Drinking beer, weekends only.....good? Not good?

1Corinthians13

I plan ahead if I'm going to be drinking. I don't limit myself to only weekends, but I usually don't really drink all that much at once anymore. once in awhile, but not usually. Anyway, if I don't workout during the day, I don't usually allow myself the luxery of a drink that night.

But most nights, i am able to have a glass of wine. i do love to drink, but it'll kill you with those calories. I don't think you need to completely limit yourself or cut yourself off from something you love, but I think you should make sure you have calorie space for those drinks.

laurabelle25

Thanks again everyone for their posts and advice! I really appreciate it.

I going to try and cut back, because I do want to lose weight, and that takes precidence over beer. But everyone has their vises, mine is I love to have a beer or two (or more) on the weekends. It's just what I like and what i chose to do. I know it's not the healthiest thing in the world, but let me tell you there are a lot of other unhealthy things that I have given up (smoking, for one, which was another love) and I am not mentally or physically prepared or capable of giving up ALL my loves. So the only ones that are left is beer and chocolate (and I barely have any chocolate now a days).

So, I agree that I need to cut back, and or "prepare" ahead of time if I'm going to be drinking. So that's what I'm going to do. And I'm working out harder than ever so, hopefully I should be seeing some results.

Thanks again for everyone's support!
Laura

kak1018

You can enjoy anything in moderation. I often say I work-out so hard and really watch what I eat so that I can enjoy the finer things like beer & cheese my absolute favorite combo in the world:drinker: :drinker: In moderation of course!

ricksnaustin

Hey I love a good beer. I am also a micro-brew and import lover. Not much into domestics. But I have basically cut all alcohol consumption down to one or two drinks a week. The reason is your body processes alcohol first, before fat, protein, or carbs. Thus drinking slows down the burning of fat. This could account for weight gain or flat lining.

heal4444

Did you ever get a chance to catch the 2nd season of Biggest Loser when Matt Hoover won?

He mentioned this very topic on the last 2 episodes.

http://www.speakermatch.com/speakers/617842873.jpg

He went from 339 lbs to 182 lbs

losing 157 lbs and -46% of his original weight.

Good luck and I wish you the very best on your quest for
true health, healthy weight loss and fitness.

Take good care.

neeterskeeter

I completely agree with everything mgullette said. Mind over matter is so important... try to ask yourself, why do you like beer?

I do understand a good microbrew but if it's a bunch of Bud Lights, I don't understand the point... is it the flavor? The buzz? I find none of either in light commercial beers but *of course* to each her own. If you are questioning whether it's good for your health/ weight loss then I would say, definitely eliminate it if you can and see if you feel better and get the results you want! If you truly LIVE for it and you couldn't ever give it up... maybe that's indicative of something else, kind of like emotional eating?

But I would think you could get to the point where you don't *need* it or live for it, it can be an occasional indulgence and like a lot of other wise posters have mentioned, if it's truly in moderation, then fine. Anything in moderation, really! I used to have a big sweet tooth like Kerry and now I will occasionally have a piece of birthday cake or a sundae (I love ice cream but it happens to love my hips a bit too much) to celebrate but I know I can't eat cake or sundaes every Friday, Saturday and Sunday or I will gain weight (unless I eat almost nothing else, which isn't healthy.)

keiko

The other thing to think about is it is not just about getting to your goal weight. It is about being able to maintain it. If you cut back and lose but then start drinking the same amount as you use to drink you will gain again.

I usually have a glass of wine with dinner or 1 beer with pizza on fridays (yeah! today!) But I work those calories in. Like someone else said it's hard to sacrifice nutrition for the calories you'd have to save to have more than say 3 drinks.

neeterskeeter

Exactly Keiko! I used to go to happy hour and have like three sugary mixed drinks... margaritas or tropical sunrises or pina colada etc.

And I wondered why I couldn't lose weight, even when I exercised and tried to eat well.

Now that I'm more calorie conscious I think, oh my goodness, that was about 1,000 calories right there. At my current goals I could only eat 200 calories that day if I didn't work out! And even if I did work out and burn 500 calories, I could only eat 700 calories to be able to afford that much alcohol.

I began to realize that it just wasn't worth it. So these are all good things to think about when considering the alcohol question. I think it's the same if we talk about soda, sugary snacks, etc. Eventually it's a question of not being able to get in enough healthy, nutritious calories if we have *too much* of something else.

mommared53

I don't agree with some of the posts telling you that you HAVE to give up beer or drinking. I love a good beer once in a while, and if your not going to enjoy life while dieting then it's just not worth it. Just log your calories and fit in what you can fit in, also lite beers are best (but I never drink lite beer :blushing: ) I go a bit over on the weekends with drinks sometimes, but I make up for it throughout the week with diet and exercise. I love a good beer, mmhmm

Please don't take this the wrong way but I just want to make the comment that you can enjoy life while dieting without drinking. I very much enjoy life and I don't drink. I'm not saying people shouldn't drink, I'm just saying you can enjoy life without drinking.