Could it be the booze?

vbonina

I've been losing weight for a year and a half now, and finally settled to where I was content. Now, without changing my diet or exercise regiment, I'm starting to watch the scale increase a bit. 4 lbs in abou the last 3 months.
The only thing I can think of is I started to go out with my friends on Friday nights and have a few drinks. I'm talking about 3 or 4 mixed drinks, only once a week.
Does anyone think that could cause the weight gain?
I'm really upset about this.

Thanks

Vince

55in13

Are there also snacks?

It could be, but you can certainly shave elsewhere to account for it. Time with friends is important.

vbonina

I limit my snacks. I don't see where I can cut back anymore. I've been doing about 1500 cal a day with burning 2-300. Maybe a visit to a trainer would help
Thanks for your comment

55in13

As far as snacks, I was specifically referring to bar snacks. They can be really fatty and salty (makes you thirsty).

You should be able to run the number on your common drink of choice and maybe the snacks. 4 pounds is 14,000 calories. 3 Months is roughly 14 weeks (maybe a little less, but I like easy math :bigsmile: ) so if it adds up to roughly 1000 calories it would account for it.

granitendirt

I give myself beer-heavy nights once in a great while, and I'm still on track losing. For example, last night I had 3 delicious IPA's that equaled something like 900 calories. I used to drink like that 2 or 3 nights a week, every week, and I gained about 10 pounds in 4 months. Oops.

I only drink that much beer in one sitting maybe once a month. If I'm looking to get buzzed, I might opt for a couple shots of whiskey or a mixed drink of vodka and diet soda. Still calories, but not the gut-building amounts of calories found in tasty, full-flavored microbrews. Also, only going out every few weeks REALLY lowers my tolerance level, which results in less drinks needed.

I feel kind of bad about offering advice on losing weight while still getting drunk once in awhile. Eh.

knityoupants

I'm in a similar boat. I just had a weekend getaway with friends, and counted calories the whole time. I had about six dark beers one night, and other sugary drinks throughout, and all the food that was being served was typical bar food. I just ate enough to keep hunger at bay, and didn't go obscenely over calories.

What scared me most was I consumed about half of what I would have prior to MFP! Or less! Naturally, "lunch" was a slice of pizza, "dinner" was a handful of fries, but I digress...

Point is, I'm proud but reflective. I think it's really, really, really hard to maintain that sort of social life and lose weight. If you're drinking to get a buzz on, it's hard to do even that without taking out a good half of your daily calories! So, I'm coming to terms with perhaps adjusting my social life and saying "no" to these outings.

And if anyone suggests drinking just drinking Miller 64... I would rather be teetotaler than compromise on taste :P

Bekahmardis

There is alot of fat in booze.If you want to lose fat quick check out BurnTheFat2013.blogspot.com

False.

Yeah, false. I make my own beer. Grains, hops, water, yeast. Yeah, not seeing the fat there...

Bekahmardis

And if anyone suggests drinking just drinking Miller 64... I would rather be teetotaler than compromise on taste :P

We have a Rule at my house: Anything with the name Bud, Coors, or Miller does not cross our threshhold - if they want to drink that crap, they can drink it on the porch.

jwdieter

Have to track consistently. Alcohol calories in moderation are just calories.

Babeskeez

I've been losing weight for a year and a half now, and finally settled to where I was content. Now, without changing my diet or exercise regiment, I'm starting to watch the scale increase a bit. 4 lbs in abou the last 3 months.
The only thing I can think of is I started to go out with my friends on Friday nights and have a few drinks. I'm talking about 3 or 4 mixed drinks, only once a week.
Does anyone think that could cause the weight gain?
I'm really upset about this.

Thanks

Vince

If that is "all that has changed" that is still enough to probably give you an increase and no deficit. So yes, that can make you gain.

Bekahmardis

The only thing I can think of is I started to go out with my friends on Friday nights and have a few drinks. I'm talking about 3 or 4 mixed drinks, only once a week.

Do you log your drinks accurately into your diary and make sure you're sticking to your calorie goal? If not, there's your answer right there. Log EVERYTHING. I went to a party last month and logged over 1,000 calories in alcohol that night. Yep. Started over the next day.

Babeskeez

OP, I see youre not consistent in logging. Try going back to that and see what is making you gain. Its either the booze in excess or the food. Either way youre likely at a surplus.

cwolfman13

It is generally not the booze, it is usually the food and what not that comes with it. You actually cannot store calories from booze, your body has to burn them off immediately. While you're busy metabolizing the booze though, pretty much anything else you eat goes straight to storage...carbs and fat are especially easy for the body to just set aside and store while the body is metabolizing the booze.

ecdce

You mentioned you're drinking mixed drinks. What are you generally drinking? 3 or 4 margaritas, mud slides, long island ice teas (10 ounces) etc, could easily be an extra 1500-2000 calories per night out. And that's definitely enough to cause weight gain over three months. If, on the other hand, you're drinking rum and diet coke, bloody marys, or gin and tonic, its more likely the weight gain is mainly caused by something else, like bar food, being lax about tracking your food, lapsing in exercise, etc.

evileen99

What kind of mixed drinks? They can have anywhere from 150-600 calories each, so yeah, drinking 3 or 4 once a week could certainly set you back.

crapshack

I like a drink from time to time... well probably more often than most people. Vodka or gin with soda and a squeeze of citrus is my go to. ~70 cals per drink. Rye and diet is another. Sugar free cherry vodka and diet coke, or peach vodka and fresca. Once in a while I'll have a glass of wine, but I try not to have more than 3. Beer is brutal. I ALWAYS factor in those cals for the day and try to cut back somewhere else - usually my bedtime snack is given up in exchange.

So, if you're mixing with sugary pop and having 3 drinks, that could be an extra 700 calories a week. 700 extra cals a week times 12 weeks is 8400 calories.. there's 2.5 lbs.

crapshack

You mentioned you're drinking mixed drinks. What are you generally drinking? 3 or 4 margaritas, mud slides, long island ice teas (10 ounces) etc, could easily be an extra 1500-2000 calories per night out. And that's definitely enough to cause weight gain over three months. If, on the other hand, you're drinking rum and diet coke, bloody marys, or gin and tonic, its more likely the weight gain is mainly caused by something else, like bar food, being lax about tracking your food, lapsing in exercise, etc.

I've got some bad news...... tonic has the same calories as coke. Club soda is your friend.

dixiewhiskey

Honestly.. I work around bars a lot so it can be difficult to stay away from a drink once in awhile. My favourite mixed drink is jack and coke.. I hate cola cause I know it's bad for me so I stick to straight shots of whiskey. No more than 100 cals for 1-2oz of whiskey

vbonina

I think you're right, that is the only thing I have changed. So, more treadmill. Not giving up my Friday Night Buzzzzz
Thanks

dixiewhiskey

Yeah, just work out a bit more or fit it into your caloric intake for the day and you'll do fine! Cheers :drinker:

vbonina

Drink of choice is Jameson on the rocks. But I substitute Vodka/Club