Giving up alcohol
Options
CatM87
Posts: 3 Member
I've made the decision to give up - I want to cut the empty calories and bad food choices that a drink leads to, not to mention the hangovers! Has anyone else done this successfully? Any tips to avoid peer pressure or temptation to slip back into old habits?
10
Replies
-
good luck, you're a stronger person than me, I love my Beer, but I have learned to drink a glass of water with each drink, no more than two beers a day.2
-
When I'm dieting and planning on having a drink, I would always adjust my eating accordingly, so that the calories wasted by the alcohol don't affect my overall calorie intake. In other words, either drink or eat, just don't do it together. When drinking, you should also always opt for clear, high volume drinks, like Vodka or Jager. Avoid sugary drinks like Cocktails or even Wine. I know it's difficult and probably not the healthiest but it works for me.2
-
Yep, I gave up over two years ago as I decided that alcohol wasn't worth wasting the calories on.
Since then I've been put on a medication which prohibits alcohol.
I don't miss it at all.
It also means that my DH has pretty well given up as well - we used to share a bottle of wine but he won't drink a whole bottle by himself so chooses not to drink it.
I don't have any tips really as I never drank when out socially anyway (preferred to be the driver). I just stopped drinking at home. Saved a fortune as well (I like expensive wine).
Good luck, just remember why you're doing it when you're tempted
9 -
I didn't touch a drop for nearly a year. No great hardship at all. Everybody else had more of a problem with me not drinking than I did.14
-
Good luck, I am going thru the same issue right now. 33 years ago, I managed to give up drinking and poor eating choices and lost 100+ pounds. Slowly the weight has come back and along with it endless cocktails at the end of the day and poor eating choices. I'm now working slowly to drop the bad habit.7
-
Yep, quit in Jan 2010.
What do you think the biggest temptations/difficulties will be? For me it was times and situations when I was used to drinking, so having a plan or alternative in mind helped. Also learning that no one really cares if you are drinking and if they do that's their issue and you don't owe it to them to drink.10 -
The not drinking is easy. The explaining why you're not drinking is more difficult. I still have a glass of wine once in a blue moon, but giving up the daily habit has been rewarding -- Physically, emotionally and financially.9
-
I had my last drink over 2 years ago. I was maintaining at the time, but I decided it just wasn't worth the calories to me and decided to cut it out. I loved those super sugary, high calorie cocktails and martini's. Was never into beer or wine.
I still go to bars, sports bars, night clubs etc. I just drink water and have a dessert/appetizer if I wanted or a juice although I don't like drinking calories. I find people don't even pay attention to what's in my glass.
I was never a big drinker so I don't miss it at all.
Pressure has never bothered me. I'm used to being different and doing my own thing. Like someone said above other people had more of a problem then I did. But that's on them. I pass no judgment while others are drinking.5 -
Only drink wine at special occassions, at Christmas.. or by chinese foods (once in a few months).. limiting to one or two glasses.0
-
I'd only quit if I had a problem0
-
Initially, I felt self conscious, but never pressured or even questioned by those who I was out with. I came to realize that as long as everyone is together and having fun, no one is really paying attention to whether I drink alcohol or water. If you feel like you're "slipping back into old habits", try remembering how horrible the hangovers of the past felt.3
-
Former heavy drinker. Still enjoy a night cap. I don't eat treats and if I come under my calorie goal I'll have a night cap. Lost 60 pounds along with exercise and lifestyle changes. I still like the compensation method. I gave up oj long before alcohol. Only beer for me though. No really sugary drinks.
If you think you are a problematic drinker, consider moderation management. Otherwise, take a few days off and how much better you will feel and look should be more than enough motivation to cut back to "healthy" drinking levels or not at all.5 -
I quit in my 30's and lost 60 pounds. I started drinking again and slowly gained it all back. My problem was after that first glass of wine, I wanted something to nibble on, then I wanted another glass of wine, and so on and so on. I would maintain a disciplined diet during the day and then blow it all at night with the wine and chips. I quit again back in March and have lost 28 pounds since then. I quit in March because my doctor found an issue with my heart function that while only slight, would be made much better if I eliminated alcohol and most of the salt from my diet. For me, I can lose weight while drinking, but it takes longer and is much more difficult. Without the hooch, I am much more successful at losing it and keeping it off and now, whenever I am tempted to dive into the liquor cabinet at the end of a long, frustrating day, I remind myself of how far I've come with my weight and that my heart function has improved by 10% - 15% after six months of abstinence and I don't want to erase all of that.8
-
Always have alchohol and a glass of water before the next alcoholic beverage. That should at least slow you down.2
-
Antabuse. One pill a day and you can't drink at all. It takes a week to get out of your system.3
-
Hi I am 57 female and have had a drink every night for the past 20yrs or so. In April I stopped drinking wine and was drinking on average 6 beers a night. I completely stopped last week No Alcohol since Thursday. It's not easy, I have felt exhausted, trouble getting to sleep, wanting to snack on everything in sight. On the plus side I am already less bloated and last night I had a good night sleep woo hoo. I have drank mountains of water and lime with soda. I am determined to stick with it, not saying I'm going to never drink but I will certainly have it under control.
Good luck11 -
Hi - I am on the journey too. Just started. I have no words of wisdom except wanted to chime in with, you're not alone! I am trying to focus on everyday and every choice within the day, and not think about the big decision to never drink, as that feels impossible. But individual moments and the decisions I make within them seem manageable. I have decided that I will need to forgo certain social situations for the time being as I will have so much anxiety leading up to them and so much fear about making the wrong choices, they are no longer enjoyable - such as house parties and nights at the bar. I have friends who hardly ever drink and I will spend my time with them for awhile. this is a major change and will likely feel strange, uncomfortable and difficult until it isn't any longer. The most difficult part is managing my emotions which I guess I was drowning in alcohol and didn't feel very intensely. Again, I know that it is temporary. I hope these words are encouraging to you! I personally feel so healthy because of this decision and it makes the difficult parts worth it.8
-
peckchris3267 wrote: »Antabuse. One pill a day and you can't drink at all. It takes a week to get out of your system.
Isn't this a prescription sometimes prescribed to alcoholics?1 -
Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »peckchris3267 wrote: »Antabuse. One pill a day and you can't drink at all. It takes a week to get out of your system.
Isn't this a prescription sometimes prescribed to alcoholics?
Hardcore, even, NOT recommended for the vast majority of people. I never took anything when I was quitting (I dislike the idea, although I wouldn't defend this as rational, it's just me), but I know it's increasingly common to prescribe things like naltrexone if someone needs additional help for a short term period of time at first. I know maybe one person who got prescribed antabuse because even naltrexone wasn't working for him (he'd drink on it).
Anyway, doesn't seem likely to be relevant to OP or the thread.2
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 391.3K Introduce Yourself
- 43.4K Getting Started
- 259.6K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.6K Food and Nutrition
- 47.3K Recipes
- 232.3K Fitness and Exercise
- 387 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.4K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.7K Motivation and Support
- 7.8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.2K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.2K MyFitnessPal Information
- 22 News and Announcements
- 913 Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.3K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions