Does alcohol count towards your daily calories?

kjarvo
kjarvo Posts: 236 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I know alcohol has calories in, but can you count it towards your 1200+ exercise? It has calories but no nutritional value so should it be an extra that you have to work off or can I actually count it towards your daily goal? Everyone reiterates that you must log it, but it has no nutrition.
The problem is you shouldn't drink on an empty stomach, and if I plan on drinking 500 calories I shouldn't only be eating 700.
What I have done previously is eaten my 1200, tried to do 500 calories of exercise to earn some of the alcohol and just accept the rest as going over my goal so I am not sick.

Yes I shouldn't plan on drinking that much but I'm a student. It's allowed.
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Replies

  • futurejedi
    futurejedi Posts: 111
    hoorah beer :drinker:
  • april979
    april979 Posts: 39
    I would count it towards my calories for sure, just means excercising more or eating less if I want to enjoy a drink
  • Abells
    Abells Posts: 756 Member
    umm yes it counts -- hence why people call it "empty calories" you are not getting nutrition out of it and yes it will cause you to gain weight as you are going to put yourself over your cals

    however -- it's is delicious and i love a good buzz
  • Thomasm198
    Thomasm198 Posts: 3,189 Member
    I know alcohol has calories in, but can you count it towards your 1200+ exercise? It has calories but no nutritional value so should it be an extra that you have to work off or can I actually count it towards your daily goal? Everyone reiterates that you must log it, but it has no nutrition.
    The problem is you shouldn't drink on an empty stomach, and if I plan on drinking 500 calories I shouldn't only be eating 700.
    What I have done previously is eaten my 1200, tried to do 500 calories of exercise to earn some of the alcohol and just accept the rest as going over my goal so I am not sick.

    Yes I shouldn't plan on drinking that much but I'm a student. It's allowed.

    I highlighted the answer for you.
  • shmerek
    shmerek Posts: 963 Member
    Anything you put in your mouth should be counted. Calories are calories regardless of their nutritional value.
  • FatFreeFrolicking
    FatFreeFrolicking Posts: 4,252 Member
    Of course alcohol counts. Log everything. I don't drink so I don't have that problem. It's a waste of calories if you ask me.
  • pamela_73
    pamela_73 Posts: 25 Member
    You may be over thinking is... it's all calories.. count it. But yes, it is a good idea to exercise to earn more calories.
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,345 Member
    I think your plan of earning the calories you plan to drink and getting your 1200 in actual food is a good one...
  • mathandcats
    mathandcats Posts: 786 Member
    For weight loss - absolutely. Log it. Also, if you are using MFP to calculate your calories burned, you probably are not actually burning 500 cal.
  • ErinMcMom
    ErinMcMom Posts: 228 Member
    It counts, and the calorie counts are usually sizeable (especially for mixed drinks/cocktails... forget about margaritas!)
    Maybe exercise and save some extra calories each day to enable yourself a few weekend drinks and still come in under your goal for the week.
  • Thomasm198
    Thomasm198 Posts: 3,189 Member
    Anything you put in your mouth should be counted. Calories are calories regardless of their nutritional value.

    Must.behave. lipssealed_zps445f9a45.gif
  • sarainiowa
    sarainiowa Posts: 287 Member
    Yes, it counts. It's a calorie.

    Work hard, play hard..... Enjoy!!
  • kjarvo
    kjarvo Posts: 236 Member
    I don't mean don't log it. I always do. I mean does it count towards your daily goal for food. Can I eat 700 calories, drink 500 for instance.
  • 4aces61
    4aces61 Posts: 292 Member
    I don't mean don't log it. I always do. I mean does it count towards your daily goal for food. Can I eat 700 calories, drink 500 for instance.
    If that's what you wanna do have at it but I wouldn't recommend it.

    EVERYTHING you put in your piehole counts!! Otherwise it doesn't work. :wink: :laugh:
  • shmerek
    shmerek Posts: 963 Member
    I don't mean don't log it. I always do. I mean does it count towards your daily goal for food. Can I eat 700 calories, drink 500 for instance.
    That would be pretty unhealthy as you wouldn't be getting much of the nutrients your body requires. Bad idea.
  • kjarvo
    kjarvo Posts: 236 Member
    You may be over thinking is... it's all calories.. count it. But yes, it is a good idea to exercise to earn more calories.

    I'm not over thinking it, if I drink 1200 worth of calories I can't 'eat less' i.e. nothing. I haven't fed my body for the day with any actual nutritional value.
  • kjarvo
    kjarvo Posts: 236 Member
    I don't mean don't log it. I always do. I mean does it count towards your daily goal for food. Can I eat 700 calories, drink 500 for instance.
    That would be pretty unhealthy as you wouldn't be getting much of the nutrients your body requires. Bad idea.

    That's what I mean, so does it not count towards my daily goal (yes I will still log it). Should I eat 1200 calories anyway and try to earn some of the alcohol calories with exercise and accept that I will probably be over for that day?
  • FatFreeFrolicking
    FatFreeFrolicking Posts: 4,252 Member
    You may be over thinking is... it's all calories.. count it. But yes, it is a good idea to exercise to earn more calories.

    I'm not over thinking it, if I drink 1200 worth of calories I can't 'eat less' i.e. nothing. I haven't fed my body for the day with any actual nutritional value.

    If your daily calorie goal is 1200 and you chose to consume those 1200 calories in alcohol, then no, you don't have any calories left for the day for food unless you go over your calorie goal for the day.
  • PeteWhoLikesToRunAlot
    PeteWhoLikesToRunAlot Posts: 596 Member
    It's definitely calories that need to be counted. My six month plateau proves it :/
  • PurpleCupcakes01
    PurpleCupcakes01 Posts: 141
    For weight loss - absolutely. Log it. Also, if you are using MFP to calculate your calories burned, you probably are not actually burning 500 cal.

    Yep mfp is very generous with calories burned.
  • Thomasm198
    Thomasm198 Posts: 3,189 Member
    It's pretty simple. If you want those 500 calories of alcohol, then you are going to have to do some exercise to fit them in..
  • JengaJess
    JengaJess Posts: 109 Member
    I'm not sure of your height/ weight, but chances are, you can eat more than 1,200 calories and still lose weight.
    I drink more than 500 calories on the weekends. I make sure to burn more on Friday at the gym and typically only eat 1,300 calories and then drink the rest in vodka :laugh:
    But I'm eating 1,700ish calories (probably more like 1,800 allowing room for miscalculations and extra calories).
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/
    Use this to help you out- you might be able to eat more calories and still lose weight. I've lost about .8- 1 lb a week eating 1,700ish calories a day. And probably more on the weekends (I'm kind of careless about logging on the weekend).
    But definitely don't eat only 700 calories and then start drinking.
    Also, find some low cal options if you need to (my go to is flavored vodka and club soda!)
  • FlashMorehouse
    FlashMorehouse Posts: 138 Member
    I know alcohol has calories in, but can you count it towards your 1200+ exercise? It has calories but no nutritional value so should it be an extra that you have to work off or can I actually count it towards your daily goal? Everyone reiterates that you must log it, but it has no nutrition.
    The problem is you shouldn't drink on an empty stomach, and if I plan on drinking 500 calories I shouldn't only be eating 700.
    What I have done previously is eaten my 1200, tried to do 500 calories of exercise to earn some of the alcohol and just accept the rest as going over my goal so I am not sick.

    Yes I shouldn't plan on drinking that much but I'm a student. It's allowed.

    It does in my world. Calories in. Calories out. Doesn't matter where they come from.
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,345 Member
    I think I know what the OP is asking - she has 1200 calories for the day, which is presumably supposed to be spent on fuelling her body. If she spends them on alcohol, is she doing herself a disservice? Answer - probably. Hence I think the plan of "earning" the alcohol calories is a good one. That was she still gets 1200 calories of food with actual nutrients.
  • smokinkudzu
    smokinkudzu Posts: 20 Member
    i try to leave about 100 calories for my nightcap, but i don't log my whiskey intake very often
  • PurpleCupcakes01
    PurpleCupcakes01 Posts: 141
    I would do a workout and use those calories to drink. You need at least 1200 so I wouldn't just do 700.
  • shmerek
    shmerek Posts: 963 Member
    I think I know what the OP is asking - she has 1200 calories for the day, which is presumably supposed to be spent on fuelling her body. If she spends them on alcohol, is she doing herself a disservice? Answer - probably. Hence I think the plan of "earning" the alcohol calories is a good one. That was she still gets 1200 calories of food with actual nutrients.
    What she said.
  • odddrums
    odddrums Posts: 342 Member
    Yep! getdrunknotfat.com is a great resource for staying under your goals, but rum and diet coke is a popular drink, or really any alcohol and diet soft drink. some days I can and don't go over, other days I go over and just don't care, or some days I just exercise more and use those calories. One major benefit it you see how much you're really drinking and end up drinking less, which realllllllly helps you meet your goals faster. Other major bonus, drinking less means you save money, and I become more of a lightweight so I end up drinking less and staying drunk longer! Many wins!
  • dopeysmelly
    dopeysmelly Posts: 1,390 Member
    I enjoy a glass of wine, and it's more-or-less the first thing I put in MFP every day, so I can make sure I can fit it in AND still meet my macros. Depending on the drink it does have other nutrients, but not a lot, and a better strategy might be to alternate alcohol with water or a zero calorie soda (fruit juice is calorie-dense). It's ridiculously easy to consume a load of calories with a few drinks. DH nearly keeled over when he figured out what a not-so-teeny martini was in terms of calories. And that was before he drank it..

    Also, my understanding is that MFP overestimates exercise so I would be careful about eating (or drinking..) back many calories.
  • NahrasWay
    NahrasWay Posts: 78 Member
    IMO eat your 1200 calories (if that's your goal, as suggested you probably can eat more) and get all your nutrients in and since you've planned for that 500 calories of alcohol then do your workouts to get that 500 calories. You need the nutrients and the stuff in your Macros more than you need the alcohol. Even if you didn't do the workout .. I kind of feel it would be better to get all that stuff in with your 1200 calories of food and go over on your calories for one day than it would be to only eat 700 calories of food and not get your nutrients and then drink that extra 500 empty calories just to reach a calorie goal.

    That's just MY opinion, to each their own and I am definitely no expert.

    Enjoy your time out though!

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