Do you count alcohol in your calorie goal?

My calorie goal is 1200 a day, and I drink 2-3 standard drinks (355ml bottle beer) every day, which is about 300-400 calories. This means I can only eat about 800 calories a day , or be 400 calories over...

I starve over 800 calories a day... any help pls?
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Replies

  • Bakkasan
    Bakkasan Posts: 1,027 Member
    Stop drinking 400 calories a day. Problem solved. Or do more cardio. Or more weights. Or stop drinking every day.
  • ZugTheMegasaurus
    ZugTheMegasaurus Posts: 801 Member
    Of course you count it; that's 400 calories you're consuming whether you like it or not. If you're too hungry because of it, cutting down on the alcohol seems the obvious solution. It seems a little shortsighted to forgo actual nutrition for a drink (though I understand the appeal).
  • uclown2002
    uclown2002 Posts: 79 Member
    As stated, earn those drinks by burning 400 more calories through exercise.
  • tamia11
    tamia11 Posts: 28
    I went from drinking a 6 pack everyday to NOTHING!!! You dont need to drink everyday!! But to answer your question, yes I have friends that count theirs in
  • redhousecat
    redhousecat Posts: 584 Member
    i count them, but I make room for them too
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    Stop drinking 400 calories a day. Problem solved. Or do more cardio. Or more weights. Or stop drinking every day.

    Or stop eating at such a ridiculously low level and trying to lose weight too fast. Up your calories to a level you can comply with and still lose weight.
  • i count them, but I make room for them too

    This right here^^^

    When I know that I'll have a drink or two, which is rare, I'll work out extra longer to accommodate this.
  • drog2323
    drog2323 Posts: 1,343 Member
    Stop drinking 400 calories a day. Problem solved. Or do more cardio. Or more weights. Or stop drinking every day.

    LOL. yep. i love booze. but it's empty cals and also my nemesis! :drinker:

    beer.....whisky. hell yes
  • prettyvera
    prettyvera Posts: 27 Member
    Guess I will have to do more gym to make room for my drinks. ╮(╯_╰)╭
  • ALH1981
    ALH1981 Posts: 538 Member
    the calories i get from alchohol are the worst kind!! (but so fun to consume!)
  • dbevisjr
    dbevisjr Posts: 183
    If I consume it, I count it.
  • Seriously????
  • VorJoshigan
    VorJoshigan Posts: 1,106 Member
    Of course! You shoulda seen the day I went to a beer festival. And then there was Friday where my diary just looked like i went to a beer festival.
  • prettyvera
    prettyvera Posts: 27 Member
    Of course! You shoulda seen the day I went to a beer festival. And then there was Friday where my diary just looked like i went to a beer festival.

    LOL.. Fri is the big night hey; )
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    Why wouldn't you count it? Does your liquor not have calories? You should track everything you consume, even food and drink that is listed as having 0 calories because there might be other effects on the body that you will notice only if you have a record over time.
  • runfreddyrun
    runfreddyrun Posts: 137 Member
    what about cutting back to just twice a week? or instead of 2-3 drinks a day how about 1? i agree with upping your calories, but drinking 3 beers a night in the midst of weight loss seems counter productive.

    i like to drink beer on occasion too but i have only done it once since starting MFP two months ago. and it was counter productive, let me tell you. i carefully allocated 4 beers to fit in with my calories that day. had a nice healthy dinner.

    well, 4 beers turned into 6 and then i ordered a pizza. after the nice, healthy dinner. not good.

    this week i am having a maintenance/binge meal. i've really only had 1 or 2 since starting. i've allocated myself a number of beers but i'm also going on a ride that night and burning an additional 500 calories to make up for it.
  • 1/3 of your daily caloric intake in beer?

    That's a bit silly for someone who's serious about... well, living.
  • ubermensch13
    ubermensch13 Posts: 824 Member
    If you "need" 3-4 beers a day, do you think you have a different problem? I enjoy scotch and gin as much as anyone, but you learn to limit those drinks to only once or twice a week, and/or drink on days you can get a good calorie burn in, to compensate. I'm not of the opinion you should remove anything you enjoy in your diet, but just limit it and learn to consume those things in moderation. If you really "need" 3-4 beers, maybe you aren't ready for the lifestyle change healthy eating requires....
  • annoz
    annoz Posts: 68 Member
    1/3 of your daily caloric intake in beer?

    That's a bit silly for someone who's serious about... well, living.

    ^^this^^

    You can't be getting all your nutrients from 800 calories, and then putting in 400 empty calories...AND working out more...you are not going to have a happy body.
  • Yes you count alcohol. There is a line of drinks called skinny girl that has reduced calories... You can look up all alcohol per ounce on the Internet.
  • MissSusieQ
    MissSusieQ Posts: 533 Member
    you already know the answer to this, so i'm not sure what you thought you'd gain from asking.

    you wouldn't bother asking 'do you count breakfast in your calorie goal?', because that's just silly - you ate it, you count it. why would alcohol be different?
  • WVprankster
    WVprankster Posts: 430 Member
    Why would you set your calorie goal so low?

    OT: yes, you should count alcohol. It's empy calories, but it's still calories.
  • If you're not willing to cut back, then the benefit is you have instant motivation to work out! Because only eating 800 calories a day just so you can drink sounds insane to me
  • imtriagain
    imtriagain Posts: 104 Member
    I realised why I had gained weight when I started MFP and recording my daily glass of wine or 3. I now try to limit alcohol to 2 days a week (sometimes 3), and compensate with extra exercise. I find having alcohol every day, is just too calorie intensive for me.
  • RubyRubixcube
    RubyRubixcube Posts: 258 Member
    I sure as hell do!

    I went over my calorie intake by 2500 on saturday because I counted my alcohol intake. yours just lying to yourself if you dont and your really not getting anywhere

    When I started MFP I was having 2-4 std drinks everyday... and after logging and seeing this pattern and calorie intake just for alochol I realised how freakin stupid it is to "be healthy" but keep my drinking habits. So I've cut back for the most part, seems like the smart thing to do
  • obsidianwings
    obsidianwings Posts: 1,237 Member
    Stop drinking 400 calories a day. Problem solved. Or do more cardio. Or more weights. Or stop drinking every day.
    This. Not logging it would be as stupid as not logging 400 calories of chocolate. Are you sure 1200 cals is the right amount for you? Thats quite low anyway
  • sz8soon
    sz8soon Posts: 816 Member
    Are you for real?

    Yes they count, yes you should log it. You consumed it right?

    Your not eating enough.

    Stop drinking every dang day

    If you want your body to change, you must change.

    Opinion asked. Opinion given.
  • ElizaRoche
    ElizaRoche Posts: 2,005 Member
    I dont drink... So i dont have to worry about this :smile:
  • spangey13
    spangey13 Posts: 294
    Alcohol is a waste of calories in my opinion. I drink water mostly and maybe one or two coke zeros a week. Oh and my morning coffee. Other than that, I just think of it as a waste!!
  • ClairBears84
    ClairBears84 Posts: 531 Member
    My calorie goal is 1200 a day, and I drink 2-3 standard drinks (355ml bottle beer) every day, which is about 300-400 calories. This means I can only eat about 800 calories a day , or be 400 calories over...

    I starve over 800 calories a day... any help pls?

    I get this, I love beer, So I here is my beer loving advice, cut down to two and drink a light beer? I drink Castle light, 90 cal a bottle.