I just LOVE beer... and wine..

amberlykay1014
amberlykay1014 Posts: 608 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
My fiance and I usually go out once a week to this bar to that has a PHENOMENAL selection of beer -- hundreds of bottles on hand and always a dozen rotating taps of "the good stuff". We meet up with our friends, shoot some pool, try some new craft beers and share a big bowl of popcorn. It's more than just eating and drinking -- it's bonding with our friends! It's a social experience where we beer lovers pass the pints around and try each others' brews.

I'm just not willing to cut this out of my routine! I usually only have 2-3, but still that can add up to nearly 600 calories depending on what I get, and that doesn't count the popcorn or appetizers.

Is there anyone else out there who also loves a great brew or glass of wine? What do you do to balance things out?

Replies

  • cartrat
    cartrat Posts: 120 Member
    i'm always for a good time and i'm with ya' on the beer. i love me some good beer. i always try to fit in one night of drinking a week like you and since i'm low carb, i've switched to vodka sodas for the time being. and i've still lost weight! then once i'm at my goal weight, i'll start introducing some brews again. you should allow yourself to cheat sometime so don't feel bad!
  • McLifterPants
    McLifterPants Posts: 457 Member
    If your calorie goal is really low (i.e. if you're one of the 1200ers) I say give yourself the splurge once a week. It won't kill you and it will throw your body off balance! If you have a higher goal and/or are an exerciser, just make it fit :) I wanted to eat Papa John's pizza yesterday, so I got up early to do some cardio and ate a little less the rest of the day so that I could make it fit within my calorie goal. Totally worth it! As you'll read 1000x on here, all things in moderation. If it's every night, it will set you back. If it's once every week or two, carry on! Enjoy yourself.
  • Nikiki
    Nikiki Posts: 993
    I had to rethink my tracking to get to a good spot with this. Basically look at your calorie intake by the week rather than daily. I have a little over 12,000 calories I can eat each week (I'm 5'2.5" 165lbs and set my goal at .5lbs down a week). I know that Friday I'm cooking out with friends (lots of beer will be consumed) Saturday I'm going to cheesecake factory and Sunday I'm going out to eat with the inlaws, probably Quaker Steak (typical bar food and wings). So each day this week I've made sure to have calories left over as a cushion to cover the weekend calories. I have about 6,600 calories not counting any extra workouts to get me through Friday Saturday and Sunday, and I know I'll burn at least another 800 calories over the weekend at the gym so I know I don't have to worry about anything I want to eat!

    Also: even though I set my goal to lose 1/2 a pound a week i generally lose at least a full pound a week. Oh and oddly enough once I dropped my goal a raised my calories I found it much easier to eat less than my goal, I generally net about 1400 calories a day including my weekend fun :)
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    I split beers with my husband. He cracks the beer. I drink the neck.

    You're with buddies. Other people might want to split too - just use a glass.

    I have also noticed that the wee heavies and Imperial Stouts I love in winter have WAY more calories than the lighter beers I drink in the summer. You can check that ahead of time if you have an app. Drink your own lighter beer and split the dark.

    Or just budget it into your weekly calories.
  • amberlykay1014
    amberlykay1014 Posts: 608 Member
    Wow! Thanks for the great ideas! Nikki, thanks for your perspective on taking the week as a whole instead of day by day. It will really help my planning!

    My current calorie goal is around 1450/day, before exercise. I'm new to this calorie counting thing and it's really hard!
  • sitasays
    sitasays Posts: 24 Member
    Nikki, that's a great way to do it. I think I'm going to start doing that myself.
  • shimmery23
    shimmery23 Posts: 1 Member
    I love wine and smirnoff's and I cant lose the weight... could it be smirnoff's have to much sugar?
  • ElviraCross
    ElviraCross Posts: 331 Member
    I just drink them and take the loss.
  • deniseearheart
    deniseearheart Posts: 919 Member
    oh honey I love beer, wine, vodka and champagne.. could drink large amounts a few nights a week buttttt I don't :-(
  • Sasssy69
    Sasssy69 Posts: 547 Member
    My husband and I do the exact same thing. Go to this great drinking hole and drink a pitcher or two of GOOD, dark brew about once a week. My calorie goal is low as well. I make sure I get in a good work out that day, eat a light lunch, and then don't worry about the rest. I go over every time, but I refuse to stop indulging in something I really enjoy. It's just once a week. Not like every day.
  • ValerieMartini2Olives
    ValerieMartini2Olives Posts: 3,024 Member
    :(:(:( I MISS BOOZE SO MUCH
  • amanda6393
    amanda6393 Posts: 176 Member
    I absolutely refuse to give up my red wine, but I also like a beer every now and then. There are some great low carb beers out there which are usually lower in calories as well. Personally, I'd be giving the popcorn a miss instead :)
    I've cut back on my drinking, and don't drink much during the week any more. I have a really good workout on Saturday morning and go for a long walk on Sunday mornings, so I don't feel at all guilty about having a few on a Friday or Saturday night. I tend to alternate between wines and lime sodas just to keep hydrated.
    If you enjoy a few beers, don't deprive yourself. You only live once.
  • ToyaDianta
    ToyaDianta Posts: 21
    I'm with you...i cut down alot because of the calories...i'm LUCKY if i have a glass a wine. i try to have it once a week.
    there's a lot of give and take on this journey lol
  • ktanne1
    ktanne1 Posts: 11
    I'm vice president of a wine club.... so yeah I tried to cut it out and failed, i have just cut back and try hard to not let it push me over my calorie intake.
  • kristen6022
    kristen6022 Posts: 1,923 Member
    I lost 20 pounds since March (45 pounds overall, but the first 25 were SLOW, maintenance now) drinking beer and wine. I planned food around my drinking. My goals were 1450 without exercise and never went over my goals and ate well. You may need to go down to just one beer or cut out the food, but you can do it. You shouldn't have to give anything up that is important to you to lose the weight. It's all about a new lifestyle...
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    DeadVim dutifully checks in to an alcohol-related thread ;)

    I like beer too, heavy stuff, porters that kind of thing. I had a six pack for a special occasion last week and had one a night because to be honest I know the carbs are going to derail me.

    This does not stop me consuming an unfeasible amount of red wine on a disgustingly regular basis.

    How do I make it fit into my day? Fair question. I just eat well according to my plan (unprocessed food, no grains, legumes, sugar, etc) and it just does.

    I don't log alcohol but then again I don't log exercise either ... I know, it's bonkers but it just works for me.

    How many calories in a glass? Don't care, just top it up :)

    Check out the Banting Diet from way back, that man is my hero.
  • Nikiki
    Nikiki Posts: 993
    Glad I could help! After 5 years of yoyo-ing it's the only thing that's keeping me sane and out of the "I'd rather be fat and happy" mode that had me so unhealthy :)

    Only a little over two more months till Christmas Ale (Great Lakes Brewery about 20 minutes from my house) and Punkin Ale (dogfish head in Delaware) Autumn is the best time of year for beer :):)

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