will quitting drinking really help THAT much??

I go to happy hour every Friday with a group of friends and don't drink. I do drink occassionally, but decided that I work too hard in the gym to have a regular drinking habit.

If that is all you are having then I don't think it will really show, if you cut down from like ten drinks a weekend then yeah. Just switch to a vodka soda water, it is a lot less calories!

Well, a pint would be 12 drinks as singles, 6 as doubles.

The big factor isn't necessarily alcohol itself, it's what kind of alcohol and what you're mixing with. If you're having a pint of dark rum and coke every weekend... then yes, cutting that out will definitely help. But if you're having vodka and a diet soda, I don't really think you'll see any huge changes cutting out that alone.

Having a little detox can be good, but if drinking with your friends on weekends is something you enjoy, I would just be conscious as to what types of drinks you're having (ie clear spirits vs dark spirts, diet sodas/water/soda water vs regular sodas or juice, cutting back on sugary martinis, etc).

Only one way to find out - try it and see! Everybody is different.

Quitting drinking is a responsible decision. We always seem to eat more when we do drink and more than 1 drink is hard on your liver

Hey kids!
SO ive been thinking about quitting drinking! Due to my social life and influence of my friends!! lol i like to think its their fault.. I drink on average once a weekend, somtimes twice. and when I do drink, I'll drink about a pint and maybe 1 beer. Do you guys really think if I stop drinking all together that it will show?!? Or if I cut it down to once a month?? Let me know what you think!

I suppose it depends on what you are doing. I drink a glass of wine probably 4 out of 7 nights a week. I've seen no ill effects, but I'm not looking to get ripped, either.

you can do it occasionally but I know there the same amount of calories in a glass of red wine as there is in a big mac but if you do it like once a month you should be fine

it may make a difference for you - but it doesn't sound like you drink that much/go out on a binge. depends what you're drinking really as others have pointed out.

I found out for a while that people got really hostile towards me when I stopped drinking alcohol with them and switched to sodas/water it was odd so now I get half pints of diet coke if I'm out with the 'angry crowd' as it looks the same as a glass with vodka and coke.

I was a fantastic binge drinker though and I could hold my own through a bottle of wine, 3-5 beers and then start on the spirits so perhaps its unsurprising giving up drinking has made a difference to me (and my head/liver hahaha)

i quite enjoy a beer still though, but I get a bottle like brahma or peroni as they're about 150-180 cal a bottle which is far less than a cocktail and more refreshing I think :-) but that's just my two pence on the matter!

As said by a couple others, I don't think that amount is unreasonable, but it doesn't hurt to give it a try! If it's something you enjoy doing socially and are responsible with it, I think moderation is key! Maybe also look for lighter calorie drink options, light beers for example, and I've heard dry wines are commonly more low cal than other types of wine.

you can do it occasionally but I know there the same amount of calories in a glass of red wine as there is in a big mac but if you do it like once a month you should be fine

Ahh what?! Your telling me a glass of wine is over 500 cals? Lies.

I quit drinking, and seen a huge improvement in my body. Not only did i feel stronger at the gym, but I noticed my body changing in places I was having troubles with. I feel alot healthier too. Going to the gym early on a Saturday morning feels alot better then being hungover in bed! Give it a try! It's totally worth it.

I would definately give it a try. There are alot of cals/carbs in alcohol and why would you want to let all your hard work and exercise go to waste? Friends should be supportive and encouraging no matter what because they should know how important this is for you. Having a good time isnt about the drink its about the company you're in. Even try switching to low carb or light beer ot cut back to once a fortnight. Good luck, and well done for wanting to try something new if other things arent working. Alot of people would just give up. Keep us posted on how you go :-))

I've basically given up alcohol for over 4 months now, don't regret it. It's a workout-killer for me, and I usually eat badly the next day. Easier to just not worry about it.

you can do it occasionally but I know there the same amount of calories in a glass of red wine as there is in a big mac but if you do it like once a month you should be fine

This is ridiculous. 98 calories in a typical glass of red wine. Don't know where in the world you might've heard that.

My weight loss goes slower if I include alcohol, even if it fits into my daily calorie goal. I get faster results when I leave it alone for awhile. I've asked a lot of questions about why this occurs and haven't found a whole lot of answers.

Right now, I've gone dry because I want to see a few lbs disappear that have crept back on. So I am hitting my calorie numbers and leaving alcohol alone, but I won't quit drinking forever. When I hit maintenance weight (again) I will slowly re-introduce it.

nah, dude. drinking is awesome. once a week... even twice a week isn't that bad. but it does depend on what you are drinking. i do whiskey and diet coke. gets me tipsy and doesn't slow down my weight loss. i'm also getting in exercise walking around town to different bars. and walking from my house to the bar and back again. i'm a huge supporter of continuing drinking while trying to lose weight haha... but if you are drinking loads of sugary drinks, it's totally going to screw you up. all the vodka/diet soda drinkers are doing it right as well.