don't read unless you love beer... you won't understand

mwest11

Ok, so I figured it out. I have been eating right, running and lifting, and still maintaining weight instead of losing. The culprit... one of my favorite things in the world, BEER! I probably go socialize and drink 2 times a week (sometimes 3) and have 4-5 beers each time. After doing the math I found out that was roughly 900-1500 calories a week. Now I am aiming for slow weight loss, like .5 lb to 1 lb a week. So this is definitely putting a damper on my progress.

Anyone with the same situation, what did you do? I don't want to just quit all together because I like my social life.

melsinct

I drank beer and wine throughout my weight loss and still do as I maintain. I log the calories, so there is no SURPRISE! You drank 1,000 calories! Tonight for instance, without any additional exercise, I have 300 drinking calories to play with. If I get in more exercise, I get more calories.

camilleesqueda

I love beer, but while losing weight I guess I'm going to stick to vodka and tonic. It is SO high in calories. So sad.

bigdawg025

Since I'm not willing to give up my beer... it will just have to fit in... I LOVE BEER!!! :drinker:

lizsmith1976

Yep, I exercise more and plan for the calories. I won't give up beer or wine :drinker:

At home I drink Bud Select 55 - only 55 calories and tastes almost like beer :-/

tabbydog

This is why I took up running. And yes, I log the calories.

Happy St. Paddy's day! :drinker:

billsica

Drink craft or micro brew. I just have one or two of those.

taso42

Cut way back. Only drink fine, flavorful beer and less of it. For a lower calorie beer that is still decent, consider Guinness.

porcelain_doll

Beer bloats me out quickly, so I have been avoiding it for a while now. I try to stick with wine or whiskey.

Daytonsmommy

I completely understand! I am a huge "come home and pour a drink" kind of girl. I actually noticed that not only is it hindering my weight loss, but it is causing my skin to break out :frown: . So I have challenged myself to not drink any alcohol for 30 days. I have to say that I have noticed my stomach flatten out, and my skin has started to clear up big time, and I'm only on day 5. Now, being that it is Friday, this will be the true test :happy: I agree with the other comment though, when you do drink, be sure to log the calories BEFORE you go out. That way you know how many drinks you can have without going over your daily allotted amount. Good luck!:drinker:

Anelda

I'm having the same problem. My husband and I are huge beer fans and went to our first special beer release last weekend. (And this beer, man o man, some of the best imperial stout I've ever had!)

I have found that the weeks that I don't drink any beer or limit it to 1 or 2 a week, I'm able to drop the weight pretty easily. However, this past week with the beer release and going to the local craft beer bar to share our spoils, I'm not doing so hot weight loss wise. Am I having success in the body weight department? No. Am I having success in the strength gains at the gym. You betcha.

cparis16

I changed the beer that I drink.... I have said so long to Blue Moon... :-) But I did discover that I like Sam Adams light and it is only 119 calories. Just find a beer that is a little better for you (and of course log the calories).

kashmyre

I am not willing to give up beer. I make sure I have enough calories. Also, I learned to like (not love, like Fat Tire....mmmmm Fat Tire) Coors Light. If you like something heavier, Guiness is suprisingly low in calories. :drinker:

soccerella

I refuse to give up alcohol....I just plan to include it in my daily calories. '


But since its Lent I gave up wine/ drinking during the week, so that helps too.


Tomorrow will be alot of beer im sure, but I'm planning ahead for it and just make sure I log what I drink as well as what I eat

Abells

story of my life! I cut my drinking to one day on the weekends -- last year i stopped completely - felt good

but if you go during the week just start to cut it in half or just drink water...you can still be social as i learned

OR now -- i just drink jack daniels straight haha

Nelski

I love beer, but while losing weight I guess I'm going to stick to vodka and tonic. It is SO high in calories. So sad.

That is just as high in calories. I think tonic is around 100 cal for 12 oz

rickyleepotts

I track my beers. If I can't find the calories in something, I don't drink/eat it. For instance, last night I had a pint of Dirty *kitten* from Founders. This is a heavy scotch ale. I looked it up before I ordered it, and there were 365 calories in a single pint. That boggles my mind, but at the same time I would normally order 3 or 4 and think I was doing alright. Just be aware of what you are drinking.

This service gives you a daily goal. Stick to it. I am trying to stay under it, and I work my booze in to that. I love beer... heck, I write a beer blog. So I can't give it up. I just have to work that in to my daily intake. It sucks, but it's the only way I know how much I am taking in.

Google is great by the way. Just search for the beer name and calories, and you will find nearly every beer you are looking for. Cheers to that!

RAQUELINATOVAR

KEEP DRINKING BEER AND SAY YOU ARE ON A BEER DIET !!! IT WORKS FOR THE GUYS I KNOW ON IT.

stephaneb74

I live in Utah so no problem for me to pass on beer but when I do get some, I definitely log it... and work harder that morning to earn 1 or 2 more beer;))

hug_g333

I also enjoy my beer!! and drinking any light beer just is not the same. I know drinking vodka/club soda is a lot less colories? We will see if how this plays out as I just joined a few days ago. Friday night is kinda my break away from the kids after running a daycare all day I enjoy my beer at the end of the week, if anyone has advice please let me know !! feel free to add me as well looking for support !!

dlw13

I LOVE beer! I log all of my beers and will cut back on snacks to indulge my drinking habits. It's a great motivator, the more I work out, the more beer I can enjoy!

Cheers!

_ADecadeUnderTheInfluence

I had the same problem. I drank a lot during the fall and I gained a few pounds. So now currently trying to cut back and only going out about 3 times a month, and not having beer anymore just whiskey. It's been working well for me.

maf66

I've changed the beer I usually drink upon finding this website. The carbs alone, of my daily brew, were killing me!!

http://www.beer100.com/beercalories.htm

minime2b

Love Beer! I plan for it in my calories and I drink either select 55 or mgd 64, I've been losing weight steadily. If I'm in a situation those are not available. I rotate water with a light beer and it works for me. Good Luck

mikeyboy

I love beer. During my weight loss that I just started I am only drinking White Rum & Diet Coke. Low calories and zero carbs. And yes include your drinks.

jbakerak

You can still enjoy some casual drinking while trying to lose weight. Aside from the obvious that if you drink too much it seems to make the next day's work out really tough (but you still stick to it), just try and make sure you don't go over your calories. Sometimes I will work out a little extra if I know I'm going to have a drink that night, (of course, I also know I probably won't just be having one). But I also calculate the snack I will have before bed, alcohol makes me hungry lol. If I happen to go over, I sometimes will add those calories to the next day and try to stay under (or about what I would usually consume), that way I am still averaging out for the week.

trijoe

I used to drink like my life depended on it. When my weight loss journey began, I knew that had to stop. Not cold turkey, but pretty close to it. I still imbibe every so often, and when I do it's usually a glass of wine. Sometimes when I'm doing really well I'll put some Irish Creme in my coffee. As for beer, I bought a half case for Christmas, and there's still some in the fridge. I make a conscious effort to make room for those cals. For one thing, the beer itself racks up cals. Then you throw in the munchies a beer or two causes, and I'm a dead man.

So, I guess my point through all of this is, learn to stop at one, enjoy the hell out of that one, and fight back any muchie urges. Good luck!

trmecham

I always log my beer calories early in the day so I know ahead of time where I stand with respect my net calorie count. One microbrew then a couple of Bud Selects at 55 calories each. They taste almost like beer and have just a little more alcohol than a non-alcohol beer with far fewer calories.

incendia3

I do not have enough time in my day to work out even more to have enough calories for beer. I figured out that on a given drinking night I was easily hitting 1000 calories in beer alone. I haven't had a beer in over a month. Sticking to vodka and club for a few more months since I really don't like low calorie beers. This situation depresses me beyond belief.

soccerella

I used to "trick" myself into feeling like I was drinking by getting to a bar a few minutes before my friends and ordering soda water with lime. It looks like a vodka soda (or similar) and you dont get all the excess calories. Plus in my group of friends, the pregnancy bug is going around so rather than everyone assuming im pregnant for not drinking, it was easier to pretend I was. But I definitely do enjoy a drink and just tend to opt for low calorie beers when i can (MGD 64, bud select) or my beloved vodka soda (about 75 calories)

rcramer7

I found it extremely helpful to go out all the time and do stupid stuff to embarrass my wife so that she complains frequently enough to make drinking less exciting. It's done wonders for me!