Alcohol Conundrum

Thanks for all the help!

For everyone getting offended about the "we all" statement-

I think it's really rude of you to feel the need to point out that I made this "assumption." This is suppose to be a positive and encouraging website.

Instead of being helpful or not saying anything you decided that it was more important to try and make me feel negative about typing 5 letters on a keyboard.

Don't let her comments bother you. I'm sure that a lot of her 10,000 posts are unsupportive and mean spirited as this one was. There are more than a few people here that don't give any type of positive feedback ever.

I also struggle with this, but have learned a few things:

Timing:
When I'm trying to maximize the effects of alcohol but don't want to drink all night I make sure to hydrate (this works for me) and drink on a nearly empty stomach. Granted this takes some experimentation to avoid getting sick, but it's worth it calorically and financially, to achieve "toasty" from a glass and a half of wine or one cocktail. But don't skip eating altogether. That's not a good look.

Budget for it:
I second hitting the gym before a night out AND sticking to hard alcohol and diet soda. Log it of course, but you'll be pleasantly surprised by the wiggle room you have when you burn first and drink later.

Have a stand by ahead of time:
Another good bang for my caloric buck is artisan IPA. I can't drink artisan beer as quickly as a cocktail so it lasts quite a bit longer and since it's an artisan beer, there's generally a higher alcohol percentage so I don't drink as many.

Another alcohol option is to learn to like wine. Again, if you budget for it - alcohol content is generally slightly higher than a commercial beer, you'll still sip it rather than glug it, and if budgeted for is fairly inexpensive calorically. If you stick with a prosecco or a reisling you'll spend 105 - 118 calories per 5 oz glass but slightly higher carb content than a red.

Stay away from moscatos, and roses, and champagnes. I find that the sweeter wines have a waaaaay higher sugar and carbohydrate content than you would think.

Just out of interest, why would looks come into this? Do people that are not the best looking cut down on their alcohol intake, too?

Just out of interest, why would looks come into this? Do people that are not the best looking cut down on their alcohol intake, too?

I'm talking lookswise in the sense that when I drink, my face gets bloated, my skin looks reddish & I generally look way crappier than when I don't drink. Probably due to dehydration & your body compensating by retaining water.

I don't mean that people who are prettier don't drink, I didn't phrase that in the best possible way.

Thanks for all the help!

For everyone getting offended about the "we all" statement-

I think it's really rude of you to feel the need to point out that I made this "assumption." This is suppose to be a positive and encouraging website.

Instead of being helpful or not saying anything you decided that it was more important to try and make me feel negative about typing 5 letters on a keyboard.

Don't let her comments bother you. I'm sure that a lot of her 10,000 posts are unsupportive and mean spirited as this one was. There are more than a few people here that don't give any type of positive feedback ever.

Not sure who you're talking about but (a) I don't see anyone with 10,000 posts and (b) everyone on this page is trying to be helpful (and those you single out are often helpful in previous posts, too!). I posted similar threads in the past asking about alcohol consumption, & I totally missed what the majority of people were saying - that it's fine to drink if you fit it into your cals & your goals, that you can choose lower-calorie options, and that a couple drinks a week won't kill your diet.

However, what I found myself thinking after reading the responses to these threads was "oh cool! all these people are skinny and they drink - I must be able to do it and lose weight too!" What I failed to notice was that the majority of people (and the vast majority in this thread) are relegating their alcohol to one or two days a week, and offsetting it with less calories and extra cardio.

So yes, I DO appreciate the perspective that not all of us drink (even though I do). In fact, MOST of the best-looking, in-best-shape people I know have either cut the booze out entirely & have significantly scaled back.

I'm off my soapbox, but I get annoyed (1) when people get easily offended and (2) when people miss the forest for the trees.

People may be trying to help - just because you didn't get the answer you wanted doesn't make their point invalid.

Just out of interest, why would looks come into this? Do people that are not the best looking cut down on their alcohol intake, too?

Vodka or light rum with seltzer, then I add a squirt of the Crystal Light liquid I carry around with me, any flavor. Or a light beer or glass of wine (pinot grigio or pinot noir have less calories) as long as you've saved up calories from the day. The key is keeping it to a few. Try having an alcoholic drink, then a glass of water, then another drink. The water keeps you hydrated and stretches out the drinks over time.

Who is "we all", some of us can unwind in other ways