In a diet, is there any place for Beer?

mkeller234
mkeller234 Posts: 121 Member
in Food and Nutrition
This is my 3rd go-round the old diet wheel. This time my food has been totally different. I'm not relying on packaged or "diet" foods, this time I am cooking meals. I am not only trying to watch calories, but trying to eat foods that are really good for me. So far, so great! The food has been satisfying and kept my interest.

So, if I am full.... and I have a good heaping amount of calories left in a day.... is it all that bad to fit in a good 12oz craft brew? I don't mean everyday, say maybe 3 or 4 times a month. I am not a heavy drinker, but I like full beers. I've got some Fat Heads Oompa Loompa stout and am really eager to give it a try.

Have a look at my food diary if you like, it's public.
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Replies

  • donahm01
    donahm01 Posts: 32 Member
    hey I like a brew myself. Keep it within your calorie count and you should be fine. No Guilt you still have enjoy life ya know. Workout an extra hour or so that week you do have a beer.
  • ellewiz71
    ellewiz71 Posts: 9 Member
    Had one last night myself! If you have room for it, why not.
  • majope
    majope Posts: 1,325 Member
    Are you planning to give up beer for the rest of your life? If not, find a way to fit it into your day occasionally.

    My philosophy: to eat now the way I intend to continue once I hit my goal weight--only a little less. Makes it a heck of a lot easier to stick with now and to maintain later.
  • mkeller234
    mkeller234 Posts: 121 Member
    No, I never plan on giving up beer! I realize I can fit it into life, but I wasn't sure how or when. I think I am trying to approach this the same way as you, but I am still trying to learn how.

    This is only my 2nd week into my new eating habits. I want to make sure I don't sabotage myself.
  • McSpike
    McSpike Posts: 34 Member
    Well, for me it is wine, with an occasional beer. But, as other posters have already said, you gotta make room for the things you love. If you stop eating/drinking everything you love, when you hit your goal weight, or have a bad day, you are gonna eat/drink those things you have given up!

    I believe in the "work it off" creedo. If I want a glass of wine with dinner, that means I need to have 150-200 calories available. For me, that means an extra mile on my walk, or a bit more effort to get more steps in.
  • passmetheducksauce
    passmetheducksauce Posts: 211 Member
    no
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    Heck yes.
  • mkeller234
    mkeller234 Posts: 121 Member
    no

    Wow, very insightful. Care to expand on that?
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    If you enjoy beer and you are able to maintain an otherwise healthy diet with the appropriate calories and macro/micros, then yes you can make a place for it in your diet.
  • IsleEsme
    IsleEsme Posts: 175 Member
    Well of course! Fit it in your day and you've already said it will be an occassional thing so go for it. Life without a little alcohol would suck.
  • brian1383
    brian1383 Posts: 39 Member
    Beer, fit into your calorie plan, isn't a bad thing.

    The stouts can be lower in cals than other beers (a bottle of Guinness is only 126), so check the counts based on the brewery you're sampling.

    I drink the ultra lights (55-60 cals) when in a social situation that would make it less collegial to order a club soda but, as a flavorful brew, they don't cut it. I've noticed that stouts in some of the brewpubs I've been to are served in 8oz. measures. Nothing wrong with stretching that pint over a few days.

    Count the calories and pay them forward -- you'll never workout after having a good beer, so workout first. Cheers!
  • WVprankster
    WVprankster Posts: 430 Member
    If you allow for it in your macro's...drink it! What's the point of learning nutrition and fitness, if we can't enjoy it? I mean, I want to be as ripped, no, **** that, more ripped than the next guy. But if it comes at the sacrifice of having no fun-in-fluid-form, then what have I gained? I'm not in it to win any contests.
  • Babeskeez
    Babeskeez Posts: 606 Member
    Yes. There has to be. LOL.

    It wouldnt be a lifestyle change for me if I couldnt drink beer (or otherwise).
  • Admiral_Derp
    Admiral_Derp Posts: 866 Member
    Absolutely. Hit your macros, and use any calories leftover for beer. Use all calories leftover for beer! :drinker: :drinker: :drinker:
  • Crankstr
    Crankstr Posts: 3,958 Member
    Always.
  • kaaaayla
    kaaaayla Posts: 91 Member
    I definitely go over my weekend calories with alcohol, but i'm a college student and not really "overweight", so I guess it's fine. If I were seriously trying to lose more than 5 lbs, I'd be more careful about counting the beer cals.
  • scappetta
    scappetta Posts: 1
    If you like IPA's, want the taste, but not the high calories, try Founders All Day, 144 calories a 12 oz. bottle; or Lagunitas Day Time IPA. Both are lower in alcohol percent; around 4.5, I think, but the taste is still amazing!!
  • sunsnstatheart
    sunsnstatheart Posts: 2,544 Member
    Do you want your diet to be sustainable over the long term? If yes, then, definitely fit the beer in there. Just make sure that you are otherwise getting sufficient micronutrients, protein and good fats.
  • tammypallett3
    tammypallett3 Posts: 2
    hahaha tooo funny..I hope someone tells you that you can..because then I will do the same with all my left over calories:)
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    There is in mine! :drinker: I still have beer, wine, ice cream, pizza, burgers - like the others have said - do what you can do for life, not a temporary thing.
  • Rockstar_JILL
    Rockstar_JILL Posts: 514 Member
    I fit beer into my daily journal. :)
  • TheGnomeQueen
    TheGnomeQueen Posts: 43
    Good God, man! Of course there is! Just don't down a 6-pack+ in one sitting like I do and you will be fine. A few a week is definitely doable.

    Oh, and that Miller 64 tastes like crap and it has half the alcohol of a normal beer. Don't bother with it.
  • 007bondage
    007bondage Posts: 631 Member
    :drinker:

    I drink back my exercise calories!
  • delilah47
    delilah47 Posts: 1,658
    You can have, literally, anything you want, providing you fit it into your food plan. What that means is moderation and remaining in control.
  • BeachGingerOnTheRocks
    BeachGingerOnTheRocks Posts: 3,927 Member
    hahaha tooo funny..I hope someone tells you that you can..because then I will do the same with all my left over calories:)

    That's what I use my leftover calories for. That and good whisky. Life's too short to give up something that I enjoy as much as a nip before bed.
  • DaBigChief
    DaBigChief Posts: 146
    I had to break it off with beer. We both just wanted different things. :) I was always having to make up for the indulgence so I started drinking red wine, on occasion. In my case wine has less of a negative impacts
  • JenniTheVeggie
    JenniTheVeggie Posts: 2,474 Member
    First of all...it is NOT a diet! Second...yes there is a place for beer! Just make room for it in your day. :drinker:
  • sathor
    sathor Posts: 202 Member
    Beer? Nah...

    Now, Whiskey or Vodka, sure.

    I have a little plastic shot glass from the liqueur store that has a line on it that is exactly 1 ounce. (I measured with water and a postal scale, so I am sure)

    At the end of my day, if things are good and my Cal is in a good place, a shot of Bushmills is 66 Cal, Skyy Vodka is about 70 Cal.

    I can live with that....
  • CkepiJinx
    CkepiJinx Posts: 613 Member
    Hell yes! If you have the calories and feel like a drink go for it :drinker:
  • AlliecoreXX
    AlliecoreXX Posts: 78 Member
    There's always a place for beer...

    In mah belly!

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