Beer

Damion72
Damion72 Posts: 531 Member
Day 2 of being on MFP. It's really addicting in a good way. I can now plan my most of my day to keep me on track with my eating. However, I'm trying to figure out how I plan for beer. I'm born and raised in WI, so II just can't give it up lol. Especially when all the cheer parents get together for a few beers while the girls are at practice or competition. I don't want to skip a meal just to have a few beers.
Any advice?
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Replies

  • coliema
    coliema Posts: 7,646 Member
    I drink beer/wine on the weekend, occasionally during the week but I always make sure I have enough calories, or I do an extra workout to fit a few in. Don't skip a meal to have a few beers, just park farther away when you pick the beer up, so you have to walk far :) hehehehe.
  • Damion72
    Damion72 Posts: 531 Member
    Like the parking idea! lol thanks.
  • I think if you could limit yourself to one low calorie beer a day, and maintain the recommended goals, it shouldn't hurt you. If you're knocking back 4-5 beers a night, then thats 400-600 calories extra, which is excessive. Stay towards Guiness - it's actually one of the lowest calorie beers, despite its thick texture like chocolate milk (and it happens to be amazing!). :D
  • brynnflynn
    brynnflynn Posts: 5 Member
    Pretty much what the other poster said--if you want it, you need to work for it. Just have one beer, and make it last and enjoy it.
  • Kitten2629
    Kitten2629 Posts: 1,358 Member
    Earn it.. I love beer as well, walk, quick 20 min circuit training, lower calorie meals throughout the day.
  • HarleyQuinn_12
    HarleyQuinn_12 Posts: 363 Member
    Ahhh beer! Wonderful beer. if you want it...gonna have to work harder for it! But when you've busted *kitten* and you get to have the beer...its kinda worth it.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Day 2 of being on MFP. It's really addicting in a good way. I can now plan my most of my day to keep me on track with my eating. However, I'm trying to figure out how I plan for beer. I'm born and raised in WI, so II just can't give it up lol. Especially when all the cheer parents get together for a few beers while the girls are at practice or competition. I don't want to skip a meal just to have a few beers.
    Any advice?

    eat a little less during the day, or exercise as you earn those cals back.

    I drink anywhere from 5 to 10 beer a week, depending on what is going on and such. I just make sure it fits in my daily caloric intake.
  • Damion72
    Damion72 Posts: 531 Member
    FYI - Before I sound like an alcoholic.. lol we're only talking once or twice a week. But thanks for all the advice. I'm really loving MFP.
  • capnrus789
    capnrus789 Posts: 2,736 Member
    Walk or ride your bike to the beer store. Limit the total amount. I'm a big fan of beer, too, so I force myself NOT to drink unless I've had a workout that day. And then I make sure it's only one "good beer," and not 2 or 3 inferior quality.

    I understand your pain, I'm near Chicago, and like many WI beers, Chicago area beers.....beer in general.
  • BerryH
    BerryH Posts: 4,698 Member
    Only have booze out of your exercise calories. That way you get your full range of nutrition first.
  • EmilyOfTheSun
    EmilyOfTheSun Posts: 1,548 Member
    Work out so you can intake more calories.
  • Lu_88
    Lu_88 Posts: 36 Member
    Beer is so full of cals, maybe drink something else? I love a pint of lager but its ridiculous how many of my daily cals it uses up :( so now i drink rum and diet coke.
  • I essentially gave up drinking since starting my transformation program. I used to have a daily beer or Sapphire and tonic. My nutritionist suggested I start drinking the ultra low-carb beers but I would rather just drink water than sacrifice my taste buds on those "fake" beers. :)

    Every now and then I will have a "skinny margarita" at Chilis when I know I will have enough carbs left over for the day.

    Good luck in your decision and in meeting your goals!
  • mluanne33
    mluanne33 Posts: 70 Member
    Try MGD 64..low carbs and low calories...
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    I beer in only about 160 calories, you should be able to make it fit your intake and macros if you really want one. Just plan for it.
  • deanna_bond
    deanna_bond Posts: 104 Member
    LO-CAL BEER AND BEFORE A WORKOUT EXTRA DO A FEW LAP WHILE THEY ARE PRACTICING. WHEN MY SON HAD BASEBALL PRACTICE I WOULD WALK THREE MILES WHILE THE OTHER PARENTS JUST SAT THERE.
  • trenley
    trenley Posts: 35 Member
    Michelob Ultra is 95 calories. Not sure if it's the best beer, but I always grab that instead of my beloved Blue Moon, which is almost 200 calories!
  • ilovedeadlifts
    ilovedeadlifts Posts: 2,923 Member
    When I was into drinking I would just occasionally make room in my diet for it. Even if it took a 20 minute cardio session or something to create enough of a deficit.

    If you typically drink american "beer" then you could always do MGD54 or Bud Select 55.
    If you actually drink real beer. Then just have one or two when you can make room. I personally think if I'm going to drink a beer, it should be one that actually has some taste. So I'll go ahead and have full flavored brew if I'm gonna drink.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    I go to a pub quiz every Tuesday. To help stay on my calorie target I log the beer well in advance so that it's clear how much I can eat or need to exercise during the day.
  • When I was into drinking I would just occasionally make room in my diet for it. Even if it took a 20 minute cardio session or something to create enough of a deficit.

    If you typically drink american "beer" then you could always do MGD54 or Bud Select 55.
    If you actually drink real beer. Then just have one or two when you can make room. I personally think if I'm going to drink a beer, it should be one that actually has some taste. So I'll go ahead and have full flavored brew if I'm gonna drink.

    Totally agree with this! :)
  • SilkyHotspur
    SilkyHotspur Posts: 233 Member
    Don't skip the beer...If I want beer, i'll save room in the diet for it. Typically I drink red wine...4-5 nights a week...
  • Z_I_L_L_A
    Z_I_L_L_A Posts: 2,399 Member
    Don't skip the beer...If I want beer, i'll save room in the diet for it. Typically I drink red wine...4-5 nights a week...

    This^ I would figure out how many I was going to have and cut back the 6 days before to cover it. I have two spike days after 5 days 1800 cals with hi protein and low low carbs and sugars. Then my spike days I eat the carbs and protein I need for the heavy workouts.
  • I love beer. (My fiance and I spend our anniversaries at the Dogfish Head Brewery) We usually split mixed sixpacks of craft beer and if we split each beer, we sip taste and savor and only have 3 each. I get sad thinking about eliminating it. I just now save it for special occasions. If I'm tailgating, camping, etc I will drink Keystone Light or Yuengling Light, but I'm starting to realize drinking (guzzling) those light beers is kind of a waste. I'll drink 5 without realizing it. I'd much rather drink a delicious seasonal beer with a higher ABV (and alas, more calories) and really experience what I'm drinking.
    I don't know. Seems like it's something that really should be eliminated or kept to only one based on other's responses. But for me, losing weight is me adapting my life around my new exercise and eating habits, and craft beer is a big part of my life. Gotta find a way to make that work for me!
  • JRaeZins
    JRaeZins Posts: 171 Member
    BEER! Yum! Just plan for it and try to find one you like that has less calories. I like Corona Light 90 calories!
  • GallyX0
    GallyX0 Posts: 8 Member
    Beer. The source of, and solution to, all of life's problems. I think beer in a diet needs to be handled two ways:

    1. Beer as a beverage: if you normally have a beer with your entree in order to accent it, just treat it like any other beverage on your list. Most sodas, and even fruit juices, have the same or more calories, so if you can squeak those into your diet, or other bete noir's like dessert or condiments like mayo or butter, you should be able to work a nice alcoholic beverage in without too much fuss. If your diet is all gerbil food, its going to go down in flames, and the same applies for your beverage choices.

    2. Beer as a mood enhancer: no real way to tap dance around it: beer gets you drunk, and being drunk is usually fun. Having a social event, and including alcohol, is not a coincidence. Alcohol usually is used to enhance it. Some may object, but I personally don't feel this to be a personal failing. So, treat beer as you would a special event: you need to plan for it (save some calories before and after, plan extra activity to offset it) and make smart choices in how you enjoy it. Lower calorie beers are not all trash (Beck's light is only 64 cal. and is quite good if you like German style pilsners) and can help to achieve the nice glow you're looking for at a low cal budget. But realize this: offsetting has its limits. You cannot starve yourself the day before and after and solve a binge, your body doesn't work that way. Its also impossible to spot erase high consumption. If you take in alot of calories in one sitting, your body WILL store it as fat. You can't target specific calories with exercise. You need to decide a reasonable, tolerable level of sacrifice, and if your beverage count is going to be high, sorry micro brew lovers, you're going to have to go low cal or pay the price.

    The biggest problem is confusing the two events. If you're going to be having more than 2, you are most likely not in category 1. Its hard to imagine a meal that requires the accenting of 3 beverages that would not crash a diet anyway (sorry 5 course tasting meal, I'm talking to you.) I love butter or cream, but if a meal needed 3 servings of those to be enjoyable, its obviously not on my diet. So, its all about correctly making the call. Don't assume you're drinking for taste when you expect to be drinking in quantity, unless you like being miserable.
  • BerryH
    BerryH Posts: 4,698 Member
  • LadyIvysMom
    LadyIvysMom Posts: 391 Member
    I am a beer and wine snob lol.

    I just budget beer & wine into my calorie intake for the day or plan to work it off. One or two drinks once in a while isn't going to totally derail you. Treat it like you would treat any other snack.
  • Darkskinned88
    Darkskinned88 Posts: 1,177 Member
    *sings Miller 64 song*
  • Darkskinned88
    Darkskinned88 Posts: 1,177 Member
    Beer. The source of, and solution to, all of life's problems. I think beer in a diet needs to be handled two ways:

    greatest simpson quote ever, okay maybe top 5
  • bcf7683
    bcf7683 Posts: 1,653 Member
    I think if you could limit yourself to one low calorie beer a day, and maintain the recommended goals, it shouldn't hurt you. If you're knocking back 4-5 beers a night, then thats 400-600 calories extra, which is excessive. Stay towards Guiness - it's actually one of the lowest calorie beers, despite its thick texture like chocolate milk (and it happens to be amazing!). :D

    Okay.... Guiness is good, but where did you hear that it's one of the lowest calorie beers? Maybe it's one of the lowest calorie DARK beers, but when it comes to overall beers- how about Miller Lite? Miller 64? Bud Light? Bud Select 55? IC Light? IC Light Mango? Coors Light?...Do I need to keep going?