that damn beer on the weekend

alicialiken

I look at it this way: would you rather avoid friends/drinking/be skinny or have fun/drink/let loose once a week?? In college I would go out 3 or 4 times a week drinking. I've cut that down to 1 time a week but seriously, I need that night to unwind.

Do you think celebrities/models/pageant queens are able to go out partying, do kegs stands, or get completely silly with their girlfriends? Heck no! Yeah, I may never look like they do...but my quality of life is still insanely awesome. =] Do NOT feel bad for wanting to have some FUN!

engineman312

i love damm beer!!

bikiniready201

I hear ya..... me and my bf are homebrewers, so even when I tell him that when I'm trying to stop drinking beer he seems to think that 'sampling' the homebrew doesnt count!!! a sip here, a sip there, equals a glass. know what I mean?!
I've been really trying for the month of jan to cut out the booze, its just not worth the 5 lb gain the next morning. It makes me feel like all my hard work was a waste

espence30

its water weight..i have same problem every weekend with my husband...then after a day back in the gym its gone... just stick with it.. beer and alcohol in general become my weakness every weekend.

angiemartin78

You didn't gain 5 pounds in one night, that's physically impossible to do. Just get back on the horse and keep riding. We all have bad nights. Hell, sometimes we even have bad months. So long as you have more good ones than bad ones, you'll eventually hit your goal.

^^^^^This! He hit the nail on the head!

It's probably just fluid retention. Try drinking lots of water. You'll flush it out.

jay11284

Part of the reason I began to put on weight was my love for craft beer. It was becoming way to easy to have 5 or 6 beers every Saturday night and I knew that it had to stop. I now have more control over my eating and drinking habits because I track my calories even on weekends.

The awesome thing about MFP is that they have even the strange craft beers that I enjoy. Knowing that a Pale Ale has 163 calories is great because I can easily track it as I drink. This weekend I only had 3 beers total (2 on Sat. and one on Sun.) and it feels really good.

I also think it's important to not deprive yourself. If you enjoy having a beer, have one but keep in control. I also have a beer every now and then during the work week, I just make sure I have enough calories left over for it at the end of the day.

infamousmk

I hear ya..... me and my bf are homebrewers, so even when I tell him that when I'm trying to stop drinking beer he seems to think that 'sampling' the homebrew doesnt count!!! a sip here, a sip there, equals a glass. know what I mean?!
I've been really trying for the month of jan to cut out the booze, its just not worth the 5 lb gain the next morning. It makes me feel like all my hard work was a waste

If you log 120 calories for the samples (an average calorie count for a pint of beer), then there is no reason why you can't taste the homebrew. It's a tragedy not to, really. ... and you're not gaining five pounds .. it's water weight. You didn't waste any hard work if you log the calories and make room for them in your daily calorie needs.


Seriously, everyone, I lose a pound a week (when I'm logging consistently), every week, even when I'm drinking beer daily. It can be done.

mukamom

Every time I have lost weight I have cut out the booze....so I know that it works....but sometimes I like getting stupid.....oh well guess I will have to decide what I like better. beer or getting fit......cant I have some balance? argh

I allow for 2-4 beers a night, because I like it...

It's included in my calories for the day

I have lost 12 lbs since Dec 11, '11

I have balance! :drinker:

kykykenna

I drink beer. Hell....I love beer. Somehow, some way I will find a way to work it into my life. Dont feel like you are alone........to some people they just want to be able to have a few and enjoy themselves, not saying you HAVE to have beer to enjoy yourself. (I sure enjoy myself! LOL) All things in moderation. :flowerforyou:

JoniBologna

Don't blame it on the beer. It's bloating. You'll be fine.

Seriously, let's not drag beer's good name through the mud here. I have never given it up, and I've lost 40lbs+. Give it a few days and your weight will be back down.

kykykenna

[/quote]

Seriously, let's not drag beer's good name through the mud here.[/quote]

LOL....YEEEHOOOOO!!!:drinker:

Sparksfly

Thanks for the vent!

I cannot lose weight if I am drinking. I never understood how all those girls at my university could stay SOOO skinny drinking as much as me, and eating junk afterwards????

How do you stay skinny if you are drinking 5 nights a week??

I am glad I don't live that lifestyle anymore!

jaxCarrie

The beer did not make you gain five pounds. You're likely dehydrated and a little bloated. Please drink plenty of water today and remember your night of beers with happiness and joy.

^^^^ Just get back on the horse and move forward.

Latona38

I can relate! I love my wine and beer but it is fattening. I started looking at skinny girl brand and Michelob ultra. Miller makes a low fat/carb beer as well

jodywalsh

Got to agree...balance....work out and save some calories for your night out....I drink blue UV and diet mountain dew..less calories than beer. Somtimes when you give somthing up all together you feel deprived..thats not good either..moderation! Good Luck!:happy:

Pollywog39

Every time I have lost weight I have cut out the booze....so I know that it works....but sometimes I like getting stupid.....oh well guess I will have to decide what I like better. beer or getting fit......cant I have some balance? argh

You can have beer and get fit. You just have to work out enough to offset the calories. Balance is my favorite way to live.

Amen, my friend. When I started this adventure last summer, I told myself (and my dietician) that there was NO WAY I was giving up beer. Period. And I don't like light beer, so that's that.

I have been able to have beer nights, and have been consistently losing weight............it CAN be done, and there's no reason to give up the things you love!!!

Lushcious

I'm in the same boat.I love my drinks!!I am not willing to give those up.So i just try to save calories for them.If i have beer i go for the light beers.If i have liqour i mix it with unsweetened iced tea.Sounds weird to most people but for me its delish with my fave 3 olives cherry vodka.Or any other flavor for that matter.lol And i have a flask that i know excatly how much is in there.so i can more accuratly count the calories.Yeah i'm pretty serious about my drinks.Haha

ActiveGuy81

I'm not a beer drinker, but I can't say no to some Crown and Coke.

kristelpoole

Haha, I said the same thing this morning. What started as brunch with friends yesterday turned into a full day/night of drinking, nachos, and bar games. Sigh. My boyfriend and I were kicking ourselves this morning as we dragged out of bed for work.

I totally understand where you are coming from but I think beer and burger night isn't an issue. Binge drinking and excessive frequency are issues, but that's something that people can only decide for themselves.

Don't think anyone has said this yet, but MAJOR PROPS for getting into the gym! Keep that up, drink lots of water and carry on.

ClaireSmalley2012

Cutting out drinking definitely helps with the weight-loss which I also found last year before putting it back on again but I agree that it is a very difficult thing to do. At the moment I am trying to only drink for one night every 2 weeks. Also, I am usually a cider drinker but have been switching to vodka and diet cokes (a lot less calories although not helpful when you finish the bottle )

I agree that its not easy! SInce turning 18 I've never really had restraints where alcohol is concerned, apart from the fact that as I've got that little bit older the amount I can have before losing control is a quite a lot less! My point is that since Christmas I have decided that this will be my year and therefore one of the first things to go was the alcohol. In the near to 7 weeks since the new year I have drank once, and that was at a 21st Birthday Party last weekend - I stuck to Vodka, Blackcurrant and Soda water to keep the calories down though.

I'm fortunate that sometimes I am able to have as many laughs and enjoy myself on the dancefloor just as much as any other drunk and I do not require the alcohol - A plus is while my friends are having to run off to the loo, or quench their 'thirst' with another beverage or even fall flat on their face I can dance and laugh, laugh and dance uninterrupted and remember everything!!

One thing I will say is that if the atmosphere isn't there or if I'm having an off day the will power to stay sober just doesn't seem to be there - that's when you ned a sober friend to help you along :-)