I hate to be that person but mocktails don't cut it.

greatgrapes234

I don't drink everyday or even a lot but when I want a drink I want the real stuff, am I being an idiot or is it OK to drink alcohol and diet? What about low calorie drinks any advice on what to mix with vodka?

Alatariel75

Just count the calories, and be mindful of the drink munchies! I'm quite fond of flavoured vodka and soda water, tastes just like the canned hard seltzers.

greatgrapes234

Alatariel75 wrote: »

Just count the calories, and be mindful of the drink munchies! I'm quite fond of flavoured vodka and soda water, tastes just like the canned hard seltzers.

That's what I did tonight I started with a mountain dew and vodka but I dumped out the mountain dew, I do shots, I don't like to mix it, but I've done 3 shots with Canada dry club soda, and burned a bunch of calories dancing in my bathroom like a dork lol

LeeDahlen38

It’s so simple it’s right in front of you. It’s all about moderation. I have one or two light beers a night and only a shot or two on the weekends. And yes! I log them. I’m not seeing any issues with weight loss. But that’s because my calorie deficit is always in check at the end of the day.

AnnPT77

I'm not willing to shortcut nutrition routinely to have alcohol, but do drink some sometimes. As long as I account for the calories, and don't let the alcohol persuade me that it's OK to go overboard with snacky stuff I forget to log, my weight behaves as I expect given calorie intake.

I think that might not apply if a person routinely lowballs nutrition to fit in more alcohol or drinks lots regularly.

neanderthin

I don't partake in alcohol very much, a few cocktails a month basically but there was one night that a friend and I finished most of a bottle of Dalmore scotch whisky and non of these factored into my weight either the day of or any day after, so a non issue for me. My go to cocktail is a gin martini made with Citadelle Gin from France. Mocktails make no sense to me whatsoever, so they are also a non issue for me.

springlering62

There was a fascinating article all over Apple News yesterday about a plant based, zero cal non-alcoholic alcohol that’s fixing to hit the market. There’s not supposed to be any hangover effect, and drinking more than one doesn’t increase the effect.

They invited a lot of scientists and food writers to try it out.

The writer said he was surprised. It was pleasant tasting, and he got a pleasant buzz on the first drink that lasted for several hours,no hangover as promised.

The big commotion about this drink (and other similar ones fixing to hit the market) is that they’ll be a “gateway drug” to reintroduce alcoholics to alcohol again.

Well what about the folks who might be encouraged to go this route instead?

Similar caveats about not driving apply.

I don’t drink and have no plans to start, gateway or not. I grew up around it and loath the stuff.

Lietchi

Mocktails are often too sweet for me, but occasionally I've found some that aren't bad (focus on sour and/or bitter). Big fan of the more bitter(sweet) types of non alcoholic aperitif options (Crodino, 0% Aperol). And although I'm not a beer drinker, I have been drinking a lot more non alcoholic beer since the options in local bars and restaurants have grown (and soft drinks are too sweet/not a good combo with food).

I do still drink alcohol occasionally, once or twice a month - it's not so much the influence on my weight that motivates me (although fitting in my favorite types of alcohol would be tricky on a more frequent basis), but rather how it affects my workouts. I can really feel my performance and recovery tank and my fitness tracker also clearly shows the effects.
Side note, but I've also found that alcohol on a full stomach has fewer side effects for me (Irish coffee as dessert) compared to drinking on an empty stomach (aperitif before eating).

The 'non alcoholic alcohol' mentioned above doesn't tempt me at all - I don't particularly like the buzz of alcohol.

Hobartlemagne

count the calories, and not too often.
I have 2 glasses of red wine about once a week, and it hasnt stopped my steady weight loss.

xbowhunter

Everyone is different but for me drinking alcohol makes me very hungry and I end up eating high calorie junk foods. Also, I can't stop at one drink and when I start, I drink daily as a habit.

I have learned alcohol messes with my brain and makes me make bad choices in what I say and do. So, I'm 100% alcohol free now and it's the best thing I have ever done for me, and I don't miss it one bit!

nossmf

I don't drink alcohol, but I think the question really boils down at the basic level to:

"I'm trying to lose weight, do I have to give up stuff I like?"

The short answer is no, as long as you can control the portion size and properly account for it. All throughout my weight loss efforts I continued to have pizza and burgers for meals, and ice cream and cookies for dessert. Trick is I had less of each (2 slices instead of 4, for example) and included it in my daily totals.

For some people, temptation and lack of will power may lead them to overindulge when it's available, so for them complete abstinence may be required, at least until they practice and develop the level of self control needed to reintroduce their particular weakness.