Having a drink while dieting

Laura20903
Laura20903 Posts: 9
in Health and Weight Loss
I sooooo need advice on this. We tend to go out or braai over weekends, where everyone has something to drink. I used to enjoy having a glass of wine or beer. However, now Im so scared that it will "undo" all the weight I've lost during the week. Any thoughts? Is there a low calorie drink you guys prefer or should I just cut out alcohol all together?
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Replies

  • MinimalistShoeAddict
    MinimalistShoeAddict Posts: 1,946 Member
    I sooooo need advice on this. We tend to go out or braai over weekends, where everyone has something to drink. I used to enjoy having a glass of wine or beer. However, now Im so scared that it will "undo" all the weight I've lost during the week. Any thoughts? Is there a low calorie drink you guys prefer or should I just cut out alcohol all together?

    I highly recommend you look at the rankings at the following website. Drinks are evaluated by their ratio of calories from alcohol. It was very popular in my ex girlfriends sorority house.

    www.getdrunknotfat.com
  • halobender
    halobender Posts: 780 Member
    Well, it's not going to hurt you to stop drinking. I'm taking a break from alcohol and already I've dropped tons of water weight.

    That said, I don't think that an occasional drink would hurt. Just don't overdo it, as with anything else. I believe vodka is your lowest calorie option for alcohol.

    Drinking in general is a lot of calories and does cause you to retain water.
  • LaurenLouG
    LaurenLouG Posts: 65 Member
    Vodka and plain soda water is the lowest calories option.

    I still drink, much less than I used to, but I still do it. I try to limit my snacks and up my exercises on day I know that I'll be drinking.
  • jdad1
    jdad1 Posts: 1,899 Member
    just don't drink at all. Problem solved.
  • Justjamie0418
    Justjamie0418 Posts: 1,065 Member
    I still drink every once in a while. Miller light or shots, sometimes captain and 7. Michelob is a good beer for Calories..

    or there's always this


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQFmKPA-iAg

    ETA that is a joke, I probably wouldn't recommend it, though my husband did try it... ugh.
  • Joehenny
    Joehenny Posts: 1,222 Member
    Alcohol is a poison, I gave it up.
  • Railr0aderTony
    Railr0aderTony Posts: 6,803 Member
    as long as you got the calories, enjoy it. Remember this is forever, do not deprive yourself the simple pleasures in life like Beer.
  • auntygill
    auntygill Posts: 108 Member
    I still have a drink when i go out , if its in my calorie goal then i dont worry .x
  • ktsmom430
    ktsmom430 Posts: 1,100 Member
    Many of us think of this as a new lifestyle, not a diet.
    All things in moderation. If this is how you want to spend your calories, it should be fine in moderation.
    I personally have only had 2 glasses of wine in the past year. I get more satisfaction out of chewing my calories.
  • pennydreadful270
    pennydreadful270 Posts: 266 Member
    I don't think I would miss drinking very much, but what the hell do you have in a bar/pub instead? Do I go diet coke as the lesser evil? I don't really enjoy it and I think there is some truth to it increasing appetite. Maybe soda and lime? A lot of the time the only fruit juice options are teeny bottles of mixer. And how do I get people to believe I am not pregnant when I order this? :laugh:
  • EstherZue
    EstherZue Posts: 39
    Red wine!

    This drink has some studies which have shown it prolongs life expectancy and youthfulness. So at least you can fool yourself that you did not pick the crappiest option :tongue:
  • Markguns
    Markguns Posts: 554 Member
    One glass of Red wine.. about 150 cals.
  • dovetail22uk
    dovetail22uk Posts: 339 Member
    All the killjoys that say give it up!

    If this change is for good then I don't think there's a good reason to give it up - just change what you're drinking.

    I've found that white spirits and a diet mixer are best way to keep the calories down. So vodka or gin with diet drinks or soda water. A wine spritzer also lasts longer so you drink less.

    One thing I will say is that sooo many of us find it hard to not eat a mountain of food (and dirty, greasy, delicious food at that) when we've been on the booze. Might be an idea to get some healthy snacks ready for when you get home and even have every other drink as a soft drink so you limit your drunken-ness, hence your ability to see the healthy choices when it comes to eating food later!

    Just my opinion!
  • chelly_leigh
    chelly_leigh Posts: 22
    I sooooo need advice on this. We tend to go out or braai over weekends, where everyone has something to drink. I used to enjoy having a glass of wine or beer. However, now Im so scared that it will "undo" all the weight I've lost during the week. Any thoughts? Is there a low calorie drink you guys prefer or should I just cut out alcohol all together?

    So long as you have the calories just have a drink! You deserve it if you've been working hard! Just remember everything in moderation!
  • XXXMinnieXXX
    XXXMinnieXXX Posts: 3,459 Member
    A white wine spritzer or a vodka and coke won't kill the day if you plan for it. (notice I say a... One or two.. Just don't have too many!)

    Zara x
  • bridafronda
    bridafronda Posts: 2
    For me, it's not really that bad to have a drink while you're on a diet, provided that you know exactly just the amount to take. <a href="http://themastercleanse.org/a-great-way-to-lose-weight-spruce-up-your-lifestyle/"&gt; Spruce up Your Lifestyle, </a> that could really help you obtain the weight loss that you want to achieve.
  • xampx
    xampx Posts: 323 Member
    I mix cocktails at my bfs most weekends. We tend to half the shots, or use a full one between us, but thats because we are cheap :)

    I have changed my lifestyle to a healthier one, but it still involves drinking. 2-3 cocktails every other Friday & Saturday night. If I mix them myself and log the ingredients. A typical example would be 3 cocktails for about 250 calories, which I fit into my day.

    I usually have vodka or rum with mixtures of lemon/lime/pineapple/orange/cranberry juices and diet lemonade.

    Your easiest option would be vodka with diet coke or lemonade.

    ETA: I have never been on a diet in my life and I am not about to start now
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    if you want to drink,,, THEN DRINK.
    i work my butt off double all week
    and i party the WHOLE WEEKEND.
    it can work.
  • Warchortle
    Warchortle Posts: 2,197 Member
    It halts protein synthesis... PFT Makin' NOO GAAAAINZ!
  • Fozzi43
    Fozzi43 Posts: 2,984 Member
    Do an extra workout to earn the calories..that's what I do.
  • melbournemummy79
    melbournemummy79 Posts: 80
    Steer clear of beer. There are some nice low cal options for wine now.
    Shots with diet soda are a better alternative.
  • RangerJess
    RangerJess Posts: 32
    If I know there's a night where I'm "going out" and may have a beer or two, I make sure to work out extra hard earlier in the day to earn the extra calories for it. I also drink less now that I'm dieting and MFP has helped me realize just how many calories are in my favorite drinks (aaaaaah!!!!!!!!) but I have one or two every now and then and I've still lost weight.

    I hope this helps!
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    just don't drink at all. Problem solved.

    Post number 5, a new record.
  • Daysednconfused
    Daysednconfused Posts: 975 Member
    I drink every Friday & Saturday night and I've lost 50 lbs. It can work, but it will work slower than if you don't drink. I have just started adding my average weekend drinks into my daily intake so that I don't have to kill myself working out on the weekends to fit it in. I think this is going to help me. I drink Captain or vodka and diet Sprite or 7up and log all of it. My main problem is hitting the "snack cabinet" after the booze!
  • Dfracassa
    Dfracassa Posts: 318 Member
    I have a glass of wine almost every night -- sometimes more than one (if I'm being honest). I even have a tab on my food diary just for alcohol -- you can check! Make it fit. And if it doesn't fit, make the next day a little bit better. I've gone over a few times with calories from beer, and you know what? I'm still alive and I'm still healthy. If you want a beer, you should have one. If you want a glass of wine, you should drink it. It might make your progress a little slower, but if you're still doing all the right things otherwise, why not enjoy yourself along the way? Do you think women in Italy and France are worried about this?
  • lindajay3
    lindajay3 Posts: 144 Member
    I think as long as you have calories there is no reason not to have a glass of wine (or two!). I would rather exercise a liitle more or watch what I eat during the day to enjoy a drink than not.
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,302 Member
    A half strength spirits with diet coke is only 35 calories - I have a couple once or twice a week and easily fit them into my calorie allowance.
  • teagirlmedium
    teagirlmedium Posts: 679 Member
    If you just want to get small for summer, but then give up the diet and drink and eat what you want, then should not drink because you would get small faster if you don't drink alcohol. If you want a diet you can keep up for a long time then, unless you see yourself being able to not drink any alcohol for that same amount of time, you should let yourself have your weekend drinks. Or you could switch to something you like but has less calories. This site also lets you log what alcohol you drank.
  • tommyo3000
    tommyo3000 Posts: 12
    Smoking a large joint has zero calories ;)
  • missy_1975
    missy_1975 Posts: 244 Member
    "Having a drink while dieting". Yes. That is all.


    (How about seeing what you are doing as a life long process of being fitter, healthier and stronger, rather than being "on" a diet. If you want to maintain all the benefits of doing this - being a healthy size, fitter etc, you'll be doing it for life. If you like a drink then have one! As long as you count it in I don't see an issue. I'm not quitting drinking until the medical profession tells me I have to :tongue: )

    This gal works out for wine.

    Cheers! :drinker:

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