going out and binge drinking.

alicedavison

not so long ago i used to go out and drink pints and pints of beer with my friends every weekend, thursday and wednesday pretty much all the time. i turned over a new leaf and became a new improved healthy me when i left for uni. havent really drunk any alcohol since september. now im back home from university for the holidays and now the thought of seeing my friends and inevitably drinking fills me with dread! i have put so much hard work and effort into getting into shape i dont want to ruin it. but i would love to still socialise and not seem like a party pooper! what are other peoples views or experiances?!?! what would you lot do? xxx

Mindful_Trent

I'm not a big drinker - I've learned that it's perfectly ok to choose not to drink alcohol (or to limit how much you're drinking) even if your friends are letting the alchol flow freely. My biggest tip is to keep your water glass (or tea) full - people are less likely to offer you something if you're drinking something else. Honestly, if your friends make a big deal out of it and pressure you to drink more than you want to, then you deserve better friends. They should ve supportive of your healthy choices. Being drunk or tipsy is NOT a requirement to have fun while socializing.

snailshoe

I'm not a big drinker - I've learned that it's perfectly ok to choose not to drink alcohol (or to limit how much you're drinking) even if your friends are letting the alchol flow freely. My biggest tip is to keep your water glass (or tea) full - people are less likely to offer you something if you're drinking something else. Honestly, if your friends make a big deal out of it and pressure you to drink more than you want to, then you deserve better friends. They should ve supportive of your healthy choices. Being drunk or tipsy is NOT a requirement to have fun while socializing.

Well said!

hpsnickers1

I bet your tolerance has gone way way down. It won't take as much to get drunk. I'm a lightweight so I'm trashed on 3 shots (I don't drink beer). So less calories in?

Offer to be the designated driver.

ashlee954

I used to be a heavy beer and champagne drinker. Two bottles of champagne per night during the week then like 10 beers/night at a bar on the weekends. Plus shots! I have since switched to vodka and diet coke/diet tonic water/flavored carbonated water/sprite zero when I go out and have given up most week night drinking. Vodka is much lower in calories AND you drink less cuz it's liquor.

bhelmreich

have a water of diet soda... diet coke and rum is pretty good but I'm not sure how many calories it contains.

Amandac6772

I usually have one drink and then drink water the rest of the night. No one has ever pressured me to drink more. I have a girlfriend who will have "mixed drinks" put in a styrofoam cup...she's really drinking tea or water but it still appears that she is social drinking. We live in a small town that has just recently gotten liquor by the drink. So she just says that because of her job she doesn't want people to see her drinking. it works for her.

msamcoates

Like Ashlee954, I drink Vodka if I'm out socializing. Its less calories. I'm not really a beer drinker but I do like strong alcohol (Remy, Hennessy, Gin, etc) .... so now I've learned to limit my intake.... try getting a flavored vodka and a lime if you want to avoid the carbs of the juice or diet soda. Then drink water afterwards .... then another vodka and lime .... then water ... you should be full by then.

Good luck ... trust me I know how it goes ... I have been getting the o_O look when I turn down drinks.

rachel122986

I was actually wondering about the same thing I have a work christmas party friday. I think I've planned out the food part enough so im not concerned about that. What I don't know is about the alcohol. No one cares if I eat less but if I don't drink at all everyone will make rude comments to me I am trying to plan on 1 drink with a water at the same time so I can make it last the whole night..but its About a 4 hour party and afterwards we are going out with friends. Im just worried this one night will be a set back. Then in another week its a christmas party with my husbands family and they are big into wine they will never let my glass get empty I've tried to nicely ask for them to stop and they won't listen but I don't dare be rude since they don't seem to care much for me as it is.....I would appreciate everyones thoughts!

Mindful_Trent

I was actually wondering about the same thing I have a work christmas party friday. I think I've planned out the food part enough so im not concerned about that. What I don't know is about the alcohol. No one cares if I eat less but if I don't drink at all everyone will make rude comments to me I am trying to plan on 1 drink with a water at the same time so I can make it last the whole night..but its About a 4 hour party and afterwards we are going out with friends. Im just worried this one night will be a set back. Then in another week its a christmas party with my husbands family and they are big into wine they will never let my glass get empty I've tried to nicely ask for them to stop and they won't listen but I don't dare be rude since they don't seem to care much for me as it is.....I would appreciate everyones thoughts!

This may seem harsh, but you don't have to keep drinking what they put in your cup (with the wine example you gave). If you can, try to put the cup in the sink/dishwasher after you finish your one glass, so that they CAN'T refill it (if you're at their house). We're adults - we can choose what we do/don't put in our bodies. Make sure you've got a cup of water or tea or whatever no/low calorie drink you prefer and keep that full yourself. Talk to your husband before you go, and tell him that you would really appreciate his support in keeping his family from bugging you about drinking, especially if your relationship with his family isn't the best.

Stinger97

I haven't been drinking since I started trying to eat better, but I did the other night for the first time. I had told myself I would only drink vodka and it would be limited to only 2 or 3 drinks. I ended up drinking at least 7 or 8 drinks and had quite a good time. Heh. The calories fit well within my daily limit, though, so it seemed to work out fine for me.

skinnyack

Word to the wise... this last weekend I drank beer one day (about 3 16 oz glasses- after a 5K in the morning-dehydrated ugh) and then Sunday I drank champagne. Holy hangover. So not worth it. My christmas party this week I will abstain completely- because I want to run the next day. No one's going to argue with "No thank you. I'm running 6 miles tomorrow." At the house party I'm going to on Saturday I will bring my own booze- Bacardi Cherry w/ Coke Zero. I measure my own shots. It tastes delicious. And I can sip on three through out the night for only 360 calories. It looks like a serious enough drink that no one questions it.

If you haven't drank in awhile those hangovers sneak up on ya! Be careful! Avoid beer! :drinker:

cmriverside

I was actually wondering about the same thing I have a work christmas party friday. I think I've planned out the food part enough so im not concerned about that. What I don't know is about the alcohol. No one cares if I eat less but if I don't drink at all everyone will make rude comments to me I am trying to plan on 1 drink with a water at the same time so I can make it last the whole night..but its About a 4 hour party and afterwards we are going out with friends. Im just worried this one night will be a set back. Then in another week its a christmas party with my husbands family and they are big into wine they will never let my glass get empty I've tried to nicely ask for them to stop and they won't listen but I don't dare be rude since they don't seem to care much for me as it is.....I would appreciate everyones thoughts!

This may seem harsh, but you don't have to keep drinking what they put in your cup (with the wine example you gave). If you can, try to put the cup in the sink/dishwasher after you finish your one glass, so that they CAN'T refill it (if you're at their house). We're adults - we can choose what we do/don't put in our bodies. Make sure you've got a cup of water or tea or whatever no/low calorie drink you prefer and keep that full yourself. Talk to your husband before you go, and tell him that you would really appreciate his support in keeping his family from bugging you about drinking, especially if your relationship with his family isn't the best.

If the wine glass is always full they won't try to refill it......if you aren't drinking it, it will be full. His parents are (misguidedly) being polite by refilling your glass. It would be polite for you to say "No" if you don't want to drink it. Then they aren't wasting the wine they bought, right? You have to learn to say no to behaviors that you don't want to do.

jennylynn84

If you're anything like me, now that you've cut back and lost weight your tolerance is probably shot. After two glasses of wine people are wondering how much I've had instead of thinking to offer me more. Three and LOOK OUT. I think you'll be surprised.

alicedavison

no exaggeration i had a sip of beer a few weeks back and it sent me all woobley at the knees! definatly dont need at much booze anymore which is bloody brilliant for the calorie counting and my old beer belly! definatly going to try the diet cola mixer with some kind of spirit. the cherry coke sounds awesome but i don't think we get the diet variety in the uk. sucks!

mirenner

pizza is my weakness... and cheesecake