Cutting out alcohol

[WaterBaby]

Cutting out alcohol has definitely been the hardest part for me. My fiance and I are very social... and we are also wine lovers. But the alchohol is making me stall. Any tips for people out there that are accustomed to a glass of wine in the evenings? I'm looking for strategies when I go out, or at that horrible time of the evening when my wine craving kicks in!

[not2late]

Re: Cutting out alcohol

Cutting out alcohol has definitely been the hardest part for me. My fiance and I are very social... and we are also wine lovers. But the alchohol is making me stall. Any tips for people out there that are accustomed to a glass of wine in the evenings? I'm looking for strategies when I go out, or at that horrible time of the evening when my wine craving kicks in!

It really depends what your motivations for drinking wine are, imo. People drink wine and spirits for different reasons: health reasons, taste reasons, and just to get an alcoholic buzz.

If you drink wine primarily for health reasons, there are alternative beverages/foods that lower your cholesterol and improve your heart health as wine does. In fact, you can buy the active ingredient in a pill form.

If you drink wine for tasting, that is you drink it because you like the whole wine tasting experience discerning different flavors from different grapes grown in different regions or whatever, then there are alternatives to that. For example, tea come in a great variety. There are green, white and black teas. There are teas from China and India that have different characteristics. There are traditionally "flavored" teas like Lapsong, which is a smoky bold tasting tea, or the delicate, floral teas like rose or chrysantheum. So if you enjoy wine because you find it exciting that an Alsatian gwertraminer has a different flavor profile and nose than a California gwertraminer or that different gwertraminers from different vineyards within a 50 mile radius have different noses and profiles, then you might enjoy tea in the same manner.

If you drink wine for the alcoholic buzz it gives you, there really isn't a legal alternative for that. But legal alternatives might be to change your habit and instead of reaching for a bottle of wine, reach for your crosstrainer shoes and go for a walk or a jog or do an exercise tape.

As for eating out, I have a terrific book that's about food and wine/drink pairings. One of the beverages these sommeliers say goes with everything is water. Mineral water, sparkling waters, plain water goes with different foods. Water doesn't compete with flavors. Water doesn't hide flavors. Water cleanses the palate, readying your taste buds for the next bite of food.

As for just being out and hanging with friends, I stopped socially drinking in college when I noticed that I didn't have to be buzzed or bombed to have a good time. If I do have drink, I limit it to one drink and I sip it slowly to savor/appreciate the flavor of it. Since I've been doing that, I've found that many drinks have flavor profiles verging on paint thinner and aren't probably meant to be tasted and savored but meant more as an inebriation enabler.

[Cinnamonstick]

Re: Cutting out alcohol

I hear you..I was a nightly wine drinker (red-dry). I stopped ....so far so good...I did have a few diet cokes and Jack this weekend (three sat night). I gained two lbs this weekend --but did eat MORE than usual (on the diet but just more). I hope it was not the three drinks? Dont see how it could be..I think I am backed up if you follow me....

I googled the carbs in Jack, Vod, rum etc. ZERO---I get that the calories "change to sugar" if not used etc....

I am just trying to keep the drinks to social reason......not for "its Thursday night and Survivor is on..."......Keep the drinks for times when I must drink ...not "feel like it". (If you follow that thinking...going out with friends is a bit harder to say NO than sitting home with DH on a Thursday).


GOOD LUCK....stay away from sweet drinks.......if you go out twice (Friday and Sat)--maybe just have one each night (or two ). And NEVER drink any other time than "social" to help with the diet?????

It is hard for me too...love a glass of wine after DD goes to sleep to enjoy....LOVE IT.....sorry I have no solution. I just end up drinking at social times...and just try to keep it to 1-2 on the "better choices" list.....HARD...

I think I was told "rung 5" for alcohol.....