Party on a Diet

melizzzzard
melizzzzard Posts: 21 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hey guys, so I feel like the most difficult part of dieting and managing my caloric intake is when I'm trying to party on a diet. I've noticed that since I've become an MFT member my social/night life has plummeted and I find myself staying home alone on the weekends in order to stay within my calorie range. I'm not going to lie, I have a stressful job in the food industry and I'm about to graduate college so when I go out for a drink...I go out with a bang. Does anyone have any advice on low calorie cocktails/beer? I generally try to stick to wine, but when I'm in a dive bar playing a game of pool, wine makes me stick out like a sore thumb. How do you guys party on a diet?

Replies

  • leighann881
    leighann881 Posts: 371
    A glass (er.... um... bottle) of wine every now and then is good for the soul. Enjoy life.

    Everything in moderation, even moderation.
  • melizzzzard
    melizzzzard Posts: 21 Member
    Hahah! Everything in moderation, even moderation. I like that! Thanks!
  • seekingfittoday
    seekingfittoday Posts: 7
    eat really really clean when you're not drinking and cut down on carbs since alcohol comes with carbs.

    then order one of the following:
    vodka soda
    gin and soda/diet tonic
    rum and diet coke

    etc.
    basically the formula is hard alcohol and calorie free mixer. you won't stick out.

    if you're not drinking to get drunk and just chill a little, order a super light beer.

    wine is NOT the best drink you can have. if you gotta have it, go for a drier wine aka less sugar. but honestly, if you want to be partying, the alcohol + calorie free mixer will get you more bang. it doesn't really matter too much what type of alcohol you go with. a shot is usually between 60 and 100 calories.
  • upgetupgetup
    upgetupgetup Posts: 749 Member
    Vodka soda, other ideas here:

    http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/6-of-the-healthiest-alcoholic-mixed-drinks.html#b

    They go down fast, though! So sometimes I'll go for a stout beer, which I can nurse a lot longer.

    Also though: I don't mess around with cutting calories from food to accommodate for drinking. I either watch my drinks or take my lumps, calorie-wise. Very occasionally I'll shave a few extra cals off a Wednesday, if I went WAY over on a Saturday.
  • jamiek917
    jamiek917 Posts: 610 Member
    wine, light beer, an oz of liquor with a low cal or cal-free mixer. avoid the fruity mixed drinks- some can run well over 300-500 cals for ONE drink!

    i agree- u need to be able to live and enjoy things like parties. depriving yourself will lead to failure- moderation is key :)
  • Dauntlessness
    Dauntlessness Posts: 1,489 Member
    Here are a few sites

    http://www.skinnygirlcocktails.com/

    http://www.mnn.com/food/beverages/blogs/5-skinny-cocktails-for-summer

    http://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-skinny-cocktails
  • lee91356
    lee91356 Posts: 330 Member
    LOL good topic. Like you my nightlife has TOTALLY stopped since I started MFP and watching my weight - over a year now. Thats right! I try to avoid eating out and drinking, mainly because in my experience both tend to lead to delicious though never intentional gluttonfest lol. Though I will point out I have lost a LOT of weight in the last year so for me the sacrifice is worth it. Though I plan on rejoining the normal socializing world once again eventually haha.

    My only advise is not to let the ball drop completely, and keep tabs on yourself and remember shots have calories too :laugh:
  • melizzzzard
    melizzzzard Posts: 21 Member
    Thanks guys, I appreciate all the feedback!
  • twoss9112
    twoss9112 Posts: 162 Member
    I generally try to stick to wine, but when I'm in a dive bar playing a game of pool, wine makes me stick out like a sore thumb. How do you guys party on a diet?

    What I do is this: I quit worrying about what other people think and I do what I feel is best for me, and if I stick out like a sore thumb, so frickin' be it, because I'm not the one plowing down my entire days worth of calories in beer and wings like they are, and I will eat and drink what I jolly damn well want to.

    Avoid things with mixers, unless it's diet coke. Things like bloody mary mix, margarita mix, et cetera, will cause trouble. Miller 64 is always a very low cal option for light beer, but it's not that tasty. If you're doing a night of pool at a dive bar, the 64s will fill in for other cheap-*kitten* beer nicely.

    Alternate every other drink with a water, a diet soda, or a club soda with lime.

    Have rum & diet coke or bourbon & diet coke instead of beer. 1 oz. Jim Beam is about 69 cals.

    Ask for 1/2 or 3/4 of the shot in your drink instead of the full 1 oz.

    There are lots of ways to curb an evening of partying and still have a good time.

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