Alcohol and Weightloss??

marthalgutierrez92
marthalgutierrez92 Posts: 62 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I understand that alcohol affects weightloss..

Initially, when I started my greatest weakness
was alcohol, I was a party animal who literally
drank every single weekend, (weekdays on occasions).

It's been a Month since I last drank, but my cousins are having a little get together.

They're all about mixed drinks, margaritas, jello shots etc...

How do I go about this?

I don't want to mess up this new cycle, but It would be nice to enjoy a few drinks with them..

Any low-cal drinks you recommend/Suggestions?

Replies

  • vismal
    vismal Posts: 2,463 Member
    Treat alcohol like you treat food. Log it, and account for the calories. As far as mixed drinks go, any straight liquor with a zero calorie mixer is going to be the lowest calorie option. Margaritas and jello shots are generally not as calorie friendly. One day is also not going to be the ruin of your entire diet. It's just one day, it's only 1/365th of the entire year. You need to go over your maintenance calories by 3500 to gain 1 lb of fat. That's probably a life threatening amount of alcohol...
  • jackjackattck
    jackjackattck Posts: 117 Member
    I typically stick with vodka and club soda, or rum and unsweetened iced tea.

    Mixers like club soda, any kind of diet soda, or light/diet iced tea are typically 0 calories, so you are only getting calories from the alcohol which is 50-100 depending on the type/grade. I like to stay away from the super mixed drinks like margaritas or long islands, because they are loaded with sugar! I would maybe just show up with your own mixer like a jug of tea and make your own drinks instead of having the sugary ones they have. Good luck!
  • BigT555
    BigT555 Posts: 2,067 Member
    Treat alcohol like you treat food. Log it, and account for the calories. As far as mixed drinks go, any straight liquor with a zero calorie mixer is going to be the lowest calorie option. Margaritas and jello shots are generally not as calorie friendly. One day is also not going to be the ruin of your entire diet. It's just one day, it's only 1/365th of the entire year. You need to go over your maintenance calories by 3500 to gain 1 lb of fat. That's probably a life threatening amount of alcohol...
    all dis

    tho ill add this link http://www.leangains.com/2010/07/truth-about-alcohol-fat-loss-and-muscle.html which has some great info, and i like to follow the protocol at the end of the article if possible to minimize any fat gain while drinking. Berkhans a beauty and i love reading his site, would take his advice in a heartbeat
  • SabrinaLily
    SabrinaLily Posts: 121
    Hubby always did Baccardi (sic?) rum and diet when he lost weight. We looked it up though and Captain Morgan and diet is VERY few calories more so that's our "dieting" drink of choice because it has a better flavor than the rum. There are plenty of low-cal beers too but the alcohol percentage is also really low. Of those beers, I think IC light will get you among the higher percentages with lower cals.
  • PearlAng
    PearlAng Posts: 681 Member
    I can't speak personally since I don't drink, but in my mom's case, alcohol has been a big hindrance to to her weight loss. Like others have said, treating it like it's food is probably the best way to go about it. It's definitely possible to just track the calories in alcohol as they would factor into a regular day of calories.
  • keefmac
    keefmac Posts: 313 Member
    Alcohol was my man weight gainer as well (plus I eat like a horse when drunk!). I've cut it out nearly completely but have a drink when friends come round and the occasional night out.

    I went out on Sunday for a leaving "do", had 10 pints of Guinness and a big Indian curry meal. I weighed on Tuesday and I'd put half a kilo on (1lb), which will be gone by Saturday hopefully!. If it was every week it would be a problem but once in a blue moon isn't..
  • successgal1
    successgal1 Posts: 996 Member
    Miller lite is 96 calories. My preferred beer for diet/maintenance. For hard liquor I go with a jack and ginger. Jack Daniels with diet ginger ale. Great with lime too.

    I think alcohol also slows down your metabolism. So a party might be OK once in awhile, but you'd want to limit daily beverages.

    And if it takes you more than 2 lite beers or one mixed drink to feel it, its probably a good idea to cut yourself off quite a bit.
  • marthalgutierrez92
    marthalgutierrez92 Posts: 62 Member
    Thanks for all your great responses guys!

    I was literally the girl who drank 15+ beers
    but this weekend I will be enjoying alcohol in moderation!!

    Thank you!!
  • amyx593
    amyx593 Posts: 211 Member
    Drinking is also my downfall! It's normally the only thing that makes me go over my calorie allowance.

    My go-to is a vodka press, which is vodka, club soda and a splash of Sprite (a few extra cals is worth the added flavor) or vodka/rum and diet Coke. Coke Zero is also good. Other options are Red wine (don't full the glass all the way!), Michelob Ultra. Just make sure sip slowly, enjoy, and track the cals here in MFP :)
  • successgal1
    successgal1 Posts: 996 Member
    Drinking is also my downfall! It's normally the only thing that makes me go over my calorie allowance.

    My go-to is a vodka press, which is vodka, club soda and a splash of Sprite (a few extra cals is worth the added flavor) or vodka/rum and diet Coke. Coke Zero is also good. Other options are Red wine (don't full the glass all the way!), Michelob Ultra. Just make sure sip slowly, enjoy, and track the cals here in MFP :)

    My man makes himself a drink he calls a Sonic. Basically a Sprite, Tonic and vodka with lemon. He uses Diet Lemon Lime soda and Diet tonic and says a fresh organic meyer lemon makes all the difference in the world.

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