Partying and Maintaining

dpr73
dpr73 Posts: 495 Member
in Goal: Maintaining Weight
I am a college student, 140lbs, 5'8, and eating 1900 cals a day (lost 60lbs, just coming out of dieting trying to up my calories to maintain). I am wondering if I can go to parties and have some drinks/fun without gaining weight. I really would like to but I just have a fear that after one day of drinking I'll gain a bunch of weight over night. Will a lifestyle where I eat 1900 calories, workout 5 times a week, and go out about one night on the weekends to drink be detrimental to maintaining my weight? Or is this a lifestyle that I can pursue?
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Replies

  • mdoyle28
    mdoyle28 Posts: 62 Member
    I go out roughly once a week and I like to have my drinks when I do and eat...hasn't effected me. I do still workout 5-6 days a week and do eat roughly 1700 calories, that's not including my night out calorie intake though. I am 5'8 and 145-148lbs. You should be fine but also pay attention to what you drink, I make a point of lo calorie beers and occasional shots or a cocktail but not many.
  • diamonddaveperry
    diamonddaveperry Posts: 23 Member
    It's college. Have fun in moderation and hit the gym a lot, which is what you're suggesting. No worries. Wanna trade places for a day? ;)
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Find a non-caloric method of partying. :smokin:
  • smanning1982
    smanning1982 Posts: 210 Member
    I've lost 16 lbs since January 1st and I have gone out drinking once a week! I'll be drinking tonight and possibly tomorrow night as a matter of fact! ;)

    If I know beforehand that Im going to be drinking, I eat less calories for the day and exercise that day. I normally eat around 1400-1500 calories. Today I will be eating 1300 calories and doing 30 mins of cardio since I know I'll probably consume a good 400-500 calories drinking.

    The place I go to has "skinny cocktails" they're actually really good and only 120 calories!
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    Find a non-caloric method of partying. :smokin:

    I agree with this. :smokin:
  • eddiesmith1
    eddiesmith1 Posts: 1,550 Member
    Look at your total week because a blow out night will make you feel guilty otherwise. if you are still withing your goal range for the week great, if not well then pick up someextra exercise or cut a little knowing you will gain back some. Low Cal beer (yeech can't stand it personally) COcktails can be low cal depends on the type. the sweet ones nope, but most of the classics should be fine (Manhattans martinis sidecars sours etc - just use moderation)
    Alcohol has a tendency to cause water retention so drink a load of water to offset it (helps with avoiding a hangover as well)
    have fun
  • Galatea_Stone
    Galatea_Stone Posts: 2,037 Member
    Absolutely! Just stay within a reasonable range of your TDEE and plan for it. If you know there's a party, pre-log your drinks. It's that simple.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    after one day of drinking I'll gain a bunch of weight over night.

    Maybe a little beer bloat, but not fat...our bodies just don't work that way...we don't put on fat overnight. The body naturally wants to maintain...it takes chronically under-eating (dieting) to override that ability and lose weight...same can be said for gaining...you have to chronically over-eat to override your body's ability to maintain and gain weight.

    None of this happens overnight...if it were that easy, you would have lost the weight overnight too.
  • kill3rtofu
    kill3rtofu Posts: 169 Member
    try saving all your carb calories for the beer you will ingest that evening. or switch to liquor
  • tedrickp
    tedrickp Posts: 1,229 Member
    I get my rockstar on often enough. Maybe once a month (a lot less in winter - or a lot more in summer). I personally cut my cals by about 200 per day (or eat the same but burn an extra 200 cals per day) for the week leading up to any events where I know I am going to drink enough to forget feelings.

    Give myself a nice 1200 or so cal buffer before I engage in sinning :drinker:
  • nathanhainescreates
    nathanhainescreates Posts: 1
    Drink gin and slimline tonic and you'll be being much kinder to yourself!
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Find a non-caloric method of partying. :smokin:

    I agree with this. :smokin:

    Yup

    or lower calories...I like my vodka and club soda with Ocean spray diet pom cranberry juice or I squirt a non calorie water flavor into it..or flavored vodka...

    Just be aware of the food consumed post party...:laugh: that's what always gets me...the pizza, sausages or poutine.
  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
    You are legitimately worried about gaining a bunch of weight overnight? As in fat weight?

    Come on. You've lost 60lbs, you should have a better understanding of how weight gain works. Stop thinking hysterical thoughts and think rationally and logically. Stay at a calorie maintenance numbers and you'll be fine.
  • tedrickp
    tedrickp Posts: 1,229 Member

    Just be aware of the food consumed post party...:laugh: that's what always gets me...the pizza, sausages or poutine.

    LOL Yes - I should have mentioned this. I have found it much easier to keep losing while partying, by avoiding eating like a maniac afterwards.

    Also - I can "eat all the things" when I am hungover - so I have to control that as well.
  • jkwolly
    jkwolly Posts: 3,049 Member
    You are legitimately worried about gaining a bunch of weight overnight? As in fat weight?

    Come on. You've lost 60lbs, you should have a better understanding of how weight gain works. Stop thinking hysterical thoughts and think rationally and logically. Stay at a calorie maintenance numbers and you'll be fine.
    This!
  • dpr73
    dpr73 Posts: 495 Member
    Should I eat on my normal routine or cut out calories over my day?

    I have this split already:
    Breakfast 350
    Snack 100
    Lunch 550
    Snack 100
    Dinner 600
    Snack 200

    The 200 calorie snack is usually a before bed snack so I am cutting that out. Do I need to compensat any further if I plan on going out tonight and drinking?
  • MissLeelooDallas
    MissLeelooDallas Posts: 145 Member
    Honestly, I wouldn't cut out meals just to account for partying. If it's just for drinking, I'd squeeze in a run or some other exercise before you go out. If not, do some extra exercising tomorrow if you go over your calorie limit.

    I'm going out tonight to a bar and then I'm going to go to a club to do some dancing. Dancing is a great way to have fun while you're out drinking and to also burn some serious calories. I don't intend to change my meals due to having drinks tonight, but I did do some extra cardio this morning and tonight's dancing should even me out.

    Have fun!

    Edit to fix typos
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Should I eat on my normal routine or cut out calories over my day?

    I have this split already:
    Breakfast 350
    Snack 100
    Lunch 550
    Snack 100
    Dinner 600
    Snack 200

    The 200 calorie snack is usually a before bed snack so I am cutting that out. Do I need to compensat any further if I plan on going out tonight and drinking?

    How about just live your life like a normal person. I've been maintaining for 9 months plus and I party like a rock star pretty much every Saturday night..I don't cut out meals...I don't do excessive extra exercise....I just live my normal life. I rock my nutrition and I rock my fitness...and then I cut lose once or twice per week...no biggie.

    You're just way over-thinking all of this.
  • dpr73
    dpr73 Posts: 495 Member
    Should I eat on my normal routine or cut out calories over my day?

    I have this split already:
    Breakfast 350
    Snack 100
    Lunch 550
    Snack 100
    Dinner 600
    Snack 200

    The 200 calorie snack is usually a before bed snack so I am cutting that out. Do I need to compensat any further if I plan on going out tonight and drinking?

    How about just live your life like a normal person. I've been maintaining for 9 months plus and I party like a rock star pretty much every Saturday night..I don't cut out meals...I don't do excessive extra exercise....I just live my normal life. I rock my nutrition and I rock my fitness...and then I cut lose once or twice per week...no biggie.

    You're just way over-thinking all of this.

    This is what I needed to hear! So basically I should just treat today like any other and go out and enjoy myself tonight without worrying?? Obviously I will be back on my usual regiment come tomorrow.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    unless you are planning on drinking 10,500 calories a night you will be fine..

    Like someone else said, it is college enjoy it while you are in because the real world sucks...well maybe not that much, but college is wayyyy more fun..

    I still drink on weekends and I maintain at about 175# and 12% body fat...
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    There's a whole world of difference between remaining vigilant while maintaining and getting obsessive.

    Lighten up a little - you're 19 and have successfully lost 60lbs. Enjoy your success rather than be trapped by it.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member

    Just be aware of the food consumed post party...:laugh: that's what always gets me...the pizza, sausages or poutine.

    LOL Yes - I should have mentioned this. I have found it much easier to keep losing while partying, by avoiding eating like a maniac afterwards.

    Also - I can "eat all the things" when I am hungover - so I have to control that as well.

    oh yea, those late night what a burger or waffle house runs KILL me...
  • The_Enginerd
    The_Enginerd Posts: 3,982 Member
    Should I eat on my normal routine or cut out calories over my day?

    I have this split already:
    Breakfast 350
    Snack 100
    Lunch 550
    Snack 100
    Dinner 600
    Snack 200

    The 200 calorie snack is usually a before bed snack so I am cutting that out. Do I need to compensat any further if I plan on going out tonight and drinking?
    Just hit a weekly average (app makes this easy) and enjoy the weekends. Even an occasional really high day without compensating isn't going to kill you and cause you to gain your weight back if you keep things on track most of the time. I've been maintaining for over two years, and I've had days over 5000 calories (and compared to some people, that's not even all that high of a spike day).
  • xmichaelyx
    xmichaelyx Posts: 883 Member

    How about just live your life like a normal person. I've been maintaining for 9 months plus and I party like a rock star pretty much every Saturday night..I don't cut out meals...I don't do excessive extra exercise....I just live my normal life. I rock my nutrition and I rock my fitness...and then I cut lose once or twice per week...no biggie.

    You're just way over-thinking all of this.

    Agreed. I'm 41, drink heavily and eat whatever I want on the weekends, and am still losing a pound per week just by slowing down a little during the week.

    One thing, though: 140 pounds is pretty small, unless you're very short. I'm curious why you don't want to gain? I so wish that at 19 (when I was 130 or so pounds) I'd had the body I have now.
  • a_stronger_me13
    a_stronger_me13 Posts: 812 Member
    Absolutely! Just stay within a reasonable range of your TDEE and plan for it. If you know there's a party, pre-log your drinks. It's that simple.

    This.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    There's a whole world of difference between remaining vigilant while maintaining and getting obsessive.

    Lighten up a little - you're 19 and have successfully lost 60lbs. Enjoy your success rather than be trapped by it.

    This.

    Also, you are male. 140lbs at 5'8" is on the skinny side. You could easily go on a nice slow bulk, which as a side effect will give you room for some beer.... not that I'd encourage those under 21 to drink, unless you are in the UK, or Canada, then by all means.
  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    I lost weight when I was at university and I went out drinking more than once a week lol (I'm British, part of our university 'culture' :smile: )
  • acarmelo1
    acarmelo1 Posts: 76 Member
    If you have lots of sex, that will be enough exercise for those days that you go partying.
  • DamePiglet
    DamePiglet Posts: 3,730 Member
    You are legitimately worried about gaining a bunch of weight overnight? As in fat weight?

    Come on. You've lost 60lbs, you should have a better understanding of how weight gain works. Stop thinking hysterical thoughts and think rationally and logically. Stay at a calorie maintenance numbers and you'll be fine.
    This!

    This again and also.

    And also sex.
    And also this: :smokin:
    And then more sex.
    Rinse and repeat.
  • ashleycde
    ashleycde Posts: 622 Member
    When I go out for drinks with friends now I'll curb my intake or hit the bike for a little longer so I still have room for a half litre of pinot grigio and a decedent snack (where we go, I usually order escargot in garlic butter). If you're doing the college thing, I'd suggest avoiding high calorie beers and drinking vodka sodas (just don't overdo it). At a bar I'll generally order a vodka on the rocks with a lime, but I did this even before trying to lose weight, so that may be an acquired taste if your'e used to fruitier cocktails. Also, a little tidbit that most people don't know, but Guinness, because it is slightly lower in alcohol content (4.2 as opposed to the average 5%) is actually lower in calories, and I well prefer it to any light beers on the market. Good to know just in time for St. Patrick's Day, I may add.
    I like my vodka and club soda with Ocean spray diet pom cranberry juice or I squirt a non calorie water flavor into it..or flavored vodka...

    Just be aware of the food consumed post party...:laugh: that's what always gets me...the pizza, sausages or poutine.

    Another Canadian! It's true, it is the after partying food that gets you. Poutine and cheeseburgers are my achilles heel at 3AM. Mixing with diet juices or water flavourings is a great idea if you're into fruity drinks, I hadn't even thought of suggesting that.

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