New here - Trouble controlling food/alcohol

DoxieMama · 12-10-2011, 01:57 PM

Hi all,

I'm new here and so happy to have found this forum. It would seem that I have a hard time doing anything in moderation. I can't have a slice of pizza and a glass of wine, I will eat the whole pizza and drink the whole bottle. I am very aware of the damage I'm doing to my body and I start each day with the best of intentions but derail myself. I know how to eat right and exercise, but I just don't do it.

Really in need of a support system! Anyway, I'm happy to have found you all, lots of good advice in these forums.

aliasihaya · 12-10-2011, 10:14 PM

I completely understand where you're coming from and face the exact same problems. With the pizza and the wine. And then it becomes a circular problem because after or while drinking the wine all you want to do is eat crappy food. Unfortunately, I haven't found the formula yet for fixing it. I'm definitely a logical and self-proclaimed intelligent woman. I have huge health problems and I know how bad all of this is for me. Yet I can't get up the motivation to do anything about it.

But what I will say is that being on this site does help. Reading success stories and having a place to vent helps. In the end only you can make the change, but having support makes it easier. So you've taken a good first step and I'm sure you'll get great advice. But from me, just know that you're not alone. Feel free to email me if you want an email support buddy. But regardless work to stick with this. As they say, the first step is admitting that you have a problem. :-) The question is what do you do with that information. Good Luck!

MsDana · 12-12-2011, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoxieMama

Hi all,

I'm new here and so happy to have found this forum. It would seem that I have a hard time doing anything in moderation. I can't have a slice of pizza and a glass of wine, I will eat the whole pizza and drink the whole bottle. I am very aware of the damage I'm doing to my body and I start each day with the best of intentions but derail myself. I know how to eat right and exercise, but I just don't do it.

Really in need of a support system! Anyway, I'm happy to have found you all, lots of good advice in these forums.

I could have written your post! I'm an all-or-nothing kind of a girl too. It's not that my diet is bad, because it's essentially balanced and healthy, it's the quantity I eat and of course - my downfall - the wine! I enjoy the wine and have no trouble drinking a whole bottle (in fact I do) once I start. I know that wine is the reason for my weight gain, and also realize I must stop that. I am planning to drastically cut down on wine in the New Year, because I've come to the point when I must lose the 30lbs I've put on. I feel uncomfortable with this weight and am not liking myself because of it. Fortunately, I love working out and how I feel afterwards, so that's my New Year's resolution; cut out the wine and workout more consistently. Good luck to you!

ShanIAm · 12-12-2011, 08:34 AM

For me it was beer and gin & tonics. I never drank until I was drunk but my brain did get warm and fuzzy. And don't get me started on pizza. My delivery place no longer needed my address when I called. But I found that once I cut out the drinking I became more clear headed and I was able to make better food choices. When I was warm and fuzzy all self control went out the window.

Do you drink wine only because you like it or because you both like AND need it?

I'm not here to judge, believe me, I completely understand addictions/habits. Please, I'm still smoking because I know the minute I try to stop I'll be inhaling McD's french fries instead!! But I just know that for me I had to make the decision to stop drinking alcohol because it impaired my food judgements. And when football season started out came the beer, out came the bad foods and now, 10 pounds heavier, I am trying to get back to where I was.

(Now if I can only get through the holiday's with my family without drinking, I'll be golden! LOL)

mammasita · 12-12-2011, 08:37 AM

DITTO with all of the above. It's much easier for me to pass up a drink or a slice of pizza than to have ONLY one drink or one slice of pizza. The past few months though, I've been able to have "Just one slice" successfully.

I, as I'm sure we all do, know it's very hard sometimes, but it can be done. I do think that getting into a routine excercise in can help immensely. In my opinion, step one should be to stop putting off the excercise, even if you start out with 10-15 minutes a day, its something. One goal at a a time!

MsDana · 12-12-2011, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShanIAm

Do you drink wine only because you like it or because you both like AND need it?

Personally, no I don't need it, but I like the taste of very cold, dry white wine. I always knew that I don't really have addictive personality, but once I start on something - it becomes excessive. I used to smoke cigarettes, to the tune of 1-2 packs/day, then one day I decided I'm done with it, and just quit. That was 20+ years ago, and I don't ever recall having any withdrawals or longing for a cigarette. It was easy for me. Also, a little over 6 years ago, I joined WW online and easily lost 25 lbs, but I was really motivated then. That's how it is with me. I have to set my mind to do something - and then it becomes easy. I KNOW I can lose the 30lbs this time, and I'll do it by cutting out wine. Right?

ArtyKay · 12-12-2011, 02:51 PM

I think that eating and drinking in excess go hand in hand. I can totally limit myself to one or two, but I do go on binges with a drink just like I binge with food.

I agree with a PP, sometimes its just easier to turn it down than it is to limit yourself.

TawnyaInControl · 12-12-2011, 03:17 PM

Haha... I am NOT going to lie here. I totally have an addictive personality. I love wine, food, and cigarettes...and chocolate.

I have just stopped drinking wine recently. I just can't drink it. I love it WAY too much. I also drink the entire bottle like MsDana. Argh. One turn off about wine is that the alcohol slows the metabolism. It defeats the purpose of my cardio workouts. NO MORE WINE! lol...

DoxieMama · 12-12-2011, 07:25 PM

It feels very good to hear that others struggle with these same things. Not that I want anyone else to struggle, but it reminds me that it isn't just me.

As for the wine, I like it and need it some days. I have a very addictive personality. It is much easier as some others have said, for me to just forego something I want rather than to trust myself to have a small amount.

I have gained almost 40 lbs in the last 5 years (weigh has gone up and down, I haven't just steadily gained) and I know it's because of alcohol, bad food choices, and being lazy and not getting my butt off the couch.

I think I've finally reached the point where I'm just disgusted with myself and ready to make some changes.

Thanks to all of you for listening, and the supportive words!

MsDana · 12-12-2011, 09:23 PM

DoxieMama thank you for starting this thread, and thanks to everyone else that took time share here. There is comfort in knowing that I'm not alone in this. We can curb our excesses starting in New Year, right? For me, it will have to be limiting my wine consumption to once per month. I know, that I'll be able to control my food portions then, and exercise more consistently when I abstain from the wine. I hope so, and wish everyone the same.

TERAPET · 12-12-2011, 09:51 PM

I also have a problem with wine. Only white wine. Any other alcoholic drink I can stop at one or at most two and really don't care if i drink it or not. But I am terrible with white wine. It is so bad that I have recently decided to give it up entirely.

MsDana · 12-12-2011, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TERAPET

I also have a problem with wine. Only white wine. Any other alcoholic drink I can stop at one or at most two and really don't care if i drink it or not. But I am terrible with white wine. It is so bad that I have recently decided to give it up entirely.

That's what I have to do.....give up the wine entirely. Good thing is that I don't really care about any other "adult" beverage but wine. I am giving myself permission to indulge only until Dec 31, then I stop. I am determined to lose the 30 lbs by Memorial Day.

PrairieGirl · 12-13-2011, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MsDana

That's what I have to do.....give up the wine entirely. Good thing is that I don't really care about any other "adult" beverage but wine. I am giving myself permission to indulge only until Dec 31, then I stop. I am determined to lose the 30 lbs by Memorial Day.

I know it's really hard to refrain from drinking over the holiday season, as it's hard to refrain from overindulging in general over the holiday season, but if this is something you want to do, I would encourage you to start now. I've struggled with recovery and when I've fallen off the wagon, I have to get right back on, whether it's Monday morning or not. You can begin anew anytime. Good luck to you!

Munchy · 12-13-2011, 12:28 PM

I cut out wine completely and immediately lost weight. I do indulge in vodka/club soda, but have to limit it to one-two nights out with friends every other week (single mom, so I don't get that every week) and try to be mindful.

I don't order pizza out because I really like it. If I'm in the mood for pizza, I bake a flatout and I can eat the entire pizza for under 300 calories, and there are NO leftovers. I find that individual amounts of food are always optimal for me.

This is also why I portion and freeze my meals. The leftovers are frozen, I can't just take "a little more" and I can't justify heating up a whole new meal.

MsDana · 12-13-2011, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrairieGirl

I know it's really hard to refrain from drinking over the holiday season, as it's hard to refrain from overindulging in general over the holiday season, but if this is something you want to do, I would encourage you to start now. I've struggled with recovery and when I've fallen off the wagon, I have to get right back on, whether it's Monday morning or not. You can begin anew anytime. Good luck to you!

Very good point! Thanks for the suggestion. It starts now!