Dan, I don't think you sound like a hardass at all. I know that I have to stick to it like glue. Although when I started I guess I didn't realize that I would have to limit alcohol too. Now that I am doing it it's not so terribly hard but I do miss being able to go out. And I am sad to say I don't know what there is to do besides going out and going out to eat? ha ha! Anyway I know I can do this and I will. Thanks for being honest. Oh and by the way when I started this thread I didn't mean to leave you out by saying ladies. Thanks for the advice. I will stay strong and not drink. Ugh!

Don't worry about the ladies thing.. I get that a lot..

There's nothing to say you can't go out... I know it's hard not to "go with the crowd", but it's a learned behavior.. You can still go out, but now you just can't overdo it.. Have your glass of wine and then stick to diet soda or water the rest of the night.. It seems weird at first, but you'll get used to it.

And depending on what your friend like to do, "going out" can mean going to work out... Or going to the movies (stay away from the popcorn ), etc etc...

Just volunteer yourself as the Designate Driver . . . one glass of wine and you're on to soda because you have to drive. My drinking buddies loved that fact when I was on weight loss. Plus after just one "You puke, you pay for detailing" incident they all found themselves cutting back on drinking too. Thus the bar thing was no longer an issue.

I'm on the blue plan... and 1 light beer counts as 1 starch and 4oz of wine count as 1 fruit... any 4oz of any type of liquor counts as 1 starch (this was said by the girl at my COD)

so when I go to drink I save 2 fruits, 3 starches for my night out
it's like being on TO lol

In my book it says one Oz of liquor is 1 starch?
I guess everyone has different information? Huh?

I just wanted to let you guys know that I asked at my COD. And they said that 3 times a week. Means don't drink more than 3 times a week. But that you can save up your starches and fruits if you have a night out planned and use them for up to 4 drinks and 3 3oz glasses of wine. Of course they don't suggest you do this often but it is considered being POP. So I just thought I would throw that out there. Although I am still sober 20 days! Whoo hoo!

Just bumping this up for Jill! Thought she might want to take a look!

Oh Ceclia -

Thank you so much. I am definately in the same place you were when you started. I keep telling my friends I'm in sequester and I'll be back in a few weeks.

So, I can have 4 drinks on my 1st night out? I can stick to the no more than 3 times a week thing pretty easily. I usually only go out one night on the weekends.

I'm not sure that I can stick to only 4 drinks though! But I am committed to no alcohol for the 1st four weeks. I'm in my second week now.

Lord help me.

Yeah 4 starches equals 4 drinks. Although if I were you I would have at least 1 starch just so you have food in your stomach. You can also have 3 3oz glasses of wine which isn't much but it will be something to drink for a little bit! Ha ha! Good luck I know you can do it if I did!

Just wanted to note that I did this once, saved all of my fruits and all of my starches for a night at the bar. By the time we got to the bar I was STARVING! Just a few drinks into the night I was so trashed I could barely stand, due to my very empty tummy. My DH marched me down the street to Jack In the Box and made me eat a hamburger to slow the alchol down. Of course, I was so messed up that I really didn't care about eating on plan at that point. So, just so you all know, if you do this, make sure to get a big portion of protein in BEFORE you go!

Cecilia- I think you will be surprised at how 1 glass of wine affects you now that you are eating right and not drinking! I didn't know how I was going to stay on plan with the drinking thing either, but now that 2 glasses of wine is more than enough to get me to where I was when I would drink three or four Tanqueray and Tonics...it's kind of fun being a cheap date

Thanks Katie, Cecilia & Amy -

I will definately be coming home to eat dinner before heading out for a night. Before, I would just go straight after work and not eat until we were ready to come home. Usually a late-night stop at a drive through. Gross!

Lots of veggies and a couple of portion of protein before I head out. I'm sure I'll be a total light-weight too. This plan is saving me so much money! Seriously, between eating out and partying, I cannot believe how much money I spent. The $449 it cost me to join has more than paid off already and I've only been on plan for 11 days.

The grocery store bills kind of suck though.....

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

I sure wish that I would listen to my own advice. After I wrote my post last night, I headed out to the Resevation casino for my dad's birthday. We got totally trashed on the way there, before dinner. Not the DD of course! Anyway, one wine and sprite zero spritzer and I was feeling really good. Then I drank a Mike's cranberry lemonade too! So, even though I saved fruits and starches, I still went over. And drank way too much on an empty stomach. Hmmmmm......can I blame peer pressure?

Katie -

I'm so jealous. And I think Cecilia is at a wine-tasting tonight.

Me, I'm still in sequester. Until February 1st! I was going to hold out until February 8th, we are going to a concert that night, but I don't think I can. I'm so bored!

I'm going to have to go out and go shopping or something next weekend. But it will be a challenge to not go out to lunch. Must get out of the house!

Tell you what though, my house has never been this clean or organized.

These 1st 4 weeks are brutal!