wine with heavier Italian or chocolate, white wine with white fish... gah so hard.

I too am not "a cheap date" as my mother would say. And I am just learning how to taste a food for it's taste rather than it's taste in comparison / paired w/ a drink. I've always drank my calories alcoholic and non, I could never understand why pizza if no beer? Why pb & j if no milk? Now I eat none of those things and drink water. I'm working on it.