The FastDay Forum

Hi, I'm also in Northern Ireland so totally relate to the alcohol thing - seems to be a big part of socialising here - also to make it worse have a boat so Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays can be very social....As OH and me fast Mondays and Thursdays normally have found that since we started 5:2 we keep Monday through Thursday as alcohol free which can only be a good thing - still party at the weekend, red wine, vodka and slimline tonic and Guinness for himself! So far so good on the weightloss front - we'll just have to keep an eye on it!

Bout ye, all my fellow Norn Irn peeps!

One of the things that attracted me to 5:2 was that it would almost force me to have 2 alcohol free days. I only drink now on non-fast days, and even then I'm finding that the alcohol kicks in much quicker - I'm having to retrain myself to slow down, or alternate with glasses of water.

As well as having no alcohol on fast days it's also making me think twice about drinking the day before a fast as I find it twice as hard with a hangover and craving fatty food.

I've not really cut down weekend drinking though although I've stalled on weight loss in the last 3 weeks so may have to reconsider that.

I never drink on fast days, and rarely in the week now thanks to 5:2. I know that not drinking red wine as often plus the cheese and cajou nuts that sometimes accompanied it has helped the weight loss.

So glad someone had the courage to bring this up - alcohol consumption is being equated with smoking ....

I too was consuming alcohol probably every day and i have now cut it out during Mon-Thurs with a few relapses but not on fast days. However I feel free to drink wine at the weekend - I like the taste and not fond of the diet free or mixer type drins - too sweet for me.

Does anybody unit count out of interest?

Thanks again folks. Good to know I'm not the only one who enjoys the demon drink! But I am definitely cutting down (for a while anyway) after a particularly heavy week last week. It didn't make me gain weight, but I've got a bloomin cold, I reckon from the immunity-lowering properties of sequential hangovers!

Demon drink?
More like heaven in a glass, LOL!

I'm in Boston and although I now have a child, pub life is still a pretty big center of our social circle (we've even brought our little one to our local to hear some session music--early eve of course). I have no plans on giving this up but I definitely don't drink on my fast days and I count calories for every single pint / glass of wine.

Cheers!

I, too, have cut down on alcohol quite a lot - intentionally from the first of the year (before 5:2) and now with 5:2, I definitely don't drink on two fast days a week - and don't enjoy it as much or crave my glass (or two or three!!!) of white wine like I used to. I believe the 5:2 lifetstyle has helped with food and alcohol cravings and that's great for me . . just another positive thing about this WOL.

Alcohol on a fast day? No way! The calories have to be for food for me other than having white coffee to stave off the hunger pangs. I have definitely cut down but I know I also made a conscious decision to try and do that. If I drink wine I will binge on chocolate. Of course calories don't count when you've had a wine or two.

Fellow boozers, wee Norn Iron and other locations, this is turning into quite the 'support' thread for me!! General experience seems to be 5:2 causes us to drink a bit less because we're abstaining on fast days and night before. Whether that will actually reset the system to desire less booze overall, well, we'll see! Still, if I can't have a drink, or twenty, sometimes I'd never manage. Probably why other diets that count calories never appealed to me. I know a few people who save their points or whatever up to booze at the weekend. Means they're permanently starving and miserable. Much prefer our way.

Will raise a glass to you all tomorrow night (as I'm fasting today)!

[quote="redhead"]I'm with you both on wine leading to overeating crisps and snacks! Have been through many a block of cheese (Wensleydale and Cranberry mmm) with a bottle of wine!

Had to laugh at that redhead, it's soooo meeeee !!!!!!

Just to update on my progress, I drank a lot less this weekend. I wasn't out, but I drink a brave lot at home on Fridays and Saturdays even if I'm not out. Not alone - with husband and friends, although I'd drink alone if there wasn't anyone about too!

I implemented a minor change this weekend which seems obvious but made a big difference - I measured my spirit shots with a little measuring cup. So I only had 30mls of spirit in each drink and I didn't drink any more quickly or more than usual.

5:2 is definitely giving me more 'control' and less fear of trying changes and cutting down on things.

Had a whiskey and ginger ale last night and my stomach bloated up instantly. I'd had a glass of just ginger ale earlier and there'd been no reaction so what's with the whiskey affecting me? ('twas a feast day)

Alcohol is crazy high in calories sadly, so I always count it towards my calorie intake and never drink on a fast day. It's just really high in sugar. But as everyone says, the beauty of this diet is that you don't have to give up the things you love! If you are happy with your current weight loss then I'd say you are doing ok, but if you did want to lose a little more then cutting the alcohol down a little will probably help to give you that boost.