I think I need to give up alcohol

[summilux]

The last time I had a drink was Jan 18th. Gave up sugar, bread, potatoes and pasta too. I feel fucking great. I'm going to have to fall off the wagon next weekend though. It's Chinese New Year today and big family celebrations are coming up. I'll try to lay off beer and drink only wine.

[dashDustin]

Gave up sugar, bread, potatoes and pasta too.

how is this possible?

serious question.

i've tried the bread thing...not happening. like, i don't know how i'd function. not that i eat a ton, but when time is short pre-ride or in the morning trying to get to work, my go-to is a PB&honey sandwich.

pasta, that's not too difficult.

potatoes? again, hard. not french fries, or anything like that, but steamed and put in breakfast tacos. tasty.

i've had a few beers recently. think i'll stop, again. i've been craving good gin & tonics, though. and/ or whiskey. something to sip on.

[summilux]

how is this possible?

I guess it helps that it's roller season here and yoga is the only other thing I do. I downhill ski but no 5 hour rides for a few months.

potatoes = celery root
Bread was a breakfast/lunch thing for me. Breakfast became chia seeds and hemp hearts soaked in almond milk. A reasonably decent pancake can be made with almond flour. Lunch became big servings of protein rich salad.
Sugar is really really tough. Dessert got replaced with cheese and nuts but it's not nearly as satisfying.
Pasta and rice are irreplaceable so I just have to tough it through. Pasta dishes have been replaced with stews and hearty soups.

[chrisn]

something to sip on.

I was worried I'd miss this too, and I've been drinking a ton of tea in the evenings for sure (hey, I'm British, its a birth right) on top of the usual daytime Coffee consumption... I do worry I'm replacing one poison with another.

p.s. I don't know how its possible to give up seemingly everything on the food front though. Much easier to do portion control I think?

[echelon_john]

I'm no expert. But I've been doing calorie control since December, with target net calories 1750/day. (I'm a big dude; this is NOT a lot of calories for me!)

When you monitor calories--and therefore portions, to a certain extent--you also need to make different food decisions. One reason the calorie-based approach seems to be working (and sustainable) for me is that nothing is forbidden; the food choices simply have consequences. So if I want to feel full and satisfied over the course of a day, I'm going to have to up the vegetables and minimize the breads/cheese/pasta. If you're really hungry at 6pm and the choice is between two heads of broccoli stir-fried or a single slice of pizza, the broccoli (and the bulk/fullness it provides) becomes a VERY attractive option. You necessarily go to protein-rich, medium-fat foods because of how well they satisfy hunger over a period of time. If you relied on carbs solely, you'd have to eat way more calories more frequently to keep that feeling going.

I've found that you can make lots of small choices around bread/grains that make a big difference over time but still give some satisfaction/pleasure. An English Muffin has fewer calories than 1/2 a bagel (without the cream cheese), for example. I now sprinkle some grape nuts over some yogurt/fruit salad rather than having a bowl of grape nuts.

Anyway, I don't mean to derail the thread. To bring it back around, when you're watching calories, it's easy to see why you need to use every precious calorie for real food and can't waste many on alcohol... ; )

I was worried I'd miss this too, and I've been drinking a ton of tea in the evenings for sure (hey, I'm British, its a birth right) on top of the usual daytime Coffee consumption... I do worry I'm replacing one poison with another.

p.s. I don't know how its possible to give up seemingly everything on the food front though. Much easier to do portion control I think?

[nick k]

A reasonably decent pancake can be made with almond flour.

1/2c Almond Flour
1/2c any ratio Cornmeal and Spelt Flour
1c Buttermilk or Yogurt thinned with milk, whey, etc.
Dash of salt
1/2 Tsp Baking Soda
4 eggs

Mix dry stuff. Separate eggs. Add yolks to the milks and pour over dry stuff. Let this sit while you whip the whites to medium peaks. Once the whites are done, check the batter to see if it needs a splash of milk to thin a little more, then fold in the whites. Griddle. Butter. Real maple syrup/honey. Done. This serves 4 people, but I halve the above recipe for my wife and I maybe once a week. I've got it down to 2 bowls, a whisk, and a measuring cup. I'm done with the ingredients by the time our cast-iron griddle is hot - 10 minutes, tops.

Excellent additions: a handful of homemade granola mixed in the batter before you fold in the whites. Sauteed apples on top.

[SimonC]

I'm giving up alcohol again for Lent this year; I've been doing it for a few years and it's consistently tough so I'll keep going at it.

What it makes me realise is that there are only a few drinks I really miss - usually a beer with lunch whilst eating out at the weekend.

[BBB]

I had some Bollinger tonight...giving up is over-rated...

[summilux]

What it makes me realise is that there are only a few drinks I really miss - usually a beer with lunch whilst eating out at the weekend.

I hear you on that one. For me it's the apres ski beer.

[dgaddis]

When you monitor calories--and therefore portions, to a certain extent--you also need to make different food decisions. One reason the calorie-based approach seems to be working (and sustainable) for me is that nothing is forbidden; the food choices simply have consequences.

No kidding. This works well for me when I commit and really do it. You learn quickly just how 'bad' some stuff is for you when you're really keeping track of everything, and how small changes make a big difference (especially if you make small changes at every meal). Here's a quicky example

Chick-Fil-A sandwich, medium waffle fries, medium sweet tea = 970 calories
Chick-Fil-A sandwich, medium fruit cup, water = 490 calories
Chick-Fil-A grilled sandwich, medium fruit cup, water = 370 calories

[mmoore]

No kidding. This works well for me when I commit and really do it. You learn quickly just how 'bad' some stuff is for you when you're really keeping track of everything, and how small changes make a big difference (especially if you make small changes at every meal). Here's a quicky example

Chick-Fil-A sandwich, medium waffle fries, medium sweet tea = 970 calories
Chick-Fil-A sandwich, medium fruit cup, water = 490 calories
Chick-Fil-A grilled sandwich, medium fruit cup, water = 370 calories

not eating Chick-fil-a...priceless

[ides1056]

After spending almost thirty hours last weekend being treated with morphine and dilaudid, I can't even think of drinking a beer. Maybe next week.

[thollandpe]

After spending almost thirty hours last weekend being treated with morphine and dilaudid, I can't even think of drinking a beer. Maybe next week.

Yes, please don't go all rock star on us.

You may get to where it's morphine in the morning, beer in the afternoon but only on doctor's orders. I am happy to bring that beer, and happy you're on the mend.

Cheers and heal well, brother.

[SeanEasley]

This is pretty much what I've ended up with. I stick to the weekends, and go dry for the week (mostly...I mean, on extra shitty days sometimes I give in). I would hate to actually accidentally save money doing this, so I usually buy something a notch nicer than I would if I were stocking up for all week.
.

Funny, this is zactly what I started doing this year (right down to the stiff one after a crappy day mid-week) in order to shed a few lbs.

I also stick to a vodka fizzy water drink with a splash of fruit juice instead of an IPA sometimes. I think that shaves a few kcals

[EricKeller]

I'm trying to heal a banged up ankle, so I have been taking an NSAID which isn't a good combo with drinking alcohol. Not helping with weight at all

[DOOFUS]

I maybe have 4-5 drinks of alcohol a year. chocolate is my nemesis.

portion control helps, as does the powermeter -- being able to see kjoules kills your powers of rationalization at the table.

[Mr B]

I have been taking an NSAID which isn't a good combo with drinking alcohol.

Not actually a problem. I do it regularly, one or two drinks is fine.

[Saab2000]

Bringing this one back.

Today is day 6 without a drop. My weakness has been wine the last couple years, where I enjoy a few in the evening. I'm trying to get rid of it and see what happens. I am literally 40+ lbs heavier than I was in my racing days and it's unsustainable. It seems like giving up a few hundred empty sugar calories per day will have a positive impact on BMI.

Anyone else notice positive effects after quitting/reducing their intake?

[xjoex]

I don't drink alcohol. My poison of choice is Diet Coke... damn I love that sweet elixir. I gave it up for a year, I noticed no difference and got back on the DC wagon.


-Joe

[Too Tall]

Good for you man-o. If you said coffee I would form a posse of volunteers to slap you continuously until you'd relent. Fortunately we have a sense of humor about these things. Giving up booze to lose weight, honestly? Given your level of consumption methinks you are barking up the wrong tree.

More salads, lift weights and keep the glass of wine.

The world could end tomorrow and you would be entirely sober. Sad.