All I do is drink wine and eat takeaways

[BooFuckingHoo2]

Pretty much every night

I’m getting fatter by the day but I’m also in a local lockdown area so there’s nothing else for me to do.

I’m really down about the fact I don’t have a partner/kids and I’m down about the fact I’m overweight.

Food and alcohol are the only things that make me happy at the moment and 6pm where I pour myself a large glass of wine and order a pizza is my relaxation time. I feel like if I gave this up I’d be utterly miserable, but I know I’m doing my body damage by carrying on like this.

Does anyone have any tips?

Go for a run, start C25k - get some natural endorphins, listen to a lovely podcast or audiobook whilst you're doing it. Come home & have a nice hot bath with a book. Save your wine & pizza money in a separate bank account and buy yourself an awesome holiday for next year or treat yourself to nice pamper things. At the amount you're probably spending you could buy yourself a gorgeous Jo Malone candle every week!

You've got to make a choice.

You're creating your own misery right now; getting drunk every night and eating foods which make you sluggish and give you no real energy will be making you feel awful. Then, because you feel awful, you drink more and order more junk the next night.

Try to start a but if a routine. Maybe do an online exercise class if you've space in your living room. Or organize with friends to have zoom chats in the evening.

Its really hard, but start with one day. Just say to yourself that tonight you will not drink and will cook something with vegetables. Dont think about tomorrow and the day after; just today. Did something active, make something nice and fresh to eat and dont drink.

I signed up to gousto and deleted takeaway apps. I've been teetotal for 5 years and lost over 8 stone (disclaimer - I use a calorie tracker app too and am careful and honest about weighing portions, it unfortunately still isn't magic or automatic)

It takes 3 weeks roughly to make a habit - actively make yourself cook something lovely and you'll begin to enjoy it and the effects

It's hard, but you need to find other things to keep you occupied and happy, OP. Some kind of hobby you can do at home? Might not appeal to you, but I knit and crochet. Keeps my hands busy and my mind occupied but relaxed. And I can't knit after wine! Alcohol is a depressant and it will only be making you feel worse really.

Could you limit your wine and takeaway nights to twice a week? That way you’re not stopping altogether but can focus on nourishing yourself and will help with your self esteem.

I know it’s hard to get the motivation but if you’re basically sedentary now, could you try and get your step count up to at least 3000/4000 a day -the earlier in the day the better as then it’s not hanging over you.

Also putting some good upbeat tunes on and dancing round for half an hour!

Can you form a bubble with another family and go to theirs for the eve?

It’s bloody hard, especially in the dark evenings, I have to stop myself from watching tv all eve and eating shite. I find if I don’t have anything in the house it’s easier as I can’t be bothered to put on a mask and go to the shop.

Maybe you could use the takeaway money to buy yourself something really nice? So every time you would have got a pizza send that money to a saving account and it will soon add up.

Well done for acknowledging you are unhappy with the way things are.

It sounds like a comfort thing (pizza and wine - what’s not to like) combined with boredom and possibly a bit of depression.

How would you like things to be? What would motivate you to do things differently?

My suggestion would be to set yourself a short term challenge and see how you get on. E.g. only have wine on weekends, try to go for a 30 minute walk at 6pm on work days. For cutting down alcohol I’d recommend the Try Dry app which is great for setting goals.

Good luck!

P.s. I'm now teetotal (since the beginning of September). Not because I was drinking lots, but because I just decided the small amount of enjoyment was no longer worth the effects (poor sleep, occasional acid reflux, just feeling a bit off and mildly anxious the next day, even after a couple of glasses). And you know what - I'm not missing it at all.

Delete the apps and get yourself to the supermarket for decent fresh food. Instead of pouring a wine at 6pm do a joe wicks workout on YouTube, you need to change your mindset and get out of the rut you're in.

You say the food and booze is making you happy, but it clearly isn't, you sound fed up.

Can you compromise? Keep your glass of wine but switch to an individual portion supermarket pizza (Waitrose do lovely ones) with a large side salad. It's not always "all or nothing" if you know what I mean...

but I’m also in a local lockdown area so there’s nothing else for me to do.

I'm in a local lockdown area, you can still go out for a walk. All it means is you can't go into other people's houses. Try to look at it positively - it means you can't sit in someone else's house but you can walk. I love my wine, but limit it to weekends then it's much more of a treat.

Cut down gradually on the pizza until it's a monthly treat and try to find something else to fill the gap e.g nice bath and candle. Good luck.

Now more than ever there are loads of online groups you can join so you can interact with other people.

I joined an online Pilates class, beauty discussion group and a book club. As well as enjoying the activities I really enjoy talking to the people too. During lockdown they were the only people I saw!

Go online and see what you can find. There are bound to be groups you can join remotely. They have been a lifesaver for me.

You say that food and alcohol are the only things making you happy at the moment but clearly they're not making you happy. Halfway through lockdown I decided to focus on losing a bit of weight. Initially it felt like an extra punishment but after a couple of weeks it gave me a real sense of positivity and a new bit of focus. I've enjoyed cooking new things and started walking a lot more. Small steps to ease yourself in. You might surprise yourself x

Maybe try switching to cooking fake aways at home. You can do some delicious healthy versions of your favourites.

Keep the actual take away and wine for once a week on a Friday or Saturday night.

I’d recommend online exercise classes.

I'm not saying you are an alcoholic or anything, but that is addictive thinking. You tell yourself it's the "only thing that makes you happy" but really you want that buzz that comes from alcohol and junk food. If you make a conscious choice to cut back you would soon find other healthier things to make you happy.

Thing is, you’ll feel sluggish all day after that, and then crave carbs again by evening. You have to break that cycle- your body can’t do it without your head being fully on board.

I’ve broken the daily wine habit by walking. Long walks, sometimes up hills. It was bloody hard at first and I made the mistake of rewarding myself with wine 🤦‍♀️. But I soon realised that to walk comfortably, I needed to be hydrated. The best thing I did for my health was to then join a walking group. The first few walks I struggled to keep up, then it steadily became easier and I didn’t want to drink and go back to panting and sweating!

Also, a Simply Cook subscription- great tasting meals that only take 30 minutes tops. We’ve stopped getting takeaways completely.

Good luck!

Thanks all

By the time I’ve finished work now it’s dark and I wouldn’t feel safe walking alone in the dark - perhaps I’m making excuses!

Is crochet more fun than knitting? I like keeping busy rather than mindlessly lying on the sofa watching TV.

I do feel run down and sluggish but it seems to be a vicious cycle! Maybe I need a detox?

I feel you OP and I used to be lucky enough to eat whatever I wanted (fry up for breakfast, Greggs/McDonald’s lunch, pizzas, lasagnes, cheese, bread, chips for dinner and puds and remain size 8. My luck has now run out!
I found limiting it to a once a week treat, not an every day treat helped. But I was buying it, not ordering it, so I just didn’t buy it! I wrote down all the calories and units I was consuming and compared it with what I should be having. I have things at certain times, prepare in advance so that I open the fridge and that’s what I have. No grabbing packs of crisps and peanuts and cans of coke. Lots of water and start with some gentle exercise, walking and stretching. It’ll be hard at first but you will begin to see results. You may want to weigh beforehand (or may not) but I did measure my arms, waist, bust, hips and thigh and did see a difference quite quickly in those areas. I also set aside the money I spent on treats and then got myself something nice at the end of the month or whatever.
I don’t think your an alcoholic, but to get that buzz your drinking may begin to increase.... into dangerous territory. When you do have a drink of wine, drink a pint of water first so that you aren’t drinking faster because you are thirsty.

Lockdown made me start drinking and eating takeaways too but decided 2 week ago enough was enough.

I know the situation isn't any better, but I feel better in myself.

At first it felt like I had all this energy that I didn't know what to do with, and things like getting a bath and listening to music wasn't relaxing because I wanted to do things with this energy I had found, which made me consider going back to get something to drink to chill out with because I couldn't imagine the rest of the Rona hyped up with nothing to do, but I've persevered and I've found a love for cooking.

Is there anything you think you would like to do "Just because".

Because this is the best time to do it. It's a rotten situation for the world but it can have some hidden silver linings.

I can totally empathise. I use crafts to help with feeling like all I do is watch tv. Also choose a meal you really love and spoil yourself by making that. If you're on your own the chances are it'll be enough to do at least a couple of nights. It really is tough, especially at this time of year. I got in a bad place during lockdown & was drinking every night. I now only have wine on a Friday or Saturday and no longer feel I need it to feel ok, don't be hard on yourself or it's so much harder

What about walk or a run on your lunchbreak or before work? The couch to 5k app is really brilliant and its starts slowly so perfect for people just getting active.

Limiting wine to a Friday or Saturday night will make it feel more special and also help break the cycle of feeling a bit grotty the next day - alcohol is a depressant.

Instead of takeaways try making homemade versions on your favourite takeaway foods. Healthier and it makes eating more of an activity/occasion. Put the money you are saving towards a bigger treat.

Could you join an online book group or choir? Something else to fill the evenings with? A Zoom meet up with friends?

I know this whole situation is rubbish, and we have to take a bit of joy where we can but don't make things worse for yourself by getting into a bad groove with booze and food. xx

Have you tried the Joe Wickes videos? He has tonnes on youtube, got me through lockdown!
Or Lucy Wyndham-Read on youtube does lots of 7 minute workouts, i do them first thing, start the day right/get them out of the way :-D
Also second stocking up on some lovely frozen pizza's, even large ones, cut them in half before freezing so you don;t eat the whole thing.
I know it's not the nicest but switch some nights to alcohol free wine/beer? Becks blue is decent and i don't mind Sainsburys alcohol free red wine, does trick my brain and helps me relax but much lower calories. Or if you want alcohol gin/vodka and diet lemonade?
I do a takeaway once a month around payday and really enjoy it and look forward to it as it's a treat

If you are feeling a bit run down it's probably a combination of unhealthy food and lack of exercise. Maybe a home workout of some sort a few times a week and some homemade fakeaway and simple dishes with healthy ingredients.

Unfortunately I'm like you with food. I associate food with relaxing and reward myself with food. Not with alcohol because I suffer with terrible hangovers and don't sleep properly if I've been drinking, so manage to strar clear of that.
I know everyone says it, but for me exercise works because if I put in all that effort, I don't want to ruin it eating crap. Getting the motivation to do that is the battle though.
Its fine to have a treat, maybe once a week, but try and keep it to that.