Alcohol n weight loss? Lets be real here.

Being real, this is my downfall. I've been on here for only two weeks. Last week, I drank beer and my calories skyrocketed for two days (because I ate a sober-me-up burrito after midnight). I ate around the 120o calorie mark all week, but this one day prevented me from losing anything.

This week, I switched to gin and seltzer water which was a little better. I realized as well, if I am going to drink, then I have to be strict all day, workout intensely to "earn" calories, and THEN limit myself. A lot of work. But still, the downfall came with late-night snacking. I'm not sure it's possible to drink and lose yet! Maybe at least in the beginning...

It's not doing me any harm - I just factor them into my calorie allowance for the day and don't go mad. If I go over allowance, I never go over TDEE, so no harm.

Precisely this!

I went over with beers a few nights ago, but hey, the host's AC wasn't working and the house was 81 degrees. No cold water anywhere. So I mean, what's a girl to do but crack open another one?

Regardless, I didn't go over my TDEE, so for one day, I'm not about to give myself guilt over it.

Alcohol is a big deterent to my weight loss. If you research it, not only the calories but the negative effect alcohol has on you metabolism. When you ingest alcohol your liver immediately goes to process those calories. Which are negative calories, mean while the real job of the liver is to process fat. while it's busy processing your alcohol the fat cells are having a party by themselves. So you may count those calories...but meanwhile they are multifplying because your liver is not processing the other body fats properly. That being said I am a drinker? Go figure. I preach to the choir. Someday I hope to reform

That is a great answer; thanks for the info!

Lucky for me, I rarely drink, but when I do I fit it into my calories like everything else. Whatever you do, stay away from Mike's Hard drinks; those things are filled with calories! I'm talking over 200 per bottle. Ouch!

One of the things that helps me with alcohol and my weight (which may not apply to your specific situation, but I have seen people where it does) is that I'm perfectly cool with having ONE drink.

Especially in my college years or those shortly thereafter, I had a number of friends who drank for the purpose of getting drunk, which meant drinking a LOT. That meant they packed on the calories. They were actually surprised that I was able to go out with them, have one or two drinks, and then call it quits.

So if people are able to limit themselves to one or two drinks, it's easier to fit alcohol into their plans. If they are the kind who, once they start drinking, they keep on drinking, it's harder. It's all about knowing yourself and your limitations.

Moderation most of the time, and then you indulge certain times and not feel guilty

75 calorie vodka in water mixed with mio.

I know I like my alcohol! I guess its just like chocolate for some, but after a good amount of chocolate your inhibitions don't get lowered the way they do with alcohol! Wise choices are out the window after a few drinks!

This is my problem with it as well - the lowering of inhibitions. Get a few drinks in me and my willpower and ability to make smart choices with food goes completely out the window. Prime example, spent a weekend with my best girlfriend in Boston a few months ago and we were both doing pretty well with the eating thing (not to mention walking our tails off all over the city all day) and decided our decadence would be a pitcher of margaritas. Once that was gone, we decided ordering an ooey gooey dessert would be a great idea. Then trail mix as a snack in the hotel... And some of that would've been ok if we'd gone out dancing or something but we stayed in and watched TV like old ladies. LOL!

So most of the time I just avoid the calories of alcohol and possibility of even more calories from indulging. But I will let loose a few times a year for special occassions.

i just smash beers when i need to, dont write it in the diary and just pretend like it never happened. im not saying this is good, or it works but its what i do

HAHA! LOVE IT

I drink 10 oz of red wine a night. I might bring it down to 5 soon, but I'm not willing to give up my wine. It fits easily within my calorie goal.

When I started with my personal trainer, our first converstation on my nutrition, I said "I'm not giving up my beer". He said I didn't have to unless it got in the way. It never really got in the way, but I still cut back. Granted that was partly because I skipped happy hour to go to the gym a lot. Summer is the hardest, there are just too many fun things to do that include drinking alcohol, and I enjoy it!

I would agree with this. My PT sees my log weekly, and, Yes, you can find martinis, margaritas, gin and tonics, and the like in my diary. I don't let it interfere with my macros or my calorie goals, and I don't let it interfere with my workouts.

Happy hour, anyone?

I save it for days when I've earned exercise calories, and treat myself to a glass or two of wine. And I try to measure my drinks to make sure.

You have to live your life. If that includes a tipple now and again, then so it does. I'm finding counting the calories helps me keep the units down too! I used to open a bottle of wine at the weekend, and finish it off - and my hubby would drink much less of it than me. Now, I cork it and save it because of the calories, but I know my liver is grateful too!

I drink every night. Usually about 4 beers. Stuck with my brand because I love it. Since this a life style change and I don't want to give up my beer, I just make sure that Its within my calorie. I don't plan on quitting and I'm still loosing and at almost goal. Good luck.

Early in the morning while the rest of the house is sleeping, I get on MFP and try to plan the day ahead, always starting with dinner and adding in a glass of wine (not every day but quite frequently....we do live near Napa/Sonoma after all)....then with the calories left (half my daily allowance) I split the rest between breakfast-lunch-afternoon snack. I find that if I do this, my alcohol fits in with my allowance and I have steadily lost weight every single week so it is not "breaking the bank". I also use this as my "sugar" as I'd rather have a glass of bubbly or a mojito than ice cream anyhow. Hope this helps.