How do you track alcohol consumption?

davidjmclare

Hi there - I've just started using MFP because it syncs with FitBit and has loads of English foods stored (unlike FitBit's app!).

But I'm unsure how to track alcohol - do other people even track it? So far I've been adding it to the snack section, or is there a better way of doing it?

I don't drink too much, but think it would be ideal to keep track and see how much even just a little could be affecting my diet. So I'm open to your suggestions

Thanks!

Alisi1234

I track everything that touches my lips. I track all alcohol and mixes. Sometimes it's more calories than I ate in a day. I don't have a problem though!

saxmaniac

Yes, track it. I usually put it as "quick add calories" to remind myself that it's of little nutritional value.

pugsley5

Logging drinks in your snacks is the only real way to do it. They have many beer,wine and liquor selections and they are acurrate in their calorie/carb/sugar etc..You really should log it,I know its a drag but those calories really add up. Good luck. Cheers!!!

now_or_never12

I log it under the meal time that I have the drinks. If I have one with dinner it goes into the Dinner portion. If it's at night that I have a few drinks I will log it under my evening snack section.

I don't see why people wouldn't log drinks. Alcohol has a lot more calories than a lot of people think. A few drinks can be half if not more of your daily calories. What I found when logging is that you really need to pay attention to the amounts... a serving of wine is actually half the glass.

sthrnchick

I log it all...if I eat or drink it..it is in my food log..otherwise, what is the point really?

punkypenny

I log it under the meal time that I have the drinks. If I have one with dinner it goes into the Dinner portion. If it's at night that I have a few drinks I will log it under my evening snack section.

I don't see why people wouldn't log drinks. Alcohol has a lot more calories than a lot of people think. A few drinks can be half if not more of your daily calories. What I found when logging is that you really need to pay attention to the amounts... a serving of wine is actually half the glass.

This is what I do, as well.

Cliffslosinit

Log everything...you can even rename meal sections. Add a booze category if you like.

jfa002

Since I've started MFP I looked at what benefits me and what does not. The foods or drinks that do not benefit me, I consume rarely. In the case of alcohol, it would be a great step to health if it was done away with all together. But do it in baby steps if you are regularly drinking; not to say that you are an alcoholic, but say if you drink regularly on the weekends or after work, just baby steps. Everyone is here to get healthy, and health begins at the cellular level. Since I'm on the subject of health, rate yourself and ask others to rate themselves:
Mental - thinking
Emotional - feeling
Social - relationships
Spiritual - outside self
Physical - self
Environmental - your surroundings
Career - work/employment
These are the 7 elements of health. So rate yourself from -10 to +10. Zero is safe zone, however it can be improved by +1. After you rate yourself, ask yourself how you can improve by +1. I hope this is helpful to you as it was and is to me. But don't think that you have to be a +10 at all times, the rates will fluxuate every day and during the day; you are just trying to stay healthy as long as possible.

MichPace8

If you are really trying to loose weight you need to kick the alcohol to the curb! Have a drink for a cheat or on a re-feed day. It is empty calories that adds up quick! I'd rather have a candy bar than a martini if I had to choose!!
Michelle, CPT

missjewl

Yes... track it! I dont drink alcohol very often but i track when i do have some.... every calorie counts!

JediMaster_intraining

I track alcohol when I do drink. I've had to cut back of course to keep losing weight! You can always change the name of your "snacks" to say "drinks". It's amazing to see how many calories I'm saving by cutting back!!

Schraudt814

I have a section for it in my diary titles yummy fun drinks...we all gotta let lose occasionally right? But DEFINITELY track it many times the drinks have the same or more calories than the food!

NNAhuja

Usually I drink at night so I store it as a snack.
The vast majority of the alcohol I like to drink is already stored on MFP so I'm set!

CatchMom11

Track it like you would anything else. Most light beers/ales will tell you how many calories. Most hard liquor has a calorie content as well. So if it's a rum and diet for instance, you're only tracking the rum. Hard liquor has very few calories though... at least vodka and rum from what I've been told.

Noel1114

Track all alcohol consumption and you really start to realise what a waste of calories it can be. If you don't you will be kidding yourself.

Sinisi2012

I log it under the meal time that I have the drinks. If I have one with dinner it goes into the Dinner portion. If it's at night that I have a few drinks I will log it under my evening snack section.

I don't see why people wouldn't log drinks. Alcohol has a lot more calories than a lot of people think. A few drinks can be half if not more of your daily calories. What I found when logging is that you really need to pay attention to the amounts... a serving of wine is actually half the glass.

Ditto

apreciosa

I log it under snacks as well. I drink wine and was thrilled to find all the varieties listed with the calorie count.

korinastern

I track it under snacks and mostly what i drink is in there vodka has the least calories its the mixer that really adds it up and diet soda is not good for you so i have been doing tonic and fresh lemon

RyLaneB

Personally, I am not a fan of cutting anything out of my diet. I am looking to this for the rest of my life, not just lose weight. And the reality is I love wine, and I love the occasional nights out with friends. I also log it either with the meal I consumed the drink with or in the snack section. I don't think that it is important where you are putting it...as long as you are putting it in! Find what works for you and enjoy!

itsuki

Definitely track it. Most alcohol has a decent amount of calories, and if you're not tracking it you could be going significantly over your goals without knowing it!

If I have a drink with a meal, I put it in that meal. If I have drinks just by themselves, like just sitting around with friends having a homebrew, I put it under snacks.

Almost every type of alcohol I've ever looked up is already in the database. Easy to track!

katharineshalia

Are you kidding me? Beer and soda are major contributions to my own personal weight gain. Track it! You'll be surprised.

Perixi

I have a drinks tab for fruit juice and alcohol etc.

ccburn5

I added a seperate tab for "Adult Beverages" thanks to a fellow members set up after looking at it. Its amazing how those calories will double and triple any food intake if you have a fair amount of drinks (5-6) or so. Since I only drink 1-2 times a week at most, I take it for what it is, an earned splurge every now and then and move on with it.

NKekiv

When you drink alcohol all food after eating it upto 16 hours i think gets stored rather than burned. This is because the body is getting rid of the alcohol which is technically a poison. I dont think your body actually stores alcohol calories.

This is how i understand it at least. But ultimately get rid of that crap at least until you reach your goal.

Krooker2

You are close. Alcohol will take priority as a fuel for your body. It jumps in front of your other fuels which include you most recently consumed food and your existing stored fat. If you cannot burn all the alcohol you just consumed, your body will not burn the food you just ate and it will be stored - as fat - for later. Many alcoholic drinks contain carbs and they can be turned to fat if not burned. Also, alcohol can change the way your body burns fat. My suggestion is to dedicate non-alcohol days and on days when you have the need to have two or more, keep the carbs low...but this may lead to a faster absorption rate so drink at home! Develop a 'rules-based' program...decide in advance how you are going to finish the day. Good luck.

Dootzy1

I try to limit it to 1-2 drinks, and not daily, that's for sure. Rather enjoy red wine, but am happy with one with a dinner. I guess binge eating carbs has been more of a problem with my added weight, rather than the ones I drink. Easier to stay disciplined, when I don't drink at all!!

Elphaba1313

MichPace8 wrote: »

If you are really trying to loose weight you need to kick the alcohol to the curb! Have a drink for a cheat or on a re-feed day. It is empty calories that adds up quick! I'd rather have a candy bar than a martini if I had to choose!!
Michelle, CPT

And I’d rather have a glass of wine than a candy bar. It’s all personal choice. I have wine each evening, which I log, and am still losing. So no, you don’t have to “kick alcohol to the curb”

I also question your use of “cheat”, in addition to your sanctimony.

yukfoo

I used to...but for some reason it kept getting harder as the night went on 🤔

marty916fl

I'm not affiliated at all with Jeff C but here's a great video on bodyfat, eating right, and the "ok-ness" of alcohol depending on goals, etc. https://youtu.be/MY6nKL59L1o

__TMac__

I’ve renamed my meals to Morning, Afternoon, and Evening, and log any alcohol in the appropriate time of day of consumption.

The eating pattern that works best for me is to save alcohol and sweets for one day a week as a treat. I still fit them into my weekly calorie goals, so it’s not cheating. Personal choice based on personal health goals (which includes more than weight loss for me).