Quote:
Originally Posted by hope4balance
Hi All,
This is something that I have been wrestling with lately... I tend to have an addictive personality. Food isn't the only thing that I tend to go overboard with... If I try on a shirt I like, I buy one in every color. If I like a TV show, I want to watch every single episode. I can't just run for 30 minutes a few times a week, I need to be training for something big (like a 1/2 marathon). I am a workaholic. I love hard. In many ways, I am a "go big or go home" kind of person.
And, in the past, this has included some binge drinking. I partied a lot in college... Nothing dangerous or problematic, really. I haven't had any alcohol related consequences in my life, and I have become much more moderate in my drinking as a whole over the past several years. But, from time to time, I like to drink more than a glass or two of wine.
I've noticed that when I get derailed from my weight loss or eating plan, it usually involves alcohol in some way. Generally, this means just drinking more than I plan to... But, at times, this also means that I eat much more after I have been drinking. Or I feel hungover and I eat greasy or sugary foods the next day while I am nursing my hangover.
I'm beginning to wonder if I have to stop drinking in order to stay on track... That kinda bums me out, because wine is a big part of my social scene. Many of my friends are into wine parties, wine tasting, and pairings. Of course, I can drink in moderation, but I can't seem to do that very well..
Can anyone relate to this struggle? Have you noticed needing to make some changes in your consumption of alcohol as you try to lose weight? Has that been hard? Easy? What has been your experience?
I haven't read through the responses, but wanted to respond quick because I am just like you! Except I don't drink. LOL! My dear sweet brother, whom I adore, is a severe, severe alcoholic and has been since about 16, maybe earlier. He went through rehab when he was 17 and I was 15. I had to go to group sessions with him and it was terrible. One of the counselors told me way back then that I have the personality of an alcoholic and I have been terrified of the stuff ever since. So yep, I do have that addictive personality. I get obsessed with things! I get obsessed with weight loss, watching all episodes of a show (see, me too), finances, house keeping, etc. All of it is all or nothing and it comes in cycles.
For me, I think the best decision I probably ever made was to not drink, practically ever. I'll have a mixed drink about once every year or even two. I have tasted it.
But that's about it.
My brother self-medicates with the stuff and drinks two bottles of hard liquor a day. Prior to that he'd drink 16 beers and never feel it. He's not a mean or bad drunk. He's actually normal when he drinks. But it's killing him. His last bout made him literally turn green.