alcohol comsumption

M

mariep

Cathlete
Hi, everyone--

I love reading all the posts about nutrition and clean eating; I find them very motivating and helpful. And they got me thinking about how much beer I drink. I usually have one a day, sometimes two, and on the weekends usually more if we go out. I'm thinking that giving this up would be one way to shave a couple hundred calories, empty calories at that, off my daily intake. However, I don't want to give it up! I look forward to this treat at the end of the day. I've put in a long day at work, and usually a tough workout, and I feel like I deserve the treat. Am I deluding myself and secretly becoming an alcoholic? I don't feel like I can't give it up, but I really feel like I don't want to. I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on this, those who drink and those who don't as well.

Thanks in advance; I love this forum. I don't post much but lurk as often as I can and am just amazed by how knowledgeable, helpful and kind everyone is :)

I'd love to hear Cathe's thoughts on this, too, if she happens to read this...

Thanks,
Marie
 
Hi Marie,

The subject of alcholism hits so close to home for me I felt I had to respond to your thread. I am a recovering alcoholic and alcoholism runs rampant in my family. I don't think that you "become" an alcohlic. I believe either you are an alcoholic or you aren't. I strongly feel that if you are having any doubts as to whether you are having a problem with alcohol, then you are. Alcoholism is such an insideous, horrible disease. My heart goes out to anyone who suffers from it. I'm certainly not saying you are an alcoholic. Please just be aware of how hardhitting alcohol can be. I'm sorry if I seem to have come across a little too strongly. I have seen so many lives destroyed by alcohol. I hope I haven't offended you. I just wanted to offer my viewpoint.

Sherry http://www.gif-seite.de/vorschaubilder/smilies/laola.gif

http://www.picturetrail.com/Peanut7
 
Hi, Sherry--

You definitely did not offend me! As I said, I'd love to hear from people on both sides of this issue. My grandparents (on my Mom's side) were both alcoholics, and my Mom always felt as strongly as you do on this issue, so I totally understand. Right now I'm more worried about the effect this may be having on my fitness goals. I know I have lots of room to improve in my diet, and I'm including my drinking habits as part of that. I have a feeling that the beer might be one of those things that, if I eliminate it, I'll be pleasantly surprised by the effect on my body.

Thanks again for your reply. That's the nice thing about these forums; everyone is able to express their opinions without fear of offending people; what a great group! :)

And I am in AWE of your photos!!!:eek: You are in GREAT shape! I was so happy to read in another post that you accomplished all your muscle from lifting with Cathe videos--talk about motivating!

Thank you for your caring reply; I really appreciate it.

Best,
Marie
 
Hi Marie,

I don't know if I can offer much in the way of advice, but I feel your pain :D :D. Sometimes that beer at the end of the day just hits the spot!!

I too am a beer drinker, especially good micro-brews and Guinness, and can't bring myself to drink a light beer :D :D. So, I'm currently trying to cut back so as to get the most out of my clean eating.

I come from the school of thought that beer is food (as is wine), and try to treat it that way. I doubt that having one or two a day is doing any damage health-wise (some would say a drink/day is good for you), but depending on your nutritional goals, etc, it could be sabotaging your efforts with the extra calories and carbs. Too many jelly beans would do same thing.

If you're worried that it's adding to much to your caloric intake, you could start small and cut back to having one every other day and see how that impacts your diet. Take care.
 
At the risk of doing a Same Song Second Verse, I have to chime in along Sherry's lines. I too am a sober alcoholic, and can second Sherry in the insidious aspects of alcohol addiction. "One beer a night" is seemingly innocuous, but if that beer is a given that you feel you're entitled to, and if it's truly important to you, then that may be a warning sign of something much more serious. And as Sherry so aptly put it, "I strongly feel that if you are having any doubts as to whether you are having a problem with alcohol, then you are."

IMHO, alcohol contributes precisely nothing of value to a fitness and nutrition program, and it'd take some hard talking to convince me that alcohol is a "clean" substance. But nutrition aside, you may want to discuss your concerns with a counselor who is skilled at identifying potential (or manifested) alcohol problems.

A-Jock
Bald And Dry
 
Marie, this is a great group, isn't it? When I read Sherry's response to you, I thought about how nicely she worded it as to not offend you, but still give her opinion. Glad to "see" you here. Post more often. I'm sure you have just as much great advice to offer as others here. Sorry, I am not familiar enough with alcoholism to give any advice, although I thought cutting down was a good idea, especially if you are wanting to reap all the GOOD from your workouts. Just an idea. Hope to "see" you around! (AJ had some great advice also!)
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.smilies-world.de/Smilies/Smilies_klein_1/wavey.gif If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
I only drink about a beer a month, but I wanted to share that I have discovered these 7 oz Coronas called Coronitas. Somehow 7 oz is just right, where 12 oz leaves me feeling stuffed and bloated.

This would cut back on the calories too.
 
Hi Marie,

You were a lightweight compared to me! :) I'd have to get my
calendar out but around a month ago I quit. DH and I would have
on average four beers when he got home, almost every day. I
was feeling lousy, overeating, the weight was coming on.

Around a month ago I had a horrible bout of stomach flu, food
poisoning, or something. As I lay there I decided I was sick
and tired of feeling like c**p every day. So I quit. This
last Saturday I had a beer and it tasted so so. I didn't even
enjoy it.

Now for the bad news. It may indeed happen to you if you quit,
but the weight hasn't fallen off me like I thought it would.
It could just be me. But I can tell you this, I feel like a
huge load has been lifted off my shoulders, I don't wake up
with a headache every morning, and I am not as depressed as I
was. (Remember alcohol is a depressant.)

I can't tell you if you are an alcoholic. Only you can decide
that. It's true it is empty calories though. It certainly
couldn't hurt you to lay off to see what happens.

Best of luck to you,
Gwynn
 
Hi Marie,
I have had the same concearns as you about alcohol. I like to drink and I love beer. I drink 3 or so nights a week. Maybe 3-4 a night. If I go out I like to stick to rum because it does not make me so hungry. If I drink beer (even if I eat supper) I am usually starving by the end of the night. I have read that beer is high on the glycemic level and acts like carbs in your system. Anyway - I did think for a long time that alcohol has gotten in the way of my losing weight. Yes that could be part but also my sporatic exercise habits and desk job. I have not been able to give it up. But I don't really have a reason to yet. Hope you find the answers you are looking for.

Winter
 
I too am a beer lover. I tend to only dring 1-2 during the week and maybe 4 over the whole weekend. Growing up my parents usually had one or two a night to wind down after a hard day. About a month ago I started a fitness challenge where my hubby works. One of the challenges was not to drink during the course( 2 months). Well I've help stead fast and feel great!! I noticed when I would have a beer I'd also grab pretzels, peanuts and what not. Now I'm not eating that stuff. I still have days where I want one though!! But I grab my jug of water instead. My hubby isn't taking the Challenge. I actually taste tested a new beer he brought home and said "Yuck!". He won't have to worry about me taking any! I have noticed though by me not drinking he has really tapered off his drinking also! I think if you just tapered off a lil' bit you'd see an improvement. Maybe have one or 2 just 1 night a week or wait til the weekend? Susan
 
You guys are great. Thanks for all your thoughts. I've definitely been thinking that at least not drinking any during the week might be a good idea. It's funny; you get into the mindset of, "I work hard; I really enjoy beer; I deserve to have one or two." But then you also think, wait a minute, I do work hard, so I also deserve to look and feel the best I can, and maybe the beer's getting in the way of that! Does that make sense? I had thought about giving up beer for Lent, but then talked myself out of it by rationalizing that if I don't even go to church anymore, which I almost never do, then why give something up for Lent? Just having this discussion makes me think that it's time to give "giving it up" a try! I think I'll start with just not having any during the week and see how that goes. And I agree with you, Gwynn, about wanting to feel better when you wake up in the morning. Even if it's just one or two, I think it's affecting my sleep, and I don't feel "refreshed" when I wake up. And I think Sherry and A-Jock have some really good points; if I'm rationalizing my way out of giving it up, as I did with Lent, then maybe it's more of an issue, or will soon become one, if I don't nip this in the "Bud" now! :p

Thanks again everyone! I really appreciate your thoughts!

Take care,
Marie
 
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