Alcohol Conundrum

x2greenxeyes

Lets be real we all like to unwind a bit with an alcoholic beverage now and again. How do I unwind without undoing all the working out and dieting?

When going out with the girls for happy hour what can I drink?

charlottemilton

What do you want to drink? You can always drink anything you want if you account for it in your food diary.

Rum and diet coke.
7 and diet 7.

Those are the two I can think of off the top of my head that are calorie free except the alcohol. Your other best bet is to talk to the bartender. He may have an idea or two depending on what is available.

grimendale

I usually just hit the gym earlier in the day to create some extra calories to use for delicious beer.

forevermaryb

Vodka or light rum with seltzer, then I add a squirt of the Crystal Light liquid I carry around with me, any flavor. Or a light beer or glass of wine (pinot grigio or pinot noir have less calories) as long as you've saved up calories from the day. The key is keeping it to a few. Try having an alcoholic drink, then a glass of water, then another drink. The water keeps you hydrated and stretches out the drinks over time.

randomtai

Skinny margaritas!! :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker:

rml_16

"We all" is a bit of an assumption. Work it into your calories or decide it's not worth it.

JenAndSome

Beer. Margaritas. Vodka and Diet Cherry 7up (personal fave). Really you can drink any of it as long as you fit it into your calorie goals. Also, one night of drinking isn't going to ruin everything even if you go over on your calories. Just enjoy yourself and get back to it the next day.

cwolfman13

It's just like anything else...fit it in and drink whatever you like to drink

Naomi0504

I try and have at least 3 glasses of wine every Friday night I fit it into my calories and I do work out extra hard those days.

jennycita

Well this is my biggest problem bc I drink just about every weekend, and I like beer!

What I started doing is adding a 30-60 min jog to my insanity or 30DS workout on those days so I burn more calories than usual. I still usually go over my calories but I try to stay on point every other day. It makes the process slower, but after a week of school and two jobs I need my Shiner Bock!

Good Luck and Cheers:drinker:

doorki

I save my exercise calories for drinking on the weekends. I would recommend that you not give up anything that you are not willing to give up for good. See this as a lifestyle change rather than a diet.

Mainebikerchick

Rum and Coke or something with vodka!

Factory_Reset

If I know I'm going out with friends, I work my day around it.....or go over

Some days you just gotta give no fu*ks about going over

Girls night is one of them for me!

eric_sg61

Who is "we all", some of us can unwind in other ways

g04fit_girl

I have a few beers on the weekend

FiftyandGettingBetter

Gin & Tonic or rum & coke

jess7386

I drink captain/diets and vodka sodas because they are relatively low cal, along with a few glasses of red wine... but I usually only drink on weekends.

I've figured out recently what a huge impact alcohol has on my diet and me physically (making me tired, bloated, and want crappy food), so I'm really trying to scale back. Things are obviously different for each person, but I had an extremely hard time trying to lose weight and drinking somewhat regularly.

**ETA: MOST of the people I know with fabulous bodies have either cut it out entirely, or only have a couple beers or drinks every week or two.

Britt2Fitjrny

Vodka + Water + Mio (0 cal drink mix) = Delicious & a good night!

TMLPatrick

As a relatively avid beer drinker in the past, I've pretty much given it up at this point. It just wasn't worth it anymore. I'll have a couple craft beers with dinner occasionally, but no blowouts like I used to.

silvergurl518

Who is "we all", some of us can unwind in other ways

exactly. i see where you're coming from, OP, but not everyone here drinks. or still drinks. i'm 6+ years sober. used to drink (a lot) and it was definitely a LOOOOOOONG time before i discovered MFP. here's hoping you can find a drink that you can work into your day but make sure you're eating too--and not binge drinking.

KyleB65

Water

x2greenxeyes

Thanks for all the help!

For everyone getting offended about the "we all" statement-

I think it's really rude of you to feel the need to point out that I made this "assumption." This is suppose to be a positive and encouraging website.

Instead of being helpful or not saying anything you decided that it was more important to try and make me feel negative about typing 5 letters on a keyboard.

Blacklance36

It's just like anything else...fit it in and drink whatever you like to drink

I totally agree. I make room during the week for my red wine on the weekends. If I have not made room I work out or hike so that my calories balance with my red wine.

PJ_73

I have had this conundrum too. At least I did until I sank a 3/4 bottle of Sauv Blanc tonight.

I am back on the wagon and have resisted a drink since July, which for someone that has battled with alcohol for years, was pretty impressive. However, a social occasion arose tomorrow and I want to have a drink, looking forward to having a cheeky one or two. However, I am a little concerned about getting wasted and undoing lots of great hard work.

I suppose the reality is that these occasions will come up and we just have to roll with them. Maybe moderate a little, maybe balance it with a glass of water or two. Maybe ensure we eat well before going out. Painkillers at the ready. Bowl by the side of the bed.

Tonight, was merely a practice session for tomorrow and I have to say it's been a resounding success. I have been able to walk a squiggly line, I can slur my words and the room is spinning. I can't wait for tomorrow! :drinker:

randomtai

Thanks for all the help!

For everyone getting offended about the "we all" statement-

I think it's really rude of you to feel the need to point out that I made this "assumption." This is suppose to be a positive and encouraging website.

Instead of being helpful or not saying anything you decided that it was more important to try and make me feel negative about typing 5 letters on a keyboard.

Yay for skinny margaritas!!! :drinker: :drinker: :drinker:

iRun_Butterfly

Like most of the prior posters, I exercise a bit more on days I know I'll have a few drinks, plan my meals accordingly, and just suck it up and log it. I usually stick to red wine or light beers. I'm planning on a glass or two of wine tonight :drinker:

Zelinna

Rum & Diet Coke,
Gin and Soda w/ lemon

Blacklance36

Thanks for all the help!

For everyone getting offended about the "we all" statement-

I think it's really rude of you to feel the need to point out that I made this "assumption." This is suppose to be a positive and encouraging website.

Instead of being helpful or not saying anything you decided that it was more important to try and make me feel negative about typing 5 letters on a keyboard.

Don't let her comments bother you. I'm sure that a lot of her 10,000 posts are unsupportive and mean spirited as this one was. There are more than a few people here that don't give any type of positive feedback ever.

x2greenxeyes

Thanks for the support everyone!

I think I have decided on tequila with low cal lemonade and lemon when at home and definitely skinny margaritas out )

KANGOOJUMPS

red red wine makes me feel so fine

nanadeek

I also struggle with this, but have learned a few things:

Timing:
When I'm trying to maximize the effects of alcohol but don't want to drink all night I make sure to hydrate (this works for me) and drink on a nearly empty stomach. Granted this takes some experimentation to avoid getting sick, but it's worth it calorically and financially, to achieve "toasty" from a glass and a half of wine or one cocktail. But don't skip eating altogether. That's not a good look.

Budget for it:
I second hitting the gym before a night out AND sticking to hard alcohol and diet soda. Log it of course, but you'll be pleasantly surprised by the wiggle room you have when you burn first and drink later.

Have a stand by ahead of time:
Another good bang for my caloric buck is artisan IPA. I can't drink artisan beer as quickly as a cocktail so it lasts quite a bit longer and since it's an artisan beer, there's generally a higher alcohol percentage so I don't drink as many.

Another alcohol option is to learn to like wine. Again, if you budget for it - alcohol content is generally slightly higher than a commercial beer, you'll still sip it rather than glug it, and if budgeted for is fairly inexpensive calorically. If you stick with a prosecco or a reisling you'll spend 105 - 118 calories per 5 oz glass but slightly higher carb content than a red.

Stay away from moscatos, and roses, and champagnes. I find that the sweeter wines have a waaaaay higher sugar and carbohydrate content than you would think.