new here...worried about alcohol...any tips?

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Replies

  • silver97rwa
    silver97rwa Posts: 11
    I appreciate everyone's input! And appreciate those of you who have shared your own solutions to this issue. For the record, I do not drink EVERY night...so I am already able to make it through a few days without a drink and I have no problems. It is just that...I'm bored, and I love beer. I have already cut down a lot! I was just hoping for a few tips to help me continue to move on. I would like to be able to drink at least 2 nights a week, and I don't want to undo all the good I have done in the process.
  • helenoftroy1
    helenoftroy1 Posts: 638 Member
    ooops, I feel I have put myself on the line a little bit now! Too much honesty ha ha!!
    There I was thinking thank God it's not just me and someone else is a little worried but then you go and say you don't even drink every night and you have managed to cut back! Damn you ha ha!
    Well done for recognising where you are at though and I agree with the low cal alternatives if you just like the taste of beer.
  • Becca308
    Becca308 Posts: 43 Member
    I get it - I don't drink Sunday-Friday afternoon, then moderate on Friday night and Saturday. I also choose drinks that are either lower in calories (vodka and soda), or provide other known health benefits (glass of red wine).

    Don't know if that helps, but it made a difference to me, my weight and I noticed a difference in my running stamina too.
  • silver97rwa
    silver97rwa Posts: 11
    No worries :-) the 2 nights a week is the ideal...presently...I'm at about 4 or 5 nights a week. Though, it depends on the week...I had wisdom teeth pulled a month ago and was on antibiotics for a week and didn't drink a drop, so I can do it...just...not really motivated to not drink....VERY motivated to lose weight, but...still love the beer.
  • urbanathlete
    urbanathlete Posts: 8
    12 step program
  • tuffytuffy1
    tuffytuffy1 Posts: 920 Member
    I drink quite a bit and also want to cut down. I started by replacing several beers with big glasses of diet soda or sparking flavored water and adding just a couple of ounces of white wine to that. I still need to cut down more, though. I understand how you feel.
  • mjeihoon
    mjeihoon Posts: 1
    I KNOW JUST HOW YOU FEEL! People on this site need to have some compassion! What the hell, some people eat too damn much and some people drink too damn much!. I have been battling 10 pounds for 10 years! I love my wine and refuse to stop having a drink! I have cut back on my wine becausei realize that if i drink 3 nights a week then i enjoy the wine far more than when i use to have 2 glasses every night. It was difficult but i just had to distract myself for the first 3 months and picture myself not being a slave to the wine. You will be fine but just cut back a little at a time and you will soon come to realize that you only want to drink on weekends. You will feel more strong and vibrant knowing that you are looking and feeling your best. You will also look so damn good that you will not want to mess up your flyness with too much of anything!
  • mrmanmeat
    mrmanmeat Posts: 1,968 Member
    Quitting cold turkey when you are an alcoholic is not wise - the withdrawal could be life threatening. You should taper off. Make a commitment to drink a little less each day until you are not drinking anymore.

    I refuse to believe that anyone who is trying to control their weight is an alcoholic.


    Quit cold turkey.
  • TheShelterCat
    TheShelterCat Posts: 160
    Cut down slowly. I used to drink a few glasses of wine or a couple beers most night and have now cut it down to once or twice a week (with some slip ups). It takes awhile getting out of the bad habits that got us here in the first place but before you know it you'll start gaining good habits (like exercising, eating right and drinking lots of water rather than beer). Good luck!
  • mrmanmeat
    mrmanmeat Posts: 1,968 Member
    I KNOW JUST HOW YOU FEEL! People on this site need to have some compassion! What the hell, some people eat too damn much and some people drink too damn much!. I have been battling 10 pounds to 15 pounds for 10 years! I love my wine and refuse to stop having a drink! I think cutting back is necessary and i am doing my best. Please do not stop cold turkey! Just try to best to cut back : ) I know you can do it because i have cut back but i still love my red wine on thursday night, friday night and even saturday night. It is all about balance my dear. LIVESTRONG : )

    And some people on this site need to find some willpower for their health and their future. Not make excuses as to WHY they need the one drink or why they need the one more glass of wine.
  • Michelle_M2002
    Michelle_M2002 Posts: 301 Member
    The road the health is paved with steps, each step building on the next.

    I used to want red wine all the time. As another poster said.. I love the smell, the taste, how it makes me feel. Suddenly one day I realized that I was on the road to becoming an alcoholic. So I gave it up for a while. Boy did I miss it. But now it's not a problem and I rarely think about it. I can also enjoy a glass with dinner every now and then. Or have 2 beers and then be done.

    Alcohol will really hinder your weight loss. It's extra calories with no nutritional value to your body. It dehydrates you, and alcohol turns into sugar when it's metabolized, which means it messed with your blood sugar levels.

    I think you hit the nail on the head though... "...I am bored."

    My trainer says that when I find myself wanting to eat just because I am bored.. to go DO something to get my mind off of food. Take a walk, do a work out video, do some push-ups, sit-ups and planks. SOMETHING to get the focus off of food and back onto my goal.

    Good luck!

    God bless!


    God bless!
  • SirBen81
    SirBen81 Posts: 396 Member
    I KNOW JUST HOW YOU FEEL! People on this site need to have some compassion! What the hell, some people eat too damn much and some people drink too damn much!. I have been battling 10 pounds to 15 pounds for 10 years! I love my wine and refuse to stop having a drink! I think cutting back is necessary and i am doing my best. Please do not stop cold turkey! Just try to best to cut back : ) I know you can do it because i have cut back but i still love my red wine on thursday night, friday night and even saturday night. It is all about balance my dear. LIVESTRONG : )

    And some people on this site need to find some willpower for their health and their future. Not make excuses as to WHY they need the one drink or why they need the one more glass of wine.

    THIS IS SPARTA!
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I appreciate everyone's input! And appreciate those of you who have shared your own solutions to this issue. For the record, I do not drink EVERY night...so I am already able to make it through a few days without a drink and I have no problems. It is just that...I'm bored, and I love beer. I have already cut down a lot! I was just hoping for a few tips to help me continue to move on. I would like to be able to drink at least 2 nights a week, and I don't want to undo all the good I have done in the process.

    In that case just work the calories from the beer into your plan. I drink wine just about every day. Not because I need to, because I like to. I just make sure I exercise enough so that I can have the wine and still eat enough healthy food to meet my nutritional needs without gaining any weight back. In fact I am still losing slowly even though I've met what I had as my goal.
  • fitplease
    fitplease Posts: 647 Member
    You seem to be drinking the beer for psychological reasons. Is there another way to have your needs met than through a beer? Maybe you can substitute your beer drinking with healthy hobbies or other activities that will get your drinking level down. Maybe meditation or yoga could help relax you at the end of the day, and you can still nourish your body with a great dinner. There is a problem when a beer becomes priority over dinner. You know that, or you wouldn't have been posting about it.

    If you log your beers and make your food diary public, that may give you some accountability to help you succeed.

    (I have friends who are recovering alcoholics. They swear by AA. And, one's family swears by Al-Anon. Alcohol is not easy to give up, but it is worthwhile, they say. If you find that you, too, are an alcoholic, please don't be afraid to check these groups out.)

    Best wishes!
  • fitplease
    fitplease Posts: 647 Member
    I have just done 13 days with no alcohol. It was a personal best. 13 days a personal best??? I love red wine, I love the taste, the smell and the way it makes me feel. I hate that I need it to feel that way.

    Congratulations!!! 13 days can be tough sometimes. Don't worry, you did well. :-)

    I love wine, too. I generally need to keep it out of the house. If I do buy it, which is rare, I limit myself to one glass a day. I don't have an addictive personality, as far as I know, but I don't want to test it.

    You are courageous to have taken control of your alcohol consumption. Every baby step is success. Keep up the good work! :smile:
  • helenoftroy1
    helenoftroy1 Posts: 638 Member

    I refuse to believe that anyone who is trying to control their weight is an alcoholic.


    Quit cold turkey.

    huh? I'm not sure I understand this statement. I don't think it is a case of simply quitting cold turkey. I can definitely tell those who have (God forbid I say this!) vices and those who don't.
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