I’m drinking 3000 calories a week 😖

[Youngatheart00]

Downloaded a drinking app as I want to reduce my intake and actually manage a few booze free days in a week. I’ve struggled to be honest or accurately input the amount I’m drinking as it does vary, but the reality is I’m drinking at least 5 bottles of wine a week. Sometimes more (few gins). I want need to cut down.

I’m now overweight and my mental health hasn’t been great (depression and anxiety, although I haven’t sought treatment for it). I’ve been stepping up the exercise but ‘wondering’ why the weight isn’t moving but it’s abundantly clear why not.

Looking for a place I can be accountable to myself and maybe others who also want to reduce without judgement. Today will be a booze free day. I’m determined, even though the craving is kicking in in a major way.

Hi @Youngatheart00 How are things going? I am on my 10th day of not drinking. I honesty can't recall the last time I went so long without alcohol. I hope you enjoy your friends visiting. Once they are gone come back to the thread and keep posting. I will be here.

Hi @ApolloandDaphne thanks so much for checking in. I was AF Sat, Sun and Mon but DH and I have shared a bottle of Red tonight. It’s been all systems go to get the house ready for hosting and when he suggested it I felt I’d earned it. My goal isn’t to be alcohol free but to properly moderate, as I did for many years, prior to this pandemic and wfh reality (oh and university days, but that’s so long ago....). Feel slightly as if I’ve let myself down but also good that we shared a bottle, stopped, and I’m now in bed with a night time tea. Challenge will be the next few days but they’ve got a small child so hoping they don’t want to go too crazy!

Thank you for checking in and really appreciate the support

I’m ready to get back to it now. Woken up fuzzy headed and feeling bloated after a few days of drinking with friends who have been staying with us (not particularly alcohol focussed but because I am f*ck up me I will always drink the most 🥺) the units over the weekend I don’t care to think about. This is day one again.

OP, I used to drink 4-5 bottles of wine a week. Like you, I got sick and tired of feeling sick and tired, and feeling so overweight. I stopped for a month- by far the longest period I have ever been without a drink in my adult life. There were tough moments but they passed quickly. Having a clear head and much more energy was glorious. I started drinking again after a month but at about a fifth of the quantity of before. That was around 10 years ago, and I've maintained the same level of alcohol consumption more or less, and have no desire to drink more

It sounds to me like you need a period of time off the booze - a month at least. It just re sets your whole relationship with alcohol. It breaks the old habits so that if you do go back to the booze, you can do it mindfully, having a drink when you really fancy one, and not just because its Friday night or whatever. Good luck

Thank you @Lottapianos for the support and sharing your experiences. I think you’re right. There’s absolutely no reason I ‘need’ to drink and nothing on the calendar from a social perspective for a while now.

Sounds like a good time for an extended break. When you're sober, the evenings aren't always quite so much fun, but the mornings are GLORIOUS and more than make up for it if you ask me! Try to keep focus on what you're gaining (clear head, better sleep, less anxiety etc) rather than what you're giving up. And try to find a soft drink or two that you actually like - I genuinely enjoy a fizzy water with lots of ice and a slice of fruit, or a tonic water served in the same way. Lean in to it, think of it as something good for your body and mind

I've recently discovered wine in a can, which more and more producers are doing. Better environmentally and its a 250ml can, so I know that when I've finished the can, thats it. I also found that I would look at the price of some non alcoholic drinks that I liked and think, that's too expensive, but even compared with a cheap bottle of wine its still half the price. So now I buy the nicest non alcoholic drinks and enjoy them.

I have to confess we succumbed last night and had a couple of bottles of red between us. I feel fuzzy headed and tired today. We are back on the wagon again as I felt much better when not drinking. We are going to London in 3 weeks time and don't plan to drink before then.

I’ve been doing 4-5 bottles a week too over lockdown, I also feel bloated and lethargic and generally blah. I enjoy the ritual of a glass of wine especially late afternoon and while cooking but I’m having far too much and my heath is telling me so! I could never drink a bottle in one sitting before lockdown And although I don’t want to stop drinking altogether as I enjoy it, I just want to enjoy in heathy moderation

There’s a few of us in this together.

I get too daunted to join some alcohol support threads as I can’t commit to total abstinence (there’s a lot that’s shit in my life and I need an outlet) but I will commit to reducing / moderating. No one need feel any shame at all if they slip up or drink too much on any given day. We are all human.

I really don't want to do total abstinence either. I enjoy a glass of wine or a gin and tonic. I just want to be drinking less often.

'And although I don’t want to stop drinking altogether as I enjoy it, I just want to enjoy in heathy moderation'

Same here. I LOVE a drink, I love matching beer or wine with food. I went out for beers with DP yesterday and had 3 pints of craft ale - they were fab, and I enjoyed every drop. I have no desire to get leathered, I just want to be able to have 2-3 drinks 2-3 times a week.

I think I am going to try minis and try having a glass with dinner, the measures are far more accurate than mine lol and like OP says I buy a standard bottle I will just drink it. It’s only wine I enjoy I don’t really go for any other alcoholic drink in fact I have a drinks cupboard with full untouched bottles of Gin ect. I also don’t really bother with sweet stuff either. Today is a test for me as it’s my perfect wine weather! I think we can crack this ladies

I’ve started using a food tracker to keep me accountable - including booze calories!! Definitely going to think twice about that 2nd or 3rd drink!!! It’s no wonder I’ve gained so much weight.

@Shhhhh223 I’m exactly the same really, love wine, not really fussed about other drinks. I don’t drink beer and gin I can take or leave.

I am the same, Love wine, so much that I can easily drink a bottle once I have opened it!
It is Weds but already I am thinking of having a drink tonight as my OH is away tomorrow( we usually start our drinking week on the thurs!!)
Although I would still have a drink by myself tomorrow-Like that I can watch trashy tv in peace!!!
Its bad I am wanting to drink and finding an excuse to!!!!

Any advice for enjoying a few drinks (really just a few) and not feeling it the next day? I had 3 beers on Saturday and felt SHIT all the next day. I had an Aperol Spritz and half a bottle of wine last night and have a bit of a head and feel very tired today. I always eat, drink water etc and stop drinking around 8pm. It's so bloody frustrating- I have a very healthy lifestyle but enjoy a few drinks once or twice a week, and I REALLY dont want to give it up. Any advice for a desperate woman?!

Tbh I tried to tell myself I just need to work out how to moderate for ten years but I can't. And the longer you fail at moderation the more risk there is to your health.

Sorry, I know thats shit to hear - my subconscious mind eventually dragged my conscious mind kicking and screaming and making ALL the excuses to the realisation that if moderation is consistently difficult and stressful abstinence is you best option. I've managed almost four months and it's the best decision Ive ever made. Theres a brilliant abstinence thread on here full of really lovely supportive people if you feel like taking a look. And don't be ashamed of yourself. It's really really really addictive and society/marketing encourages us to consume a lot of it - no wonder so many of us become dependent. PM me if you'd like to, happy to share.

The frustrating thing is that I really am a moderate drinker. I have no desire to get leathered, just to enjoy a good wine with food, or a nice pint of ale. I dont drink for at least 5 days every week, and have a month off the booze once or twice a year. I fully understand the health benefits of not drinking, no arguments there. I really dont want to stop though

I can't seem to start a new thread, so I hope you don't mind me asking on this one...

Has anyone found that their tolerance of alcohol has decreased as they aged?
I'm 41 & used to be able to drink the same as friends but recently I just can't tolerate the alcohol the same.
I get really drunk fairly quickly. This didn't used to happen!
Is it a medical thing?
What's going on?!
I also get extreme anxiety following drinking. To the extent that I don't want to drink anymore.
Anyone else?

GOD YES! It makes me so sad. My tolerance really dropped in my 30s. I have drinks last Saturday night, plus dinner, plus water, but felt shit all of Sunday, and not 100% on Monday either. I get the anxiety too, and clenched jaw and indigestion. Seems to be a very common thing as you get older, especially if you reduce how much you drink over the years so your tolerance reduces anyway

I seem to be doing about 10 days not drinking then drinking too much for 2-3 days then back to not drinking for a while. It doesn't seem like a very healthy pattern really. I too love wine but I am now finding red wine give me terrible heartburn and indigestion the following day. I like gin and find I can have 2 G&T's then stop. That is the way forward I think.

@lottapianos I just feel so rubbish the days following that I'm starting to feel like it's just not worth it.
I was at a friend's last night for tea & drinks, we started mid afternoon, and honestly I felt so drunk by early evening. I feel fine then boom...
I drank juice from 9pm. Feel OK hangover wise this morning. Just extremely anxious. Really fed up feeling like this.
I know I don't want to keep feeling like this but I find the idea of never drinking again strange. Silly I know!

It's nice to know its not just me though!

'I know I don't want to keep feeling like this but I find the idea of never drinking again strange. '

Same here! I've even thought about having a drink or two every night for a week or so to build up some tolerance. Wouldn't want to keep that up, only want to drink maybe 2 days a week long term

@lottapianos with me I just want to be able to have a couple & enjoy them & myself.
But the tolerance thing & feeling so rubbish just makes me think what's the point!?
Seriously thinking about trying to stop altogether.

Is it a medical thing this lack of tolerance? Or am I just odd. 😂