Hi all, is anyone else around here struggling with managing their alcohol intake the same way they manage their food intake?
I'm a pretty heavy daily drinker--most of the 70 pounds I've gained in the last 2-3 years have come from alcohol and attendant relaxed eating--and I'm trying to cut back dramatically so that I can lose weight and become more moderate in my behaviors.
I'm a calorie counter and this past week I've been measuring and logging my alcohol as well as my food. I've been allowing myself 12oz of wine and 2oz bourbon as a night cap. That might seem like a lot but it is way less than usual and I think it's a solid start to cutting back further.
I'm not interested in quitting drinking--only in gaining control over it and managing my intake. Is anyone else in this position? I'd love to talk to others and share strategies and frustrations.
(p.s. I know many people will advocate abstinence and use language of addiction in response to this post, and that's ok. Let me just say that I find the language of addiction unhelpful, at least for now. I used to be a heavy smoker and I quit smoking because it was a real addiction over which I had no control. At the moment, I'd rather think about alcohol the same way that I think about food: something that I have a tendency to overdo and over which I need to maintain proper control and vigilance. If I turn out to be wrong about this, I'll figure it out and take appropriate action. For now, I'm looking for help and support and strategies for managing my intake as I do my food. )