I really like beer

Alledra42

So I love beer. I should preface I am not an alcoholic. I do like to have a beer once in a while after a long day at work however I do not drink everyday. I am also a big time social drinker. With Halloween just around the corner I am slightly concerned about my love of the hops completely throwing me off track. What have been your experiences so far? Have you just completely cut out the booze? Limited yourself to a once a month treat? Started only drinking those low cal girly vodkas (the thought of that one makes me a little nauseous)? Let me know! :drinker:

SueInAz

I build the beer calories into my day by pre-logging them. I like my beer, too! :drinker:

If you're concerned about a one night blow out, you could cut your calories a little extra every day and save them for "the big day".

woofer00

Drink in moderation. A light beer only ranges around 100-120 calories a bottle, but it does nothing to help hit P/F macronutrient targets. I have more fear of butter than beer.

Jruzer

Good beer is one of the great pleasures in life, and life is too short to drink low quality beer. Make it fit when you can, and when you want it.

If your budget is tight, choose lower gravity beers -- there is an embarrassment of great choices out there now. Many brewers are making "session IPAs" that are only 4-5 abv. There is also a trend "brewing" for sour beers such as gose and lambic, which tend to be lighter in body and alcohol.

You can also do Russian Imperial Stouts and barleywines too, if you choose, but of course you need more room in your budget.

Prost!

Alledra42

Good beer is one of the great pleasures in life, and life is too short to drink low quality beer. Make it fit when you can, and when you want it.

If your budget is tight, choose lower gravity beers -- there is an embarrassment of great choices out there now. Many brewers are making "session IPAs" that are only 4-5 abv. There is also a trend "brewing" for sour beers such as gose and lambic, which tend to be lighter in body and alcohol.

You can also do Russian Imperial Stouts and barleywines too, if you choose, but of course you need more room in your budget.

Prost!

Fantastic! Thanks for your help. I have been wanting to try out some of the new beers. Its very helpful to know which types are a little less tummy bulging than the others!

xMaryEllenx

I drink the PC 2.5 low carb beer. It is nice an light tasting and only 90 calories! We must allow for the finer things in life! :-)

farmerpam1

I like good beer too. I'm a homebrewer, I'm not an expert or anything, just like the whole process. I decided to stop making any new batches for awhile. One batch yields two cases! Lasts a long time, friends don't complain though, lol. I don't know how many calories are in any of the beers I make is why, and I really only used to have one or two on weekends, but still. As I get closer to goal I will start to introduce a beer here and there. I would never consider drinking a light beer, couldn't do it.:sad: I have gone out to dinner and fit in a lemon drop martini, or two. I planned ahead and researched a lower calorie drink. I know, it's a bit much, but I'm on such a roll here with the weight loss I don't mind. Just plan ahead, work out more, save up for a night out.

Flybeetle

I hear you! I have a beer EVERY DAY...! I eat less so I can drink ; / I need the relaxation!

_Waffle_

I drink full on real beer. Some of mine is close to 300 calories a bottle. Just fit it into your calorie goal. In fact I think I'll have one right now. Cheers.

Some_Watery_Tart

I just trade off by having a light dinner with a really awesome beer. The beer makes me full so I don't even miss the dinner calories.

LoneWolfRunner

I try to fit my food calories around my alcohol calories....but usually if my alcohol pushes me over a bit, I don't sweat it....I just throw another mile or two onto my morning run....

trogalicious

I drink real beer too. Big beer. I make it fit. I'm not going to deal with drinking crappy beer because it's lower in calories. Why? Because I like flavor.

No issues here. Just polished off a bottle of Barrel Aged Sexual Chocolate. Good times.

emdeesea

As much as I loved it, I had to cut out all alcohol completely. It was too easy to have too many and too often, so it went away. I don't really miss it and if I give up the beer, I get to have a dessert, and honestly, I'd much rather have the dessert.

socalkay

I don't drink alone and I stop at 2 drinks.

Here's an interesting site:
http://getdrunknotfat.com/

FancyPantsFran

I really like beer too! I build it into my calorie count for that day. If I go over I go over. Its not all of the time so I really don't sweat it.

I love trying new beers. :drinker: :drinker: :drinker:

SunofaBeach14

Ah, hell, I love beer! Most of the beers I lurv are not exactly low in calories either. Screw it, life is too short. I drink pretty much every day - in moderation (well, not in moderation every day, but let's go with that story) - and it seems to work. Fit it in your calories and macros. Some of my current choices: Dogfish Head 90 Minute, Bell's Two Hearted, and Goose Island IPA.

libbydoodle11

So I love beer. I should preface I am not an alcoholic. I do like to have a beer once in a while after a long day at work however I do not drink everyday. I am also a big time social drinker. With Halloween just around the corner I am slightly concerned about my love of the hops completely throwing me off track. What have been your experiences so far? Have you just completely cut out the booze? Limited yourself to a once a month treat? Started only drinking those low cal girly vodkas (the thought of that one makes me a little nauseous)? Let me know! :drinker:

I am not a huge drinker and I love beer too. I would just budget one or two beers into my calories for that particular day. Those girly vodkas aren't for me. I could probably get by with some Hangar 1 mixed with some sparkling water if I didn't have enough calories in my budget to fit in an Anchor Steam or an IPA.

Zerodette

There's a really helpful beer thread that I believe is in the Food/Nutrition section. I'll see if I can find it and bump it.

I'm a wannabe beer nerd, but emphatically NOT a hophead. Everybody else can have their quintuple IPAs, I'll take a witbier.

Kelll12123

I get drunk every weekend and have been losing weight. I just eat a little less during the day and burn 500-800 calories at the gym if I plan on drinking. Lately I've been working out so much that I can afford a few drinks during the week too. I can't give up my wine

Galatea_Stone

I have to earn my beer with cardio. If I ride my bike long enough and burn enough calories, I get a beer. If I don't, I don't.

I earn a beer almost every day, but I cash in on that earning probably 3 times a week.

Alledra42

I have to earn my beer with cardio. If I ride my bike long enough and burn enough calories, I get a beer. If I don't, I don't.

I earn a beer almost every day, but I cash in on that earning probably 3 times a week.

That's a pretty awesome idea! I am a rewards kinda girl so I think that might be a good system for me. (although I am sure they will be times when I say screw it Im getting drunk) After all I am only human I suppose. Thanks for all the feedback though guys!!

mbbseb

I love beer! I have given it up for the month of September. I'm just not losing any weight I think beer is interfering with my weight loss journey. I'm doing a dry September challenge. I'm not going to give it up completely, just for sept right now, because this has got to be a lifestyle that we will can live with. I need to learn to drink in moderation.

Gingerspice45

Part of the reason I'm as overweight as I am is that I'm still carrying around weight from my nights of partying and late night slices of pizza many years ago. I don't think you have to always stick to light beer and liquor if you want to go out but just remember if you go out and drink a lot of beers that night that isn't going to help you with your weight loss goals. You have to decide what is more important to you - a healthy weight or binge drinking. It is the old calories in=calories out.

alexvalb

Eat Broccoli... lots and lots of steamed broccoli. Squeeze lemon on it, with fresh ground pepper. By the time you are full you'll realize there is soooooooo much room to fit in a few beers and stay within your caloric goal.

Now only if there was a fool proof way to make proper food choices once you're on that fourth beer!!!!

linkirving

Just drank a whole bomber of Epic's Galloway Porter last night. The night before it was a Ten Fidy from Oskar Blues. You just gotta plan your day in advance.

I hit my protein goals every day as a vegetarian with a 1450 calorie budget with about 180-300 of those cals going to craftbeer daily. It's very do-able. One thing I've done is "earn" my nightly craftbeer with exercise. I have a fitbit and I'll only let myself drink a craftbeer if I have burned off enough calories throughout the day to be worth at least the total cals of whatever beer I plan to have.

I'll never give up craftbeer.

linkirving

Now only if there was a fool proof way to make proper food choices once you're on that fourth beer!!!!

That's the danger for me... after a big 10+% craftbeer, I often want a giant burrito or a whole pizza. Haha. Took me months to learn to control those urges.

MegE_N

I tried to build beer into my diet, but even when I'm under my calories, I notice that it can stall my weight loss.

That said, I am having a beer tonight. So ... ya know. Moderation, I guess, and hope that it goes well.

bobbyjimjohnson

Drink stouts. 12 oz of guinness is 125 calories. Feels like a lot more than that.

mysweetjenna

Good beer is one of the great pleasures in life, and life is too short to drink low quality beer. Make it fit when you can, and when you want it.

If your budget is tight, choose lower gravity beers -- there is an embarrassment of great choices out there now. Many brewers are making "session IPAs" that are only 4-5 abv. There is also a trend "brewing" for sour beers such as gose and lambic, which tend to be lighter in body and alcohol.

You can also do Russian Imperial Stouts and barleywines too, if you choose, but of course you need more room in your budget.

Prost!

^^^^^^^^
THIS!!!!

kdz526

mmmmm...beeer...

I have to pretty much cut it out during the process, however, I do go out about once a month and on that night I drink. I try to 'save up' calories that week and work out a bit extra that day to make them fit into my intake. I also do find that it stalls out the weight loss, but its retained water i believe (unless i throw moderation out the window and consume vast quantities).

Just like anything, if you like it, work it into your plan.

Capt_Apollo

my triathlon club routinely goes for beers after an evening training run, and we have a party after each big race.

track your calories and work out. enjoy yourself. honestly, a beer a couple of times a week after a long day at work is hardly the worst thing ever. it can help you unwind and relax.