How does everyone account for drinking alcohol

124

Replies

  • eh_its_sarah
    eh_its_sarah Posts: 61 Member
    I have honestly TRIED to cut it out.. but it's so hard! Especially when the weekend comes. I find that I try to eat healthier the day that I decide to drink..

    A shot of vodka has 75 calories. I try to chase it with lemon water, therefore there are no added calories.

    Meh.. I do find that it messes up with my weightloss the next couple of days after. I wish it didn't have such negative effects, since you know, it's so much fun to drink.
  • itsjustdawn
    itsjustdawn Posts: 1,073 Member
    Just drink until you forget, that way there's nothing to remember.

    If you can't remember it, it didn't happen.
  • itsjustdawn
    itsjustdawn Posts: 1,073 Member
    Alcohol is made of water. Water is 0 calories. Ergo, alcohol is 0 calories.

    Alcohol is definitely not 0 calories. There's other ingredients besides water. As a general rule, the lighter in color the alcohol, the less calories. Something like a shot of vodka with a splash of cranberry juice, club soda, and a twist of lime is a great diet drink.
    Beer especially can be high calorie... Same general rule applies here.
    That being said, I usually drink not more than once a week, and I dance and move around a lot more than normal when I do. I don't count my alcohol intake on here, as I normally eat a lot less that day as well. I just use it as a cheat day.

    You might need to drink til your sense of humor returns...
  • myohmyohmyohmy
    myohmyohmyohmy Posts: 3
    The secret is never to binge drink as if you were at some teenage cornfield kegger (more than 4-5 drinks at one sitting) and to keep alcohol consumption within moderation (1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men).

    Studies show that moderate (wine) drinkers are healthier, live longer and have lower weight than teetotalers or those who just (over) drink in the weekend. See for example this link: http://www.cosmopolitan.com/advice/health/drink-wine-for-weight-loss

    There is a reason why the French and Italians eat fatty foods and drink alcohol regularly with their meals but most stay thin: they don't get all out of control and pig out nor drink to get drunk as is typical in American or English culture, for example.

    I treat wine as just another foodstuff that is part of a civilized dinner where you eat slowly and mindfully, enjoy conversation and savor your one helping of natural, home-cooked food. I drink 1-3 glasses of red wine almost every night with my evening meal. Everything that passes my lips gets logged, including water and wine. Cutting alcohol for a cut while "dieting" might accelerate fat loss temporarily, but I think dieting is almost always a bad idea: it is much better to adopt a permanent long-term lifestyle that is healthy and happy: almost daily alcohol (wine) consumption is proven to be an excellent candidate to include in such a lifelong lifestyl. The fat/weight loss will follow naturally and at a natural pace and is much more likely to stay off. And, you will still be living a life worth living.
  • ElsaVonMarmalade
    ElsaVonMarmalade Posts: 154 Member
    Some good citations and studies linked here: http://www.muscleforlife.com/does-alcohol-consumption-affect-weight-loss-and-muscle-growth/

    Life is for living. Not for triple-counting every beer.
  • Nicolee_2014
    Nicolee_2014 Posts: 1,572 Member
    I don't do it very often at all so when I do I usually (of late) don't track it. To be honest, after the 4th drink I'm not thinking straight let alone tracking how many drinks I've had.

    If I have a drink during the week with dinner I make sure it fits in with my calories or I won't have it & sometimes I think twice about it.

    I unfortunately always get stuck into the rose, white wine/champers or ciders when out because when I get a vodka with something it's gone in 10 seconds & I'd drink twice as many.
  • jaycbrf4
    jaycbrf4 Posts: 36
    I don't count calories, just carbs So Bacardi counts as Zero Carbs. Not Zero calories, My mistake...

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  • fitmusiclifeviola
    fitmusiclifeviola Posts: 99
    If Alcohol is like a vitamin then, like vitamins, you don't need to log them.

    The LOGIC is sound. Dispute it if you like, but the logic is sound.

















    It's the premise that's faulty.
  • mag131
    mag131 Posts: 542 Member
    Alcohol isn't as much of a problem as is the binging that unleashes when i have more than 2 drinks! I have a quick add called "pary binge" and just start all over in the morning.

    This is how alcohol gets me in trouble also. Especially the next day when my blood sugar is out of whack and all I want to do is eat mass amounts of carb laden junk food. It's extra bad the next day if I was drinking wine.
  • NicoleCooney92
    NicoleCooney92 Posts: 43 Member
    I like wine with some of my meals and I like to go to the pub to watch football and have a few drinks. I can't do this everyday (I suspect a good portion of my current condition can be attributed to beer and pub food); but I plan for it as best I can and pre-log before I go out.

    And yes, when I go out I usually stick to Vodka and soda. That's because the pub we go to doesn't have the light beer I like and they charge too much for wine.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    Alcohol is a triple whammy for weight loss. To be honest, its not just about the actual amount of calories in the alcohol. 2 things: It slows down your metabolism for several hours after drinking, so whatever calories you get from the alcohol, your also burning much less than your body normally would. Second, the way your body digests alcohol, it is converted directly into body fat (visceral belly fat to make things worse!) not "burned off" thru exercise. So basically, when looking at the consequences, I tend to triple whatever the amount of calories are in the alcohol in order to keep myself focused on what it's really doing for my weight loss, so if 500 cals is worth a 150 calorie margarita, I'll have it! but usually, it isnt!

    alcohol is converted straight to fat...says who????
  • kbitzonefour
    kbitzonefour Posts: 114 Member
    I don't.
    I'd rather eat actual food than consume empty calories, sorry.
  • tchrnmommy
    tchrnmommy Posts: 342 Member
    I don't drink that often. Maybe once or twice a month. And when I do it's usually a few glasses of wine. So I treat it as my reward. I'm really bad about counting "liquid" calories anyway (that aren't protein drinks) so I try to be as watchful of calories during the day of if I know I'm going out that night...and then let the chips fall where they may.
  • servilia
    servilia Posts: 3,452 Member
    I try to stick to wine and straight liquor. I get the most for my caloric buck :)
  • kristen6022
    kristen6022 Posts: 1,923 Member
    It doesn't slow down your metabolism. I've been at this for 3 years, lost and gained, lost again. Total of about 55 pounds...I have either a beer/wine once a day. The trick is to measure it, count it, allow for it (plan) and let it go. This isn't about being perfect. It's finding a way to live well and keep the weight off.
  • gabbygirl78
    gabbygirl78 Posts: 936 Member
    Well... When I drink I DONT eat... kills my buzz! So I think it evens out lol! Bottoms up!:drinker:

    ETS I don't drink beer a lot most of the time my alcohol comes in the form of a shot! less carbs in the hard stuff :tongue:
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    I drink all I can.
  • kowajenn
    kowajenn Posts: 274 Member
    I've had one alcoholic drink this year. I counted it.
  • Bankman1989
    Bankman1989 Posts: 1,116 Member
    I GAVE up alcohol, cigars, coffee, red meat a couple weeks back. It was the best decision for my heart. But when I did drink I over shot my intake to make sure it balanced out. Then again who knows how much you are really drinking when you are bingeing..lol
  • Mcgrawhaha
    Mcgrawhaha Posts: 1,596 Member
    i log what i drink.
  • nytrifisoul
    nytrifisoul Posts: 499 Member
    I count them as extra exercise calories. I try to pre plan nights im going to go out drinking and execise hard and long that day so i have a good 600 extra calories besides my normal 1000 calorie daily burn, so 1600 calorie burn. This way i can eat tasty crappy bar food and lose count on how many beers i drink, and not have to worry about exercising the follow day all hungover. Yes its terrible but life is too short so F' it.
  • Courtney011691
    Courtney011691 Posts: 55
    If you can fit it into your caloric intake are you ok with it. I am not talking about daily drinking. I am talking about once a week HH or a rare night out. I realize it can fit in your calorie budget but doesn't it truthfully slow your metabolism?

    Also do most people stick with vodka when they are drinking since it is low in cals and sugar?

    Truthfully, even if it doesn't fit in my calories I'm still going to drink it if I"m going out on a Friday or Saturday night. The upside, I'm typically under my calories all week so one day over hasn't been a problem with weight loss. I guess if I believed in the "cheat meal" theory than I'd call this my "cheat drinks".

    As far as vodka - not a chance. Here's my thought - I hate vodka, always have. The only way I can drink it is to drink it fast and drink a lot to the the point where it no longer tastes bad. Or I can have 1-2 beers that taste good, not be totally trashed, feel great the next day, and probably drink a similar amount of calories.
  • yelliezx
    yelliezx Posts: 633 Member
    I usually have a couple of pints and log them. Luckily, I'm a total lightweight! :D
  • Courtney011691
    Courtney011691 Posts: 55
    I count them as extra exercise calories. I try to pre plan nights im going to go out drinking and execise hard and long that day so i have a good 600 extra calories besides my normal 1000 calorie daily burn, so 1600 calorie burn. This way i can eat tasty crappy bar food and lose count on how many beers i drink, and not have to worry about exercising the follow day all hungover. Yes its terrible but life is too short so F' it.

    I do the same thing. A few extra miles in the morning is totally worth beer and jalapeno poppers that night.
  • allisonrinkel
    allisonrinkel Posts: 224 Member
    Just drink until you forget, that way there's nothing to remember.
    Hahaha

    I know all the ways that alcohol are "bad" for me, and how full of calories it can be, but damn, I love me some good beer!! I'm trying to go low carb for a bit and I have to stay away, but sometimes there's just days where a cold pumpkin ale needs to be consumed!!
  • allisonrinkel
    allisonrinkel Posts: 224 Member
    Alcohol is a triple whammy for weight loss. To be honest, its not just about the actual amount of calories in the alcohol. 2 things: It slows down your metabolism for several hours after drinking, so whatever calories you get from the alcohol, your also burning much less than your body normally would. Second, the way your body digests alcohol, it is converted directly into body fat (visceral belly fat to make things worse!) not "burned off" thru exercise. So basically, when looking at the consequences, I tend to triple whatever the amount of calories are in the alcohol in order to keep myself focused on what it's really doing for my weight loss, so if 500 cals is worth a 150 calorie margarita, I'll have it! but usually, it isnt!

    alcohol is converted straight to fat...says who????

    This guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgTlFFWMNy0

    This video changed how I see sugar. It's scientific proof about the dangers of Fructose!
  • threetonguerings
    threetonguerings Posts: 81 Member
    Log them.
    If I have extra calories but don't feel like eating, I will grab a budlight or two. Shots of pumpkin spice vodka.
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    I drink if I want. And I log it. Luckily I'm not much a booze-hound, but if we wants it we haves it.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Alcohol is a triple whammy for weight loss. To be honest, its not just about the actual amount of calories in the alcohol. 2 things: It slows down your metabolism for several hours after drinking, so whatever calories you get from the alcohol, your also burning much less than your body normally would. Second, the way your body digests alcohol, it is converted directly into body fat (visceral belly fat to make things worse!) not "burned off" thru exercise. So basically, when looking at the consequences, I tend to triple whatever the amount of calories are in the alcohol in order to keep myself focused on what it's really doing for my weight loss, so if 500 cals is worth a 150 calorie margarita, I'll have it! but usually, it isnt!

    alcohol is converted straight to fat...says who????

    This guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgTlFFWMNy0

    This video changed how I see sugar. It's scientific proof about the dangers of Fructose!
    Well .. if it's on YouTube it must be true!
  • joyincincy
    joyincincy Posts: 228 Member
    I've come to treat alcohol the same way I treat other calories. IE is it worth it or not. Cheap booze is right out the window, I don't enjoy it enough to make it worthwhile. Also since losing a fair amount of weight and not drinking as much as I used to it takes a whole lot less. So just like the rest of my calories I only drink things I *really* enjoy, or things I want to try, and I work them in to my calories once or twice a week.

    This and I will actually take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months off from having any alcohol to help me lose weight better. I really do see a difference when I do this, not so much in lbs (I don't rate my success on the scale but rather in the fit of my clothes, inches lost, etc) plus it helps me to reel in any unwanted binges. I hate vodka but my new favorite is Kentucky bourbon on the rocks:) Most of the time I will drink Jameson, though (Irish).

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