Alcohol

erin4609
erin4609 Posts: 131 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Anybody else enjoy a drink or two a few times a week? I dont want my weight loss goals to impede on my social life! If someone invites me out to a drink, I'd like to able to go without worrying about weight gain.

If I plan on having a drink (or two) I try to reduce calories during the day.What do you guys do on a Friday or Saturday night? Do you not drink, or do allow yourself to have drinks? Any advice?

Replies

  • MissKalhan
    MissKalhan Posts: 2,282 Member
    I drink on weekends and I'm still seeing a weight loss. You'll get everyone saying different things, to each their own. If you want to drink then drink but balance it out with exercise. :)
  • paxbfl
    paxbfl Posts: 391 Member
    I'd say do whatever you want to do, but count the calories. I enjoy decent microbrewed beers (not cheap light beers) so I'm looking at 150 calories per beer. I can't afford too many of them in a week, so I have them rarely.

    I'm really focused on the weight-loss right now, so I'm going without the alcohol and my friends understand.
  • Natihilator
    Natihilator Posts: 1,778 Member
    Here's an interesting article on alcohol and weight loss: http://www.leangains.com/2010/07/truth-about-alcohol-fat-loss-and-muscle.html
    How to lose fat or prevent fat gain when drinking

    Now that you understand the effect of alcohol on substrate metabolism, it's time for me to reveal how you can make alcohol work for fat loss. Alternatively, how you can drink on a regular basis without any fat gain. Without having to count calories and while drinking as much as you want.

    Apply this method exactly as I have laid it out. If you've paid attention, you'll understand the rationale behind it. I've tested this on myself and on numerous clients. Rest assured that I'm not testing out some large-scale bizarre experiment here.

    The rules are as follows:

    * For this day, restrict your intake of dietary fat to 0.3 g/kg body weight (or as close to this figure as possible).

    * Limit carbs to 1.5 g/kg body weight. Get all carbs from veggies and the tag-along carbs in some protein sources. You'll also want to limit carbohydrate-rich alcohol sources such as drinks made with fruit juices and beer. A 33 cl/12 fl oz of beer contains about 12 g carbs, while a regular Cosmopolitan is about 13 g.

    * Good choices of alcohol include dry wines which are very low carb, clocking in at about 0.5-1 g per glass (4 fl oz/115ml). Sweet wines are much higher at 4-6 g per glass. Cognac, gin, rum, scotch, tequila, vodka and whiskey are all basically zero carbs. Dry wines and spirits is what you should be drinking, ideally. Take them straight or mixed with diet soda. (No need to be super-neurotic about this stuff. Drinks should be enjoyed after all. Just be aware that there are better and worse choices out there).

    * Eat as much protein as you want. Yes, that's right. Ad libitum. Due to the limit on dietary fat, you need to get your protein from lean sources. Protein sources such as low fat cottage cheese, protein powder, chicken, turkey, tuna, pork and egg whites are good sources of protein this day.

    * For effective fat loss, this should be limited to one evening per week. Apply the protocol and you will lose fat on a weekly basis as long as your diet is on point for the rest of the week.
  • mmddwechanged
    mmddwechanged Posts: 1,687 Member
    I have a drink or three every day! So far it hasn't hurt my progress:)
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    I have a drink or three every day! So far it hasn't hurt my progress:)

    I'm following the same plan ;)

    My Friday/Saturday night looks pretty much like the rest of the week :)
  • Josh_H
    Josh_H Posts: 1,151
    I am happy to say I have never had a drink nor will I ever. my mom is an alcoholic, and has been as long as I can remember. so was her dad. So I will never touch the stuff. I have nothing against it or the people who drink, I just don't like alcoholics.
    On a side note I don't smoke either and never have, due to my dad dying with lung cancer when I was 15.
  • chooriyah
    chooriyah Posts: 469 Member
    It's the main reason I go over some days - I'm still losing but probably much slower than if I wasn't drinking. I tend to go out once on the weekend, and will have around 5 drinks. A couple times during the week I might have a glass or two after work. For me, at least at 27 years old, it falls into the category of 'my weight loss will not be sustainable if I can't find a way to make this work'.

    You can cut back a lot on calories if you can pay attention to what you drink, and maybe make some changes. I have switched from gin and full-sugar tonic to gin and soda. I have started drinking rum on the rocks rather than mixing with ginger beer. Red wine is a good option...
  • RJisGenius
    RJisGenius Posts: 2
    Try gin or vodka with seltzer (I order a double vodka soda at the bar) instead of coke, cran or tonic. If you'd prefer beer, either drink light beer or slowly drink just one Guinness or stout. Count calories as if the drinks are apart of your diet. I added a "Drinks" Category to go along with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Snacks.
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    I log a good craft beer every single night (~500 calories) and have been doing so for 18 months. Have lost almost 80lbs doing so. There's no problem, you just have to account for the empty calories and try to eat as good as possible for the rest of the day to get all the nutrients needed.
  • dakotababy
    dakotababy Posts: 2,407 Member
    I am happy to say I have never had a drink nor will I ever. my mom is an alcoholic, and has been as long as I can remember. so was her dad. So I will never touch the stuff. I have nothing against it or the people who drink, I just don't like alcoholics.
    On a side note I don't smoke either and never have, due to my dad dying with lung cancer when I was 15.

    I am sorry - but proud of you for saying no! I am an addiction counsellor and I have heard it all when it comes to the alcoholic family. Stay strong!
  • Polywood223
    Polywood223 Posts: 42
    I used to drink soda every day all day and beer at night now that i. Don't do that anymore I've Lost. 20 lbs so. I need some help. To loose the bellyfat and. I. Have been toning up with pushups. It definitely. Shows. I'm using my phone so the punctuation is. Acting crasy

Categories