need friends who have quit/reduced drinking

sinclare
sinclare Posts: 369 Member
edited September 30 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi! I am looking for friends who have reduced significantly or quit drinking alcohol! Not necessarily friends of Bob; but people who Get It when I say I only had 2 glasses of wine and I think that is an NSV ;) .

I know it is not healthy and it sabotages weight loss but it is the hardest thing for me to quit.

Thanks!
«1

Replies

  • Rworthy
    Rworthy Posts: 271 Member
    I know what you're saying. Drinking days are definitely splurge days. Try not to have more than one per month!
  • sarahp86
    sarahp86 Posts: 692 Member
    I've cut down on alcohol dramatically and I don't miss it all
  • Serenifly
    Serenifly Posts: 669 Member
    I quit smoking, and that made me quit drinking (the two go hand in hand for me)
  • laurad8911
    laurad8911 Posts: 99
    me! me!
  • laurad8911
    laurad8911 Posts: 99
    meaning, i quit...about 1.5 months ago. amazing.
  • voluptas63
    voluptas63 Posts: 602 Member
    I just can't bring myself to do so. I know I need to quit or at least cut back, but I brew my own beer and I really enjoy it. And I have to sample what I make:)

    I have cut back, I guess. I'm back around 1-2 days a week drinking 2-3 beers versus the 5 days a week I was at :-/
  • Seajolly
    Seajolly Posts: 1,435 Member
    Since joining MFP in May I've probably drank no more than 3-4 times. Now when I do, I make sure it fits into my day by eating smaller meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and then saving the calories for drinks. :wink:
  • whitewater2
    whitewater2 Posts: 4
    I have a glass of red wine in the evenings when kids are in bed and I can relax and enjoy my day. I will never give it up and Dr. Oz
    says that it is good to have a daily glass of wine or beer!!!!!
  • IAMQUEEN
    IAMQUEEN Posts: 52
    I'm struggling with the same issue! I use to drink just about everyday however, I've cut back to weekends only. I want to cut back more :(
  • MummaSue
    MummaSue Posts: 242 Member
    I really enjoy a glass of red wine either with lunch or in the evening with my meal (more usually evenings) but since being on MFP I've cut back a lot, not really by choice so much as not having enough calories left! So I have to plan for a glass of red now, but I'm sure it's helping my weight loss, when I've had a drink I often either don't lose or, worse, gain a little - even if I haven't blown the calorie allowance. At first I did miss it a bit but now I'm not so bothered, although I still REALLY enjoy it when I do :O)
  • infamousmk
    infamousmk Posts: 6,033 Member
    Add me! I'm a homebrewer/beer lover and I won't ever quit drinking beers. But, I have cut back significantly over the last three months. I mean, several bombers and at least six to eight single bottles a week down to less than six bottles, and sometimes no bombers. (sadness)... but, I'm in 'get healthy' mode right now, with a ton of weight to lose. Maybe when I'm at a more healthy place I'll be able to add back some additional beers a week. I mean, I'd like to work out solely to drink beer, not work out to stop being obese, YKWIM?
  • sinclare
    sinclare Posts: 369 Member
    thanks for the repsonse!

    so I went from red wine every night-- to white wine-- to beer, now trying to do NA beer...switching it up with regular beer to reduce the alcohol...maybe this week I can cut myself off completely...
  • sinclare
    sinclare Posts: 369 Member
    thanks for the repsonse!

    so I went from red wine every night-- to white wine-- to beer, now trying to do NA beer...switching it up with regular beer to reduce the alcohol...maybe this week I can cut myself off completely...
  • Abigailblue39
    Abigailblue39 Posts: 212 Member
    I'm already your friend. But I support all of it. I feel so much better since I reduced my drinking (no more headache). I never drank a lot. But I liked to have 2-3 glasses of wine or martinis, say 3 times a week. That's 600-800 cal depending on what I had. Can't waste that many calories on little nutritional value any more.
  • jessiebombshell
    jessiebombshell Posts: 14
    Me!

    The thing is I LIKE drinking! I like going out to bars. I like watching football with a cold glass of beer. And I like enjoying a glass of whiskey with a good novel. I like pairing wine with dinner.

    I haven't given myself a formal amount to cut back by or "quit" officially, but just the practice of logging everything I drink and thinking about how it's going to affect my calorie count for the day (especially because I'll probably want to eat something later) has helped me cut back significantly. And now whatever tolerance I had built up through college has officially disappeared. I'm a much cheaper date than I used to be!
  • BeverageTreats
    BeverageTreats Posts: 149 Member
    My username is no joke.

    Some people eat healthy all day so they can have a cupcake or ice cream or whatever, I do so I can try to meet my macros and still have a few drinks.

    It was worse before I joined MFP. I drank twice as much and hardly ate anything.

    I am sure some of my MFP friends who never drink are aghast at my diary. But here I am losing fat and trying my hand at gaining some muscle.

    Please friend me if you like, anyone who might be interested in such a diary.
  • Trasijocha43
    Trasijocha43 Posts: 21
    I gave up 8 months ago and for me it has been one of the best decisions in my life. I got sick and tired of feeling sick and tired and since giving up I`ve got into reading again big style and signed up for an open uni course and so many other things. I wasnt a heavy heavy drinker just a habitual drinker (red wine). I make a point of turning up for partys later these days so everybody is already in the full swing and I get drunk off the atmosphere but have the freedom to leave when I want.
  • MichelleF81
    MichelleF81 Posts: 98 Member
    Yeah I've had to give up my beloved wine as it was stalling my weight loss. I now only drink occasionally and I used to have a glass or two of wine almost every night. Now I don't drink at all during the week and only on the odd weekend. It was hard for the first couple of weeks but now I don't miss it at all surprisingly. I've lost much more weight than if I was still drinking the wine and I feel tons healthier and have much more energy. I'd definitely recommend it :).
  • loubabes1
    loubabes1 Posts: 19 Member
    Since January I have managed to (mostly) stick to one night a week. I had to cut out wine as it didnt go well with dieting (i.e. I became a lightweight!) so its just beer now. I do love it though - if I could make 1 thing calorie free it would be beer. :-)
  • loubabes1
    loubabes1 Posts: 19 Member
    Since January I have managed to (mostly) stick to one night a week. I had to cut out wine as it didnt go well with dieting (i.e. I became a lightweight!) so its just beer now. I do love it though - if I could make 1 thing calorie free it would be beer. :-)
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    Me me! I mainly drink when its a special occasion... like a birthday party or holiday. Sometimes if a day is really stressful though and you just need that glass of wine, thats also when I'll indulge.. but that doesn't happen that often either.
  • SpectacuLaura
    SpectacuLaura Posts: 144 Member
    I struggle with this issue so much. I know drinking is totally sabotaging any of my healthy eating efforts but I am such a drinker and love the social aspect of it and just can't see life without wine and bloody marys. Even though I still fall off the wagon and go back to my excessive ways now and then, I really am trying very hard to cut back and would love to be able to keep it to special occasions only someday. It's just so hard when drinking is part of your identity- I mean if I meet up with a friend, they already have a fun new bottle of wine for us to try or have found a cool new happy hour place. It's hard to reverse that thinking not only in yourself, but in everyone around you...:grumble:
  • KyleB65
    KyleB65 Posts: 1,196 Member
    I quit drinking (booze) years ago when my children were little. I grew up with an alcoholic father and when my children were born I was working in the Bar/Restaurant business. It took a couple of years but I got out of the biz and reduced my alcohol intake to a glass of wine or beer 1 - 2 times a year (usually with a holiday meal).

    Best decision I ever made!

    Good luck!
  • dcmat
    dcmat Posts: 1,723 Member
    I don't agree with cutting things out which you like - losing weight is not a prison sentence. The word you are looking for is moderation, although I am down to 2 or 3 glasses of wine a month because I have lost interest in it!!

    ...and not drinking means everyone love you as you drive.
  • lmichelleg
    lmichelleg Posts: 136 Member
    I found this thread at the perfect time. After a few weeks on MFP and little weight loss I realized the alcohol calories were keeping me away from my goal. I am used to having 1-2 glasses of wine a night, but I know I need to cut back. Reading the stories of others has given me the motivation- I am going to start a reduced drinking plan today.
  • michaelynj
    michaelynj Posts: 29
    I don't agree with cutting things out which you like - losing weight is not a prison sentence. The word you are looking for is moderation, although I am down to 2 or 3 glasses of wine a month because I have lost interest in it!!

    ...and not drinking means everyone love you as you drive.

    I totally agree with this answer. I used to be a chronic drinker and I use to drink 5-6 days a week. Instead of cutting it out drink in moderation, also look for low calorie or low carb drinks, don't torture yourself by stopping all together.
  • infamousmk
    infamousmk Posts: 6,033 Member
    I definitely feel like my drinking habits are more healthy overall now. Instead of getting home and having a beer while I cook and one with dinner, then finishing the night with a drink... I save my beers (and the occassional whiskey) for important meals. And by important, I mean "I've worked in the kitchen for three hours to prepare this three-course meal, which my boyfriend and I will sit down together and eat slowly while we enjoy each other's company." ... I love to cook, we love to eat, and I'm not about to take a delicious and perfectly paired beer out of the equation. I've just changed my relationship with the beers.
  • Abigailblue39
    Abigailblue39 Posts: 212 Member
    I gave up 8 months ago and for me it has been one of the best decisions in my life. I got sick and tired of feeling sick and tired and since giving up I`ve got into reading again big style and signed up for an open uni course and so many other things. I wasnt a heavy heavy drinker just a habitual drinker (red wine). I make a point of turning up for partys later these days so everybody is already in the full swing and I get drunk off the atmosphere but have the freedom to leave when I want.

    This is awesome, I love it. I don't get awkward any more in social settings, either. People got used to me ordering sparkling water when I go out. In particular my gym peeps are ok with it. They have 4 beers (=1000 cal..) and always a belly to lose, hehe. I like to go out, and if I go to a cocktail party, I have cranberry juice and sparkling water, looks like a drink, but I don’t have the headache from it.

    P.S. the real reason why I stopped is from getting headaches after only 1 drink. But the weight came off, too
  • PhilipByrne
    PhilipByrne Posts: 276 Member
    Hi Sinclaire,

    I'm a new member myself and I reckon that's going to be my biggest obstacle and the reason I put on the weight in the first place.
    Believe me I wouldn't have any problem recognising two glasses of wine as reasonable, or a bottle for that matter.

    Hope it works for us both.

    Philip
  • sinclare
    sinclare Posts: 369 Member
    Wow so many great new friends here! I figured I wasn't the only one dealing with this.

    And Kudos to all of you who quit cold turkey. I did that in my twenties, was a non-drinker and always designated driver :).

    This time it's different, I'm cutting back like when one switches from regular to de-caf coffee. And I hate de-caf really, so why bother..

    It's still there though; this weekend my husband wanted to take me to my favorite Italian restaurant,, and I couldn't imagine going there and not having red wine, so I lied and told him I didn't feel like going out. :(
This discussion has been closed.

Categories