Making the right choices

[RisingSun]

Hi all, I'm 50 this year and would like to stop drinking and lose weight. Sounds easy but I bet it's not.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[White-feather]

Hey! Hello again! 😀

I'm on a wonderful eating plan which assists acceptance of notdrinking. Matt, my husbasnd, who I've mentioned to you on BLT Health Unlocked.

Matt prepares my diet so I'll asked him to send you a post if that's alright?

🍀

[RisingSun in reply to White-feather]

Sure...that'd be great and thanks.

[Lebs]

I started going through the menopause when I hit 50. I found the night sweats were so much worse if I drank, that it made it easy to cut down drastically!

[Macrovioletics]

The challenge to break a pattern is to see the pattern and what caused it.

Do you drink because it is social, or has it become a routine to have a glass of wine at night?

And also the eating routine: cutting down on amount or meals per day/snacks can feel tricky, for the fear of scarcity may trigger an emotional response that in return makes you want more food.

My recommendations are to gradually switch to a more wholefood diet, which would naturally be more filling (more fibre) and less excessive (gradually cutting meat, all dairy and eggs) on saturated fats and sugars (which are in the more refined products).

If you are interested get in touch with me and I will try to answer more questions from a macrobiotic point of view.

[RisingSun in reply to Macrovioletics]

Hi, thinking about it I drink because it's a habit. We sit down about 8.30 each night and start drinking. We normally watch a drama at 9 and then go to bed about 11. By which time I've finished off a bottle of red. We'll do this about 3 or 4 times a week.

[Macrovioletics in reply to RisingSun]

Then it's good you noticed the pattern. Is there anything else you could drink instead, or to reduce the days you do that? Anything you do to reduce it is a start to quit.

Being mindful will also help you to realise why you are doing it. When you reach for it, what is it that you want? Is it boredom, comfort, convenience,... and if so, can you make a choice in that moment not to do it?

With regards to the food, maybe the first step is to switch to whole grains which are more filling and better than refined products (pasta, bread, breakfast cereal).

[RisingSun in reply to Macrovioletics]

Will do. Breakfast normally consists of oat burst porridge carton at work followed by an aldi prepared salad box for lunch.

I've cut the bread out apart from sausage butty at the weekend.

Your idea for a healthy restaurant is brilliant. I'd go for that.

I think cutting out the drink isn't going to be that difficult. I'm gonna focus on decorating and the road to better health.

Thus is going to be one a personal challenge.

My sons a great inspiration, he's a triathlete.

X

[RisingSun]

Hi

This seems like a common thing so don't be hard on yourself. The more I read and speak with people the more I appreciate that my issue (and what also seems like yours) is common.

The problem is that we need to change or accept that there will highly likely be consequences. These consequences will impact our lives and those that we love.

I hear a lot from people who DIDN'T make the change and now have liver damage that is not reversible. These unfortunate people are now living with that decision.

You did amazingly well to go 2 years as you did, so there's plenty of evidence that you can beat this.

Maybe you can wake up tomorrow and CHANGE to a safer approach to looking after your liver. You've done it before and I really do hope that you can.

You said yourself that you lost weight and felt great.

If it helps, I have decided not to drink the way I used to drink (if I opened the bottle....I'd empty it). I'm going to nurse my liver back to as healthier position as I can, and during this process do more regular exercise. I've never been so determined before. I feel irresponsible to those that care about me and my habbit has also cost my family money. Drinking isn't cheap nowadays.

Try to be positive and make that change.

It's not easy but it will be worth it.

I'm certain that the last thing we both want is to have liver damage that's not reversible!!

☺

[kantara71]

Hello Rising sun,

It is so good that you are thinking about this now. When I was your age I was a bit overweight and drank regularly and it never really worried me. Fast forward twelve years and suddenly I became 4 stones overweight and now it is much harder to shift the weight.

Alcohol makes any weight loss problem difficult to work effectively so try and reduce this to once a week.

And if, as you have identified, it is habit then change your routine. Like you I am an all or nothing person and once the bottle is opened then the lot will go and if there is a second bottle ........... Fortunately my recent blood tests have shown my kidney and liver function tests are ok and cholestrol levels OK too, BP fine but this is after I lost 35lbs by following the 12 week nhs plan and also reducing my carbohydrate intake.

I still have another stone and a half to lose and it does not worry me to not have alcohol at all, making it much easier to follow a healthy eating lifestyle.

Good luck, you can do it and you can do it now! Be fit and fifty, if you want it only you can make it happen John

[RisingSun in reply to kantara71]

Fantastic .....thanks for the support. You sound like me (or I sound like you ☺) in almost every way.

I havent had a drink since last Thursday. I've done 5 aside and walked the dog most days. Justhe nees to add the gym on a regular basis.

As for carbs...everyone says the same......cut the carbs and I'll lose the weight.

Thank you

[kantara71 in reply to RisingSun]

I have been on the nhs plan since the beginning of the year and, apart from this last 5 weeks when i have been abroad, I have steadily lost weight, (2-3lbs a week), whether this is by following the nhs guidelines, reduced carbs etc. It is about finding out what suits you best.

From the start I cut down on bread, rice, pasta and potatoes then cut them out completely whilst following a low carb way of eating and I have gradually introduced them in a limited way but keeping them to a limit which is not as low as the lchf followers recommend but not as high as the eat well nhs recommendations.

I would say that it is the total calorie intake that is the most important thing for weight loss, how you achieve that will be determined by what suits you best and as long as you are consuming less calories than what your resting metabolic rate is then you will lose weight

I will be back in the UK this weekend and ready to re-boot, join the 12 week plan again - applying what I have learned, and look to lose a further 25lbs by August!

Have a good weekend

[RisingSun in reply to kantara71]

Great advice and many thanks.

I'm gonna focus on no drinking and reduced carbs.

I'm also gonna introduce 2 more sessions of fitness, making that 3 in total for the week.

It's wonderful to talk with people like yourself as you're proof that, given the correct information, desire and support, results can be achieved.

I think I weigh about 15 stone at the moment and would very much like to hit 12 stone at some point.

☺

[kantara71 in reply to RisingSun]

Good luck Rising Sun, cutting out the alcohol is a major advantage, having said that I have just returned from the shop with a bottle of red wine to say farewell to Cyprus - until the next time!

I am at 15 and a half or thereabouts and looking to get to 14 stones so not quite as much as you are looking to lose.

Good luck with reducing the carbs, it becomes easier as you go along.

John

[RisingSun in reply to kantara71]

Maybeb14 stone is a more realistic target for me too...

Enjoy the red...

[RisingSun in reply to kantara71]

Hey John...hope you enjoyed your last night and that bottle of red.

I've been watching what I eat and made a conscious effort to look at carbon intake yesterday. You've sewn the seed here so thanks mate.

In total I've gone from 15 stone 6 pound to 14 stone 8 pound since 5 May.

Back to blighty John for you now buddy (gods country) 😊

[kantara71 in reply to RisingSun]

That is a fabulous weight loss RisingSun. Keep up the good work and smash through the 14.5 barrier next.

My next weigh in is on Monday, I am not getting on the scales until then as a uncomfortable 5 hour night flight back seems to mess up my body, trying hard not to comfort eat today and to just get back to normal.

[RisingSun in reply to kantara71]

Comfort eating is bad normal eating is good...easier said though hey haha 😊