I know this sounds terrible, but I am so used to drinking on the weekends. I have completely stopped since I started JC, but I just miss going out on Fri or Sat, and, to be blunt, getting drunk! Does anyone else share these feelings? Or am I just an alcoholic?! I am planning on going to NYC in March, and I know there is going to be a lot of partying involved, I need advice on how to maintain. Thanks guys!!!

I don't have any advice, but I know how you feel. I miss going out. I gave up booze completely and I miss going out and having a blast. I had two hurricanes on my birthday but thats it. One good thing is thats all it took for a good buzz where it used to take alot more.

Its completly normal to feel that way, there are some tips you can lose for drinking... Alcohol is always going to count as an extra fat, the best thing you can do is eliminate the JC dressing and incorporate some extra activity that would be your best bet. I would like to also encourage you to avoid it as much as possible you can see your results on this program as long as you stay strong and really think of ALL the things you look foward to when you____ lbs smaller is it worth a drink!?! Better yet think of how you felt b4 you started those frustrations are gone at the moment but they will still be there if you go back to where you was. Hope I have helped! GOOD LUCK

Bottom line is that only you can decide what's more important to you. Yes, there are ways to work an occasional drink into the program. I totally recommend doing that to keep yourself sane and not to feel deprived. Will you be able to drink as much as you want whenever you want like you used to? Nope. Not if you want to lose weight and maintain it long term. You also won't be able to eat as much as you want whenever you want. Simple fact... life's not fair... but we're all in the same boat!

I find myself often thinking "I really want a drink!" What I have learned through this journey though is to really identify what it is that I REALLY want. Usually, it's because I'm stressed, tired, grumpy, or want to celebrate. That's done with alcohol, right? It's also done with food, sweets, comfort foods, etc, too, right?? We have to find new ways to cope with all of our impulses and emotions. For me, often just telling a close friend that I want a drink is enough... I get compassion, commisseration, comradere. That does more than the actual drink anyway. It's also often impossible to GET that drink at the moment, so it's enough to just think it.

A work friend once told me she didn't want to stop smoking because her smoke breaks kept her sanity. Well, walking away from your desk/boss/phone/computer, stepping out into the fresh air, breathing deeply, and talking with others socially for a few minutes would accomplish pretty much the same thing, we just often don't take the time to do it! You can get the same benefits without the cost of consumption if you really want to. Sure, you don't get the same chemical reaction internally, but was that what you REALLY needed anyway?

Sometimes, the answer is a resounding YES! There's nothing like a good drink in some situations! As with everything else, balance is key. Learn the tradeoffs and figure out what frequency works for you. Everyone is different.

*claps* WELL SAID! Thank you so much. I've struggled with wanting to drink on the weekends too and have to remind myself why I'm here and what I want more.... to get plastered on weekends or to fit that size that I haven't seen in years and want badly to feel again! I remind myself constantly that this is for life and I will have to fight for it every day!

It is a trade off and I dont miss it all the time. I started Jenny 1/8/09 and I've lost 20lbs. I repeat that to myself when I want to stop with the guys after work for drinks and some laughs. I've just found other things to occupy me time. (wii and scrapbooking) But I love going out on the weekends and since I'm an all or nothing kind of personality, I've just had to give it up completely. It's nice to know I'm not alone - really nice to know. I've been thinking about going dancing and not drinking. Just not yet.

Me too!!!

When I started JC in December, I was having white wine every night--not a gallon, but two or three glasses. My mother, sister, and aunt all have the same routine. We have our wine after work and talk on the phone.

I gave it up. Sigh! Some nights, I really miss it, but it has gotten much easier. It pains me to admit this, but I have been sleeping so well lately. Is it the better quality food? Exercise? Lack of booze? Not sure, but I have found that I fall asleep much faster and stay asleep most of the night.

OK, true confession: I do allow myself to have cocktails on the weekend only. It's funny that that really only equates to two or three drinks per week, and I try to balance that with eliminating a fat serving and more exercise. After two drinks, that's all I want. Some weekends, I don't drink at all--don't feel like it. I believe that it is all about moderation, and you have to set some ground rules for yourself. I don't get to break my rule just because I had a lousy day at work or because someone wants to go out and play on --say--a Wednesday night. Some things, I just can't have. For example, the JC cheese curls just make me want to eat ten more bags, so I don't ever order them. There is no moderation there.

A couple of drinks on the weekend? That I can do. When I get closer to my goal (looong way to go), I'll probably have to give that up, and that will be fine. Just set some parameters for yourself, which, for me, have come more into focus the last week or so. I think it just takes time to figure out what works best for you, your lifestyle, and your short and long term goals.

-Carrie

I deal with the same issue daily. Like my evening cocktails or beers. When I was on weight watchers i counted a low cal beer as two or three points. Was on 36 points a day. Sometimes I drank my points at night. Not healthy. Trying to cut back. Useless calories but the social part of it is fun. Not sure if we are alcoholics because I don't drink before 5.

My consultant told me that alcohol slows down your metabolism by 37%! So not only does the alcohol turn to sugar and turn to fat but it makes it harder to burn it off! And then i was told you have to work out for at least 30 minutes just to burn off the alcohol before you start actually burning body fat! I just ask myself if all of that work is worth the momentary satisfaction of a drink....sometimes it is, but it gets easier to say that it isn't.

I know it seems strange for this to be an issue but..... I have talked to my consultant several times regarding this.

Alcohol just becomes such a part of your life and it is hard to do some of the same things we did before.

What I have done is this..... I allow myself 1 time per week to have a couple of drinks. I chose my night based on what is going on. For example: If we are going on a 4 wheeler trip and I know people will be drinking in the evening I abstain until that night or if my husband wants to go to our favorite mexican restaurant, I hold out for that Margarita.

I have noticed that the weeks that I allow myself those drinks - I don't lose as much weight but here is what I do....

I don't use the margarine or the dressing that night - I add 30 MORE minutes of activity - and I chose to have a drink of either Miller Draft 64 (only 64 calories) or Bacardi Rum Silver (0 fat, 0 sugar, 65 calories). I have only allowed myself the margarita 1 time in 7 weeks.

I have lost 17 pounds so far in 7 weeks on JC - I do wonder if it would have been 22 if I had not?????

If you need to drink, stick to shots. Less Calories that way, and a quicker way to get sloshed. Balance the calorie in with a good calorie out the next day. Work out extra long, extra hard. DRINK LOTS OF WATER after drinking and all day the next.

Drinking ends up being a lot more work. Skip the drinking, and you can stick to your normality and continue with your scheduled program.

I drink once a week, I started this past week drinking diet crandberry and vodka. I workout harder that day and skip the snack. So far I lost 54.7 since August. I couldn't give up what I enjoyed.

Glad to find this group!! Just started back. The one thing on my mind is a drink after a long day at work. After reading everyones comments, I think I will go for the light cranberry juice without the vodka for awhile. I am sure in the end ( and I mean the rear end) I will be glad I did.

No you are not the only one. I'am having a hard time giving up my white wine. In fact I haven't given it up, but Im trying. My weight loss is slow because of it. I'll give up my dessert or snack for a couple glasses of wine. I want to lose more weight so I have to make up my mind once and for all what is more important wine or weight.
Im sure there are more out there working on the same problem

Can I just say that this has been a huge issue for me as well and these posts have really helped me. From one social being and corporate worker, it is hard to give up that daily or weekly cocktail. Thanks for all the great suggestions!