Drink Beer for the Calories?

rschmmidt

This might sound crazy, but I am wondering this:
If I am trying to eat my exercise calories earned, it seems like I can just drink beer. When I added it to my diary from the MFP database, it says it contains carbs but not much else. Red wine came up with similar numbers. Obviously I don't want to get drunk every night, and alcohol doesn't have any good nutrients, but could someone theoretically drink beer and wine often while not hindering your weight loss progress? Seems too good to be true. I've been trying to avoid drinking but it sort of seems like that's not really necessary as long as the numbers work out.
Or am I missing something?
Thanks

zeus277

I drink PLENTY of alcohol calories and I'm still losing weight..........so far.

silkysly

Alcohol slows down your metabolism.

http://www.enlita.com/health-articles/diet-nutrition/reasons-alcohol-can-make-you-gain-weight

http://www.fitness-health.co.uk/metabolism.htm

Larius

It's far from ideal, but can be done. I'm living proof.

flbutler

Good ? I would like to know as well! That has been the hardest thing for me to give up as I love to come home from work and have a nice cold beer and talk to my husband about the day on the patio.

MayhemModels

It works for me :drinker:

killagb

You could always opt for the lower calorie/carb beers, but if it all fits into your daily intake, it's all good. Keep in mind it could make you retain water more.

datguy2011

its not good to do so.. infact you should eat your burnt cals at all.

skinnyinnotime

Unless you're planning to give up alcohol for ever i don't see why not...I do!!:bigsmile:

juliapurpletoes

I enjoy a martini many night s a week and have lost nearly all I set out to do here (20 pounds).

Cheers - you can only do what you make up your mind to do! :drinker:

lindalou0703

mich ultra is low calorie :drinker:

SimplyFreckled

I say go with the wine...... Its good for your heart!! *giggle*

kimtpa1417

I am not a daily drinker but love to have a few on the weekends and everytime I do I have gained weight. So now I only drink about once a month.

Sooznine

I drink beer and wine occasionally... work it into the calories allowed... and while it doesn't totally mess things up, it does tend to impede regular progress. We have a weekly outdoor market where we hang out with friends and drink several beers every friday. Before summer, my losses were quicker... since the summer markets... a little slower. I think a lot of it is retained water. So long story short (too late) i think it's ok, sometimes. I don't think it's practical (in my life) to cut it out entirely!

katesbeach

It doesn't help, but it hasn't hurt me yet! I drink a few times a week, usually beer or wine, and have been consistently losing. Obviously that's not the same for everybody, and maybe I'd lose faster if I cut it out, but I work at a bar and I love beer too much! I say drink in moderation if that's what you want, keep to your calories, and don't stress about it too much if it's not slowing you down or making you gain!

And I'm editing to add that Yuengling Light is surprisingly good for a light beer, and only 99 calories! Cheers!

shesnotthere

Red wine actually does contain antioxidants. I drink, but to be honest? I lose weight faster when I am not drinking, even though I try to keep my alcohol calories within my daily calorie allowance. However, life is for living, drink up !

Pebble321

Everything in moderation works for me - including alcohol.
I don't drink it just to make up calories but I have a regular date with my husband at the pub so I will have one or two ciders then and sometimes a glass of wine during the week if I have the cals.
Hasn't stopped me losing weight.

abyt42

When I've got the allowance, and the inclination, I have a good beer every now and then. My problem: beer goes with so many salty, crunchy indulgences.

ashleypietz

If it fits into your calories for the day it won't keep you from losing weight but I wouldn't replace too many food calories with alcohol too often.

rschmmidt

Alcohol slows down your metabolism.

http://www.enlita.com/health-articles/diet-nutrition/reasons-alcohol-can-make-you-gain-weight

http://www.fitness-health.co.uk/metabolism.htm

Thank you, those articles were helpful and make sense to me.

Thomasm198

Well, I have a few drinks every weekend. It didn't do me any harm. If you have the calories free, I say go for it. :drinker:

mrshickey

I recognise that this is a lifestyle change- however I don't plan to give up alcohol for the rest of my life. im still losing weight, maybe not as fast as id like but im just impatient. Have a drink if you want one, enjoy it, and if its under your calories goal, even better.


cheers!!

killagb

I like my calorie free vices :smokin: *wink nudge* lol

gavini

there have been many studies showing positive health benefits from daily but small alcohol usage so for many people there is no reason you have to give up the beer when you get home or the wine with dinner, you just need to contain it to that one or if you are a bigger person perhaps two drinks to maintain the positives

joyfulthanks

Alcohol slows down your metabolism.

http://www.enlita.com/health-articles/diet-nutrition/reasons-alcohol-can-make-you-gain-weight

http://www.fitness-health.co.uk/metabolism.htm

These were informative...thanks!

brewingaz

Dark beer generally has the same health benefits as a glass of wine does, but with less alcohol than wine. Alcohol does slow down fat metabolism, but still has health benefits when enjoyed in moderation. Drink up!

TDGee

Remember, it's YOUR life. You can do what you want to, or not, YOUR choice. I personally have cut back considerably on my alcohol intake, but still put the lampshade on my head occasionally. It's true it will slow your metabolism down some. The trick is to get your metabolism ramped up so a drink won't have that much of an effect. If you like, I'll write you a note giving you permission to have a beer. I'm really nice like that. :drinker:

elliecolorado

I drink beer a few times a week and to be honest I use my 'exercise calories' for beer. I hardly ever eat my exercise calories, but if I do it's usually for beer and it hasn't slowed down my weight loss at all, well maybe it has, but not enough to care, I still lose about 2-3lbs a week. I gave up alcohol for a while, but then I realized that it wasn't realistic for me to never drink again. I drink less than I used to but I still drink a couple of times a week.

rose313

I drink a light beer a day, but I cut out hard liquor and mixed drinks about a year ago. It works for me.

rschmmidt

I like my calorie free vices :smokin: *wink nudge* lol

Space Needle, you're in my neighborhood!

rschmmidt

Thank you everybody for your responses. It makes sense to me now. All things in moderation, of course, but I was only seeing the calories and nutrients and not thinking about what it does to your metabolism.
I appreciate your feedback.
Good luck to you all in meeting your goals! Cheers! :drinker: