I already follow a healthy eating plan and exercise regularly, but I do enjoy wine with dinner. As a personal challenge I decided to give up wine and all other alcohol for the month of January AND commit to a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise every single day. I regularly exercise 5 days a week, so it's not that much of a stretch but with the few extra holiday pounds I figured more exercise plus no alcohol may help expedite the weight loss!

Did anybody else set kick-start January resolutions? 2009 is going to be a GREAT year!

A small glass of wine wont hurt you It may actually be beneficial to your cardiac health. But I am really happy that you've been able to pull through.

Hope to see you around

I gave up alcohol for about 2 months a few years ago and it really helped with my weight loss, so I am sure your plan of a little more daily exercise and cutting out the alcohol will help you lose those few holiday pounds quickly!

I am going to be in my cousin's wedding in July, so my New Year's Resolution is to get to 145 by then. This is only about 1 pound per week, but I figure slow and steady wins the race. I exercise regularly as well, but I think I have a very slow metabolism and have only had success in the past if I follow a 1200 calorie diet plan, which is really hard for me. I just ordered a Bodybugg last night, so hopefully this will tell me how may calories I actually burn and be a good tool to help me with my weight loss.

I have decided to cut way back on the alcohol too. Can't afford it and it's bad for me. I know it has a huge part to do with my weight never coming off easily! I will hop on the wagon

RN - Even a small glass still has calories! I'm not off of wine forever, just until I'm back to pre-holiday shape.

IansGirl - awesome! It's been awhile since I've cut out alcohol completely so I'm curious to see what impact it has on my ability to lose weight. I feel great, so I'm enjoying the challenge! I've been drinking a lot more herbal tea and hot water with lemon (which is delish if you haven't tried it).

babes - I'm glad you had success in the past when eliminating your alcohol. That's encouraging to hear.

I got on the scale yesterday and I've lost a pound so far in January, which is slow but that's ok. As long as the scale is moving in the right direction

Hi all and a happy new year, seems like everyone I talk to is cuting back on the booze. I've never been a big drinker anyway but do enjoy the occasional evening drink. I argee Genesis but find it easyer to just change to a lower calorie drink so not to totally deprive myself.

Still going strong! I wanted a glass of wine sooo bad on Friday night after I took off the top of my thumb and thumbnail with a potato peeler, but I resisted! I had a glass of peppermint tea instead. I feel really good about my decision not to cave.

I've gotten in some great workouts lately, too. I went on a 25+ mile bike ride on Sunday and I ran 6.5 miles today. I haven't gotten on the scale in a few days but I'm feeling great, and that's what really matters.

Hope everybody has a great week!

Woohoo. I've been booze free since august 2007, except for a can of Pulse - a mixed drink (sugar, sugar, sugar, red dye, caffeine, sugar and vodka).

(Sorry if that sounded like I'm bragging - I'm not, just sharing)

Does anyone find that by cutting down on the booze they have increased their caffeine intake?
I have but have recently moved on to decaf tea and coffee, well maybe not in the mornings! lol
I've been told I might start getting with drawls from caffeine now
Still, little steps I keep telling my self

Good job Mazza! That drink sounds awful!

Andrea, I understand why that would be an issue for some people. Your plan to go caffeine free after your morning cup is a good idea. I recently went off caffeine upon my doctor's advice, but I still drink quite a bit of decaf black teas and coffee which techincally contain a small amount of caffeine. I also drink a lot of herbal teas, which are truly caffeine free.

Personally, I don't think caffeine withdrawals are that bad. I didn't get any headaches, but I was very grumpy for a few days and then it passed. Everybody is different, so just be kind to yourself if you do experience withdrawals and tell yourself you'll get through it. However, if you're continuing to drink caffeine in the AM I don't think withdrawals will be an issue.

I've now almost entirely lost my desire to have a glass of wine with dinner. This is great! When this challenge ends I think my wine consumption will be much lower than it was before. I adore wine and don't want to cut it out of my diet forever, but reducing my general consumption is probably a wise idea for my waistline!

I think that is a great idea Genesis. I have been slowly starting to get this weightloss thing and never realized how many calories where in alcohol (or other things for that matter )

I think I might join you on this venture, I am going to cut back to having 2 alcholic beverages a week.

that's a great goal! I just made a mini goal for myself today that I will not drink during the week and only 1 night a week. It's just so many empty calories-- and also, when drinking, you feel like you can just shove anything down your throat and eat to many wasted calories.

Great goal!