Just started yesterday. I am not sure as how to handle thing when I go out to bars on the weekends. I usually drink vodka 7's. Is alcohol really that bad for our weight.

Hi Bob! Welcome to JC and to the message boards. You'll find a lot of support here. Please check in often so we can follow your progress.
Regarding the alcohol question, I'm not a drinker but I know that alcohol dehydrates the body. Plus, it's all empty calories. Aside from that, I can't tell you how it adversely affects the body. Perhaps you should post your question to the "Ask the Dietician" forum. They can give you some good info, I'm sure.
Best wishes!

Welcome Bob. Wishing you much success.
My personal experience with alcohol, not only adds the calories, but lowers my inhibitions and I have a tendency to go nuts (in regards to eating that is...there is no table top dancing with lampshades..hmmm, well, I take that back, but, that is besides the point ).
There is a section in one of the many JC manuals that deals with alcohol. You may want to find a lower calorie, lower fat (yes, wine is considered a fat if I remember correctly) alternative.
Best of luck to you.

Hey there,
I've had a little experience with this.... I went out with my GF this weekend and drank a couple (which I had planned.)
As long as you keep the exchanges in mind, it's not a huge deal. I drank two vodka oranges... each one counts towards a certain number of fats and a fruit (depending on the size of the drink.)
I had this preplanned with my consultant, and as long as you make sure your fats and fruits match up, you should be fine, although increasing your water would be a good idea, namely for each drink, and extra glass.
I followed this, and lost this week, so it should probably work out the same for you...
Michelle.
Start 250.3
May 8 206.1
almost at halfway!!!

Nice to see a "Rainbow Board" here -- glad I found it. Does anyone have any advice on weight loss plateaus? I think I'm on one -- this week I'm changing up my cardio routine to try and get the scale moving again. I have been good in terms of sticking to my JC menu and having good halfways days, but I'm not seeing the results that I've become accustomed to. Anyone else experience this?

Hey Pas
Great job on the weight loss. Have you tried mixing up your caloric intake on two days of the week or so. Sometimes your body gets used to the same amount of eating, the same kind of exercising. Maybe you perhaps need more calories. I do hear a lot of people talk about eating different caloric levels a few times a week. cutting by 200-300 one day and adding them to the next day? It's worth a try. Best wishes

Hi Everyone,
My wife and I (let's hear it for the great Commonwealth of Massachusetts!) started 2 weeks ago. We've lost 5 and 6 pounds, respectively. The JC center is across the street from our apt complex, so we stroll over once a week and haul back bags of food - the whole building must know we're on a diet. We're loving the turkey burgers and it's nice to eat little cakes for dessert - something we never had when we weren't on diets. Lots of exercise: she has a pedometer that keeps her motivated to reach 10,000 steps every day, and I go to yoga 5 times a week. We love red wine, though, and really miss that. We're limiting it to once a week.