Gave up alcohol all together...

SuperstarDJ

Calories in alcohol are not that significant depending on the drink. A simple shot is roughly 70 calories.

The problems with alcohol are:

1. The sugary drinks that pack the calories with mixers. Solution: Simple alcohol + soda water or diet coke
2. Excessive drinks. Even if you have 70 calorie drinks, having 10 of them means 700 calories! Solution: Drink less.
3. Late night drunken Denny's. No need to explain.
4. Alcohol interferes with the ability to enter REM sleep. Lack of sleep/bad sleep can stall weight loss.

You forgot:
5. Hangover food. Usually disgusting carb and fat-loaded cr*p.

Madholm

If you like to drink; include the calories as part of your weight loss. It's not something you plan to give up altogether so you should track your drinking calories and be aware of how much you are taking in.

Just avoid the fruity sugar crap.

You want drinks with the most calories from alcohol, not simple sugars.

Miller light is tops for beer; I think.
Vodka soda with a lime (or zero calorie redbull, however I don't recommend a redbull fueled bender)
Wiskey and diet coke (avoid spiced/flavored rum/vodka; tons of sugar)

psuLemon

Drinking is not all that bad if you don't combine it with unhealthy food. But if you do drink, stay away from carbs on those days. Below is a good article.

http://www.leangains.com/2010/07/truth-about-alcohol-fat-loss-and-muscle.html

FredDoyle

I went from a heavy drinker to an occasional drinker trying to lose weight. When I do drink now, I'll either get an ultralight beer (bud select 55, mgd 64, etc) or go with white rum and diet coke. Tastes like cough syrup. But fortunately, I like cough syrup.

I'll have to say, this made me laugh.

/I Did/do the same thing...

Greenrun99

Halloween weekend... umm yes you should definitely be drinking.. Go out and have fun your in college.. just don't order pizza after bar time or food.

jimmmer

Drink plenty of scotch. On the rocks.... you'll be fine!

TakinSexyBack

Not trying to be mean but if you take a couple shots before going out, then you have not quit drinking all together since going back to school. I would suggest vodka, rum or whiskey with diet soda. Not many calories, no carbs, etc. You just have to be honest and add it to your food diary so you can see what it's doing to your daily calorie goal!! I still drink some on the weekends and it doesn't seem to affect me unless it's beer...........then I see a small gain that takes 2-3 days to get rid of!! All in moderation! You will be fine. Just don't over do it!

Four_Leaf_Clover

Just here to suggest a tasty low cal cocktail - flavored vodka (raspberry is great), seltzer, wedge of lime - about 70 calories.