giving up alcohol?

I was a heavy drinker. Everyday. I gave it up except for one day a week. I only had 1200 calories per day and if I drank I could barely eat anything and I was hungry!

I haven't done it myself but I think it's a great idea, as there can be tons of calories in alcoholic drinks.

I don't tend to drink much alcohol anyway unless it's a special occasion so it didn't really occur to me to give it up. It would be like me giving up strawberry gateau... something I hardly ever have.

Good luck with your decision. If you drink a lot it will be hard but worth it

also consider that if you are only giving it up to lose weight, you may gain that weight back when you start drinking again. So only give it up to a level you are willing to give up forever, unless you want to keep gaining and losing weight

I haven't had a drink in about 6 months. Even before that though, I didn't drink a lot. All I drank before was Newcastle or Guinness beer, and only 2-3 at that. I don't miss it at all, and the extra calories saved are nice.

I haven't given up alcohol while trying to lose weight and I am still losing weight. I just drink smarter and record all of my calories. On of my MFP friends has chocolate every day, I have a cocktail So for me, I don't see the difference in choosing food calories over alcohol calories as long as you count them. It's just a choice. I find living my life while trying to lose weight as close to "normal" as possible makes more sense than giving up things I will want after I reach my goal. That's the beauty of MFP : ) Good luck!

Blasphemy!

No seriously, if you think it'll help, it certainly couldn't hurt to try. Track your progress while you're "abstaining," and see what happens. People have still been successful at weight loss without cutting out alcohol. But others needed to cut it out. It all depends on you and your body.

I cut back on my drinking - a lot. .. and I'm seeing reasonable results. I won't 'give up' anything, because I know for me it makes me resentful and crave things and I end up binging. So, you gotta find what works best for you. Cutting back on drinking will help in your weight loss efforts, and giving it up could help if you are able to stick with it.

I think its a personal decision...for me, I have not given it up, but I have cut back significantly and it has helped with the weight loss.

I was drinking way too much wine in June this year for a not-so-great reason - to relax and relieve stress. I stopped on July 1st and haven't had any since then, even though I just intended to take a break for a few weeks. It's hard for me to start again because I feel fantastic, have so much more energy and look so much better than when I was drinking. I didn't expect it but it really made a difference in my skin - color and texture are so even, smooth and brighter. Somehow my features are slightly more defined, I'm guessing the alcohol caused some puffiness i'd never noticed. I lost my appetite for approximately 6 weeks along with 7 pounds, it worried me because I didn't want to lose weight. I also craved sugar about every 4/5 hours in the beginning.

If you'd like, take a look at my food diary. It's open. I had a hard time getting above 700/800 calories most days in July due to the appetite loss - except for the first 2 days after quitting. I couldn't stop eating.
Good Luck which ever way you go! :flowerforyou:


sinclare - a challenge group is a great idea!

I've also cut back - CONSIDERABLY. We will see how it goes. I own a bar and am always entertaining people as well, so it has been somewhat difficult for me. But I decided if I cut back during the week (did not drink for 5 days in a row last week) and try to go easy on the weekends, it can't be anything but better for me then what I was doing.

A very good friend of mine was using MFP while pregnant, and granted she was still working out, quit drinking for that duration and she claims that had a enormous impact on her weight loss.

Good Luck to everyone!

I gave it up almost 3 months ago now, I am down 10lbs but I'm also exercising more and watching my calories more closely. Its all about calories at the end of the day. Its nice to never be hung over and miss working out because of feeling like crap but you have to have good reasons because its hard.

I think if you only drink once a month or so like I do, it won't make much of a difference. If you get drunk every weekend, it probably will. I am currently on a medication that can be risky in connection with alcohol so I currently don't drink (though a glass of champagne or so is okay every once in a while so when there is a social occasion I wouldn't say no).

I don't think you have to give it up entirely--just cut back some. I go to happy hour at least twice a week and usually have a glass of wine, a light beer or a couple of cocktails on Friday or Saturday night.

Also, I started making 'smarter' choices with my drinks:

Instead of 2 frozen ritas with beef quesadillas, I'll have 2 Corona lights or 'Skinny' ritas and a quesadilla with a low-carb tortilla, spinach, grilled shrimp and request that they use half the cheese...

Instead of rum & coke, I'll have a Malibu & diet coke with lime...(all the sweetness and around 60ish calories per cocktail).

A glass of red or white wine with friends to accompany a nice dinner on the weekend allows you the flexibility to be 'social' without all the scrutiny & fuss...

Also, some restaurants are really getting into the lower-calorie cocktail. Kona grill has a delicious, refreshing drink called a 'citrus flip' for 34(ish?) calories per drink. Enjoy!