Hi Mel
Don't worry about the other post, it's not a problem
Absolutely amazing first loss, well done!!
With regards to the booze, have you tried changing to spirits? Vodka is 4 syns per 25ml, rum is usually 3 syns per 25ml.
Although saying that, I do enjoy a glass of wine at the weekend too!
As for the places for eating out, I created a thread quite a while ago that gives some ideas for certain food places to eat at and the syn values you should count (here:
Eating Out With Slimming World (Restaurants + Takeaways))
But Nando's isn't too bad, from what I believe, the chicken is free once you remove the skin (3 syns for plain butterfly chicken with the skin), and the spicy rice is 2 syns for a regular portion. The 1/4 flame grilled chicken breast is 3 per serving.
JD Wetherspoons is pretty good too. I know someone who works in the kitchens and they use no oils (or extremely small amounts if they do) when cooking things like steak, gammon, etc. and the veg/salad is always free unless it states there's a dressing/butter, but you can always ask for the dressing to be on the side to avoid having too much of it.
I'll add these to the Eating Out thread I posted above, along with some other chain food places that I might find.
Basically if you go out to eat anywhere and you aren't sure what's best, I will always advise you go for the grilled meats, jacket/new potatoes, veg/salad.
Always avoid anything with the words fried, sautéed, roasted (it's usually roasted in butter/oil which mount up the syn count!), buttered, oil, etc. to keep you syns low