Drunken eating?

alanastar3

So in just over 3 months I'm 39lbs down and half way to my goal. I've realised that this is a lifestyle change and not a quick fix so I'm gradually introducing nights out with friends into routine. I manage to stick to low cal drinks but as soon as the nights over I end up craving and giving into fast food before heading home. Does anybody else have the same problem or any way to overcome this? I just can't seem to help myself once I'm tipsy . The guilt I feel the next day is unbelieveable.

alanastar3

Posted this in the wrong section sorry guys!

KANGOOJUMPS

of course, happens to us all/
WILLPOWER!!!, get some.
go whoop it up, but know what to eat after.
and go work it off.

drenergy

Booze munchies!

Well, you could do something like only go out for a drink if you have worked out that day, and then make sure you have some really easy food at home that's not as bad for you. Or have a meal idea set before you head home. I realized the other day that a Whopper Jr with no mayo is really not that bad. Otherwise, drink less so that you feel more in control of your cravings. I LOVE craft beer, but I have had to limit myself to two beers even when I 'go out' because they have a lot of calories. It makes me drink slower and enjoy the ones I'm having, and then drink water. And hold way less water the next couple days.

You can do it!

alanastar3

As soon as the drinks are flowing all the willpower seems to go out the window lol

I think your right, from now on if I'm going out I think I'll have to prepare a snack for coming home before I go out and just look forward to that

Thanks guys, i just the feeling I've let myself down but I'm glad I'm not the only one this happens to

shutyourpieholeandsquat

um yeah, ate an entire queso at Applebee's last night after having 4 drinks. BUT it was my "once I get under 200 lbs I'm gonna have cheese dip" reward lol

Maxibris

Definitely not the only one this happens to! Sometimes it helps to remember that you don't HAVE to drink to be a part of the party.

There are some nights where I just have club soda with a lime wedge in it. It looks like a drink so no one bothers you and tries to offer you a drink. You can just say: "Oh I've already got one thanks". On those nights I definitely stay more hydrated and don't crave late night junk.

Hope this helps? A little?

Flab2Fab27

You could anticipate those extra calories by working out more before going out so you won't feel as guilty. It'd be easy to say just don't do it but stuff happens..

alisonlynn1976

I've done that a couple of times since I started losing weight, but usually I make sure to eat something better for me before I go out so I won't feel hungry later.

CipherZero

On the downside, well yes - alcohol has a tendency to lower inhibition universally, and it'll go into your eating patterns too.
On the upside, bodies don't know a 24 hour clock. If you go over by 1000 calories in one night, you can cut 166 calories per day (by eating less or more workouts) for the next six days and still end up even.

tl;dr: No big deal, it can be adjusted for.

stackhsc

not alone at all. i generally try to plan nights out a bit in that i will try to exercise a bit more before one and i will generally try to cut way back through the day so that the night out and the drunken munchies dont impact as much. That said an occasional overindulgence isnt going to make or break you and this is only what i do... really in the grand scheme of things it probably only makes me feel better than actually helping lol

Nonya81

I dont drink or go out much at all anymore but when I did, I would workout then eat before I left. Also, you can try putting some snacks in your purse for later incase you get the munchies.

alanastar3

Thanks everybody

So glad I wrote this post, I feel so much better and have a few good ideas for the next time I go out

shutyourpieholeandsquat

Well it's all good and great to say "eat something before you go" but we all know that it's not about being HUNGRY sometimes when you're half drunk... sometimes it's just "OMG I WANT SOME CHEESEDIP AND I DON'T KNOW WHY OTHER THAN I WANT CHEESEDIP"
:laugh:

sonytomtp

I found that saving something good at home to look forward to helped me resist getting a take-away before heading home.
It also helped me to think about how much of a waste of money it would be when choosing what to get, but maybe I'm just tight with money. :P

somerisagirlsname

In order to not binge eat when I drink....I just have to not drink. Can't really have willpower to resist food when you don't even have the manual dexterity to drive a car.

adorable_aly

Ugh this is the hardest part about cutting cals for me. What I now do is bank calories for the week, that is say your calories are supposed to be 1600, reduce to 1500, for 7 days, so you don't have to worry so much, that should be more than enough for drinks. For the food thing I usually build it in, I always know what I'm drinking, and then have a slightly leaner day/ work out more so I can have drunken munchies as my dinner lol.

What I will say is that make sure you have lined your stomach before drinking though.

All you need to do is plan properly really.

odirish

I'm guilty of this too. Normally I order something and only take a few bites and bring the rest home (my husband the eats it). He gets upset with me and say You always do that!. I don't eat a few bites because I'm trying to lose weight, I probably wasn't hungry to begin with Banking calories...I like that idea.

Mary Ann

Shandril

happens to me all the time ... good post!

katbirdinpa

I will only eat Shrimp Cocktail or raw veggies. It's to easy to make bad choices. I leave calories in case...

LittleRaeJay1

In order to not binge eat when I drink....I just have to not drink. Can't really have willpower to resist food when you don't even have the manual dexterity to drive a car.

^ me, right there. The only drink that doesn't make me crave food is cider (probably because of how filling/gassy it is). I find it very hard to resist, I have zero willpower.

betho217

This thread makes me feel better. This is something I struggle with too and it feels good to know I'm not alone. Love the advice to have something planned for when you get home that will satisfy a craving but that's not super terrible for you.

sugarnspice0613

Drunken binging is what caused the majority of my weight gain. Giving up alcohol is I think the biggest factor in my losing 50 lbs because it does make me binge eat...every time. But I also want to feel like I live a little so I still allow myself those nights. I just do it a whole lot less and immediately get back on the wagon. You deserve splurges every once in awhile! I've read the comments saying to eat a healthy snack or take one with you...but really?!? I don't think I've ever met a person who after drinking said they were super hungry and to please pass the celery. If someone does have that willpower after drinking then that's great, but I know for me it's never going to happen. I just make it a treat night and realize it doesn't mean I failed! I wake up the next day and keep moving forward.

thrillho3

I asked this same question here. Some people had some good advice

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1039778-drunk-snacking

graysmom2005

Drunk eating isn't so much a problem as Ambien eating is for me. If I find food before I fall asleep...forget it...carton of ice cream anyone?:grumble: :explode: :laugh: :sad: :blushing:

justiceevers

Just plan ahead. If you know you are going to want fast food later, save some calories, carbs, and fats for that. Eating unhealthy food doesn't have to kill your diet, just make sure it fits your macros. IIFYM for the win!

manders376

I have this problem too! Mostly I just plan for some extra calories when I know I am going to drink. Willpower leaves me after maybe 2 drinks, lol (I don't drink very often so don't hold my liquor well!!)

cevalid

Know where you're coming from.

I looked over my weight loss chart (been weighing myself daily) and although I've only been doing this for four weeks, there are four little mountain peaks on my chart. Its the Saturday/Sunday peak, and I know its thanks to Friday/Saturday drinking and consequent binging.

Perhaps giving alcohol a break, not forever, but just for a little while, is an option. Its one I'm going to try over the next few weeks. I'm sure my brain cells will thank me.

MrsFowler1069

Lots of options:

1) Don't drink or drink less
2) Exercise earlier in the day to create a buffer
3) Eat less during the day or over a couple of days prior (do not confuse this with not eating beforehand, which is not pretty!)
4) Eat before leaving or early in the evening
5) Have food with you that is a good choice that you genuinely love so that it's appealing to you when the munchies come upon you.
6) Actually make good choices when eating out afterward lol (Oh, did I laugh? Sorry...but don't mind me. It can be done.)
7) Have food already planned and/or prepared at home for afterward
8) If you do go over, there are other options, too:
a) Eat slightly less over the next couple of days
b) Exercise a little more over the next couple of days
c) Accept that it was one evening and just move on. Stuff happens and every day is new.

ETA: One other good thing is that as you begin to weigh less and as a consequence of not being stuffed with heavy foods all the time, you will not likely be able to drink as much anyhow. Cheaper on both the financial and calorie budgets! Bonus!

thelaurameister

Yup, I have this problem a lot. Given this past Saturday and the ridiculous amounts of pizza rolls I ended up consuming, I'll sound like a hypocrite lol, but I've found a few things that help a bit (when i stick with it, at least. It's tough, especially when you have a good buzz going, but it does help when you do it!):

1.) Drink a 1/2 or full glass of water in between each drink. Helps with the hangover and keeps you fuller so you don't tend to eat as much when the drunchies hit. Only downside is that it makes you visit the bathroom a lot, which isn't so bad at home (I drink at home, I enjoy going out but it isn't worth the money to me usually) but it can be a burden when you're out on the town.
2.) Choose something spicy. You may eat less of whatever it is, and it also increases your level of satisfaction off of smaller amounts.
3.) Know what you wanna eat before you start drinking. Pre-log it, and you're more likely to stay accountable to it.
4.) Might be a weird thing just for me, but I find that I love the taste of mint when I'm feeling a good buzz. So if I brush my teeth, I usually don't care to eat, and usually slows down my drinking. This could be hit or miss for you because I've told this theory to other people and they hate it because the toothpaste flavor makes them nauseous when drinking. Just depends on which way you are with it.
5.) Avoid snacky foods. Candy and chips are hard to limit when sober, it's only worse when inebriated.
6.) Eat something with lots of protein for dinner, it keeps you fuller longer.

Just a few tricks I've picked up, hope it helps!

QuietBloom

Yeah, drinking spikes the blood sugar and decreases inhibitions. Both are disasters when it comes to staying away from the munchies.