Who has had to completely give up alcohol for weight loss?

I allow it once in a while - a nice night out, or a birthday. But I'm cutting it out otherwise. I, like you, make poor choices as a result of drinking. I snack, I binge, I lose track of what I eat so even if I work a few drinks in, I end up ruining it anyways. Not worth it and it's really been setting me back. Some people can fit it in and make it work, but I can't.

I noticed my biggest loss when I stopped drinking every night, but I have never stopped altogether, in fact, I brew my own beer (by the truckload), so I'd have to sacrifice one hobby to support a new lifestyle? I think not. The difference now is that I drink when I have earned it by changing my social activities that support drinking.

When I was a hefty 120kgs (about 10yrs ago) I was hitting town three nights a week and a few BBQs in between. Now I hang out with a social group that is energetic and enjoys drinking: I run the local Hash House Harrier chapter 4 or 5 times a month. We usually run 5kms on a Monday night and have a beer at the end. It's social focused, but a hard run makes more than one beer hard to stomach. Also, this weekend, I had a river float with a few beers at the end; essentially, I tread water in a cool fast moving river for almost two hours before settling into a a few dark ales. In each case, I still won my calories and spent them wisely, saving a few for social events during the week. In each case, I am too buggered to eat.

My weight dropped off real quick with this lifestyle and I have made some good friends - since then, my weight has hovered around 90-95kgs and I still put away a few beers a week without much care or gain.

Previously, I found I was getting the munchies not because I was hungry, but because I was bored and I have traded this bad habit (boredom) with something that keeps me busy (running or cycling or swimming* etc.). If you enjoy a beer or two and some good social malarky but want a short run inbetween, I strongly advise a Hash House Harrier chapter or similar activity, something that balances the carbs but still adds good friends and social shenanigans.

*Don't mix booze and swimming and all the usual disclaimers, please use common sense.

I gave alcohol up for Lent. The only change I've noticed so far is that now I get pretty fierce cravings for coffee in the evening. But I drink at home, with dinner, so (a) there's no junk food around to overeat, and (b) I'm full.

I have alcohol sometimes with my refeed day which happens about once a week. It's been a couple weeks since i've included alcohol in it. I'll never get rid of it completely. Margaritas are life

I don’t know if I “had to” but I gave up alcohol as the first step of my weight-loss, because I’ve never been a big eater and it seemed the easiest way to cut a lot of calories. Over the first few months, I lost 20lbs or more, so it certainly gave me a good start.

Oddly enough I found it easy. In the 30 years leading up to quitting, I averaged at least half a bottle of wine every day (and a lot more at weekends), but I can’t say I’ve missed it at all.

Did it affect my social life? Not really, but then I’m in my 50’s. My days of going out on the beers with the boys ended long ago. Half “the boys” are dead, for one thing. When we do get together, once or twice a year, I do have a drink or two, but I’m rubbish at it these days. A complete amateur. I had two shots of very nice malt whiskey at the weekend and was what I used to call “6 pints drunk”. Oh well, at least I’m a cheap date.

Yep.

Nope.

It, of course, eases the pain of it when prescribed medications which require alcohol to be verboten.

AngelJenny74 wrote: »

yup...replaced it with smoking weed instead (calorie free)

Except for munchies, LOL. When I smoked weed in college I would down huge amounts of doughnuts and pizza.

I used to LOVE soda and alcoholic drinks on the weekends. Now that I've been counting my calories weekly, I hardly ever have enough calories for drinks. Therefore, I'm the DD for my friends and I can still have a good time hanging out. I prefer having my calories coming from foods than drinks

Over time I've weaned off to almost nothing. I started out doing extra cardio so I had daily room for the booze I "needed" to feel sane. As my weight came down that got less and less fun, and wasted a bunch of muscle mass. I took a trip abroad at one point and the jet lag and time difference just threw off my drinking schedule, and I was so pleased to be drinking less just as it happened that I decided to have a dry month when I got home. That was last June/July. Since then I've just been less and less tolerant to the point where I felt stupid getting all drunk chatty with friends one time, and I get a pretty good headache next morning from one drink. I think I'm just over it, but it was a process. I'm not saying I don't drink, or I won't ever, but I look at it completely different now. I feel no weirdness not drinking if my friends are, in social gatherings, but in fairness we're not hanging out to drink, it's usually like book club or dinner out and an event like a play or something.