Drinking alcohol & MFP

tbullucks2006

Hi Everyone!
I just wanted to ask everyone about their experiences with weight loss and drinking. On January 3rd, when I started back with MFP, I decided I need to stop drinking alcohol. Mainly because I never could control myself with food after I drank alcohol and ALWAYS over ate. I was a pretty social drinker prior to starting back. Up until this point I have dealt really well without drinking in social situations. I still had fun without needing to drinking.
However, with the weather getting really nice, I've found myself wanting to have a drink on a few different occasions. I just really don't know if I can be disciplined to not blow it. What's happened in the past is I would blow my calorie budget the day I drank and then usually the day after and soon after that I'd have fallen off the wagon all together.
My question is : If I wanted to have a drink, what advice would you give me to not let it crush me all together? Or do you think I should just stick to what I'm doing? I appreciate any feedback!

janejellyroll

I drank almost every day when I was losing weight. I was able to do this because I'm not the type of person who will eat more when I'm drinking. Only you can know if you are able to stick to your goals.

It sounds like your previous experience is that you find it hard to stick to your goals when you've had a drink. Do you think that has changed? Do you find it hard to stick to your goals after one drink or is it only a problem when you've had a few drinks? If it's the latter, would it work to have just 1-2 drinks and then stop drinking?

kgirlhart

My advice is to make sure you can fit it in your daily calorie goal. Pre-log your drink(s) and then stick with it. But if you are unable to stop drinking or to control your eating while drinking that may not work for you. I let myself have whatever I want if it fits my calorie goal. I do find that after checking the calorie content of certain foods and drinks I don't want them anymore. But if you do want it just make it fit.

TheLegendaryBrandonHarris

I know exactly what you're saying about having a few drinks and throwing your daily limits out the window!
"I don't care, I've got to have a burger!"

What I've found is that if I stay below a certain limit, it's easier to stay focused on the daily goals.
But I'm very strict with myself. "Ok. That's X ounces of whiskey. That's it for tonight."
"That's X beers. Last one."

SaintGiff

I would strongly advise against trying to MFP without alcohol

jamesbluther

I have the same experience of wanting to overeat after I've been drinking. What has really helped me is that I don't drink alcohol until AFTER dinner (or if we're out for dinner, I wait until dinner is served). That way my blood surgar doesn't crash due to the alcohol. It's not quite as much fun as having drinks before dinner, but I still get to enjoy wine or beer without it really wreaking my plan.

jessicapk

I'm the same way with sodas (never been much of a drinker) and I found it best to stay away completely with maybe one a week and always pre-log it. Half the game of MFP is mental so you have to figure out how you personally can handle it. I have friends who have lost a considerable bit of weight with moderate alcohol in their menu. However, that just means they are capable of it. If you are not, I'd recommend simply staying away completely.

giusa

Find a "go to" drink with lower cals that you enjoy.
Keep some cals on the table to enjoy your drink and if possible some appetizers.
This has worked for me, and it takes all the guilt away to enjoy my weekends - guilt free!

TheAwakening22

OP. I too love to eat when drinking. Not only do I blow my calories out the window, I stop tracking. Having said that, I was still able to lose weight. I just didn't drink as often as I wanted. Once a week is about all I'd allow myself. As for your situation, if you don't feel like you can be disciplined enough to not fall off the wagon again, maybe you shouldn't allow yourself to drink.

mankars

I sometimes do drink a few times in a week. Out of those, weekends are ones that I know about.
Hence, I will plan my caloric intake during the day, so I can offset my drinking/eating that night.
During weekdays, if I have an unplanned happy-hour... then I 'level out' my caloric intake the following day to offset it.

Remember... you should adopt the lifestyle where you are going to reduce weight & enjoy your life. All the best!!

Citycat2015

Drinking even one glass of wine makes me very very hungry. Therefore I have cut back to 2 glasses with pizza - one night a week and budget for it in my weekly plan.

girlwithcurls2

I start with an equally attractive non-alcoholic beverage (sparkling water with a little something in it). Then, by the time I'm ready for my class of wine or whatever, it's with dinner. I totally agree that the sunshine makes me want a G&T, which makes me want another, and then, judgement is shot. After that glass of wine, I go back to my EAN-AB Or I brush my teeth or something (chew gum, whatever).

Asher_Ethan

I find a glass of water between every drink tends to help me control myself.
I lose weight extremely slowly on mfp because of my drinking habit. But you can pry my wine from my cold dead fingers.

chocolate_owl

Know your cut-off point. One drink fits in my calories easily and doesn't affect my judgment. A second drink can sometimes fit or easily be earned, but it should be consumed on a full stomach. A third drink is entering dangerous territory, and a full-on binge will mean overconsuming that day AND the day after as I try to nurse my hangover. So 1-2 drinks it is.

Also, be selective with your alcohol. Opt for liquor with calorie free mixers instead of the full-blown margarita. A refreshing white or rose wine is lower in alcohol/calories than a big red. The lower the alcohol % on beer, the lower the calories, and the less likely to push you to the tipsy, eat-all-the-things point.

nutmegoreo

SaintGiff wrote: »

I would strongly advise against trying to MFP without alcohol

I think this ^^^ applies more to the forums.

OP, I haven't read all the responses, so I'm not certain if this is a repeat. I had to learn to drink in moderation. The bonus is that while in a calorie deficit, it certainly hits me much harder, so I can drink as much as I used to anyway. If I want a single drink, I will log it and eat a little less throughout the day. If you are wanting several drinks, you have a couple options. First, eat slightly less throughout the week, and use those "saved" calories for your weekend, so you have a higher target. Second, accept that you will lose less that week, log it, and get back to it the next day. There really is no reason to give up moderate drinking while losing weight.

nuttynanners

Pre-log that *kitten*, mama! Seriously, if you wake up and KNOW it's gonna be one of those days when you're gonna have a beer or 3, go ahead and log it under snacks. That's what I do. Then you can go about your day keeping in mind the extra 400 calories or whatever than you set aside

tbullucks2006

I think right now I'm good. I have no desire for a beer. It used to be all that I drank for the most part. I never liked the taste though. I do sort of miss wine though and even though I didn't really drink many mixed drinks in the past because I got terrible hangovers, I'm feeling like I'd like a fruity mixed drink at times.

cwolfman13

Having a drink or two or even more on occasion is pretty negligible to the whole I would say.

MissusMoon

Plan plan plan.

jlcrph

I always allow myself one light beer (provided it doesn't put me over my calorie limit). Anything above that in a day.... I run an extra mile per beer consumed! That pretty much keeps me at just one beer :-)

rosebarnalice

My strategy is to "save" or "bank" calories during the week and then "spend" them on beer and maragaritas on the weekends!

It's all about planning, and logging honestly!

RobD520

I read an article that said that a certain amount of alcohol increases grhelin levels which can causes appetite to spike. The author suggested limiting drinks to no more than two for a woman or three for a man.

I have only read that article and didn't do any research to guage its credibility; so I don't have a strong opinion as to its accuracy. The guideline seems to work for me; but I can't be sure whether that's just a placebo effect.

lml852014

I mean I see it as, I am not going to cut alcohol out of my life forever so I might as well fit it into my daily calorie goal now and get a hold of it. I know what you mean about not being able to control your eating but maybe only have a couple drinks. The only way I start to "not care" is when I'm pretty tipsy.

ArmyofAdrian

I can totally relate, but it seems you already know what's going to happen if you start drinking alcohol again. You've been down that road already.

JemPuddleduck

I don't go out for a drink that often, but when I do I generally drink too many calories rather than eat them.

I think if drinking makes you want to eat than avoid getting into that state.

However one beer on a sunny afternoon shouldn't harm and can be a great way to relax.

IAmTheGlue

I drink almost daily. It's got to fit in my calories so I have to limit it but 2 ounces of flavored vodka has 138 calories. I can fit that in. If I drink as much as I want to then I have no calories left lol so I have to moderate what I drink and how much.

I would rather drink a little every day than save up those calories and get hammered on the weekend when I'm going to eat a plate of nachos & everything else.

BiggDaddy58

I am going to make sure I have room for booze this summer! It's grillin season..cold beers..vodka lemonades..I am just going to have to budget some calories and exercise a bit more..earn myself some extra calories.

maidengirl_

Plan ahead. Eat before going out to avoid overeating/over drinking. I know MFP suggests to avoid alcohol when losing weight but I have drinks on occasion and still find success on the scale. Also be aware of the type of drink you're ordering. A drink no matter how small can be 400 cals easy so just be conscious of what you order.

tugsandpulls760

drinking is useless empty calories do you wanna be a social butterfly or a lean mean machine its up to you

vegasleo79

I have similar issues. It's hard for me to just have one on a random day. I say while you're losing weight don't drink, but I know that's tough and I also know that's not really learning how to properly navigate this new lifestyle.

jmbrown090

I couldn't control myself at all with alcohol. When I drank, I drank with purpose (to get drunk) and once intoxicated I could justify eating anything other the sun. Needless to say that lifestyle and losing weight did not go together and I was beyond unhealthy. Happy to say I'm six months sober and I'm down 65 lbs! (About 45 since I quit drinking)