Alcohol...my biggest downfall!!!

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  • fliedlice84
    fliedlice84 Posts: 9
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    We may be twins! I have the same problem. Thankfully, I'm not a beer drinking, but man, oh man...champagne brunches really screw with me. Beer drinkers have Bellies, and I have a Champagne Belly. It's pretty gnarls. I'm in the process of doing those lipocavitation things to try and reduce it...I'm not really sure it's helping, I digress.

    But to answer your questions, there are several changes I made to my drinking that helped. 1 - I'm a whiskey girl, and I became that way because it has less calories than other hard alcohol (well not vodka, but I can't stand the stuff!). 2 - I started to order ALL my drinks with water (inside). If I want to go hard, I'll have a Maker's Mark with a splash of water. If I'm going to be drinking all night, it's a whiskey and water. I basically get half of the alcohol intake, but still get my physical "drink fix" - if I have an empty glass...all hell breaks loose and I need a refill stat!

    My tummy can't handle sweet drinks or cocktails, but if it suits you, in my young professional years it was common to order flavored Stoli with sparkling water and twist of lemon/lime. It's actually pretty good, refreshing, low in calories.
  • Fsunami
    Fsunami Posts: 241 Member
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    Sorry missy your attitude sucks. Just putting it out there. It really does. Face it maybe food isn't your only issue. In fact I can assure you it isn't. Also your "free drink" attitude AND your avatar speaks volumes.

    Pot, Kettle, Black.

    You've divined this somehow from reading a few of her posts?

    She's 20. and was specific in what she was asking for.

    The only thing you can assure anyone of is youre pretty judgemental.

    And yeah, I divined that from the blurb you wrote. I didn't even need an avatar to figure it out.
  • BigT555
    BigT555 Posts: 2,068 Member
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    Sorry missy your attitude sucks. Just putting it out there. It really does. Face it maybe food isn't your only issue. In fact I can assure you it isn't. Also your "free drink" attitude AND your avatar speaks volumes.
    i actually laughed at the ignorance of this post. how can you call yourself canadian, hoser
  • BarbieFromHellx
    BarbieFromHellx Posts: 758 Member
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    Sorry missy your attitude sucks. Just putting it out there. It really does. Face it maybe food isn't your only issue. In fact I can assure you it isn't. Also your "free drink" attitude AND your avatar speaks volumes.

    I got a good laugh from this :laugh: I think your attitude is miles worse than mine, just by reading this post. I don't feel the need to judge people wrongly and write nasty spiteful comments to others in their threads haha :)
  • peleroja
    peleroja Posts: 3,979 Member
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    Oh, man, the irresponsible part of your twenties is too short not to go out and party if you enjoy it. Just because not everyone DOES enjoy it doesn't make it wrong as long as you keep yourself safe and maintain a healthy non-dependent attitude.

    When I was losing weight, I just chose to go out less often, or chose events that weren't as drinking-centric (like I'd go to a backyard barbecue and have one beer rather than going to dive-bar karaoke where everyone was slamming highballs, or I'd go split a bottle of wine with a friend at a fancy bar rather than drinking margaritas all night at the cheap Mexican place.) Hanging out with your drunk friends when you're sober isn't always an awesome time, so I found it was better just to attend stuff selectively and skip the 2nd time in a week my friends were hitting the dance floor until 3AM. It's cheaper, too.

    My friends are all now used to me being super firm with them at the bar. I just keep yelling "Vodka water!" in their ears and now that's just what everyone habitually orders me. I only drink the fun, fruity-sweet stuff when I'm only having one or two drinks.

    Sometimes I chose the designated driver option too. If you drive, you might consider going out and being the DD so there's no pressure to drink at all but you can still hang out with your friends.
  • healthyscratch1978
    healthyscratch1978 Posts: 76
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    I might have a different take on things than most, since I will not give up my rockstar nights.

    I say go out, enjoy yourself and it's a new day the next day.

    Now obviously, it simply isn't something you will be able to do every weekend anymore, unless you limit your intake. You can also try switching to lower calorie drinks (this site will help: http://getdrunknotfat.com/).

    The main thing for me was to limit any eating I do while drunk - and I don' t have any advice for that - but that was my biggest downfall. The alcohol calories were bad enough, but once you added all the food I ate then I could easily ruin an entire weeks' deficit. I simply had to stop all the drunk eating.

    Great site, thanks Ted!

    I went a little overboard with the Guiness on Saturday night. But I planned for it, and ate a pretty light lunch. Only ended up about 200 cals over my daily goal, which I made up in slight deficits the rest of the week.

    I've gotta say though, hangovers are worse if you're on a deficit. Much worse. I think I'm probably going to try to just drink a little less, because the headache is just not worth it.
  • cathipa
    cathipa Posts: 2,991 Member
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    Red wine is fairly low in calories and carbs (if you are watching them). I still have my once in a while one-to-many, but I just make sure I drink plenty of water before bed and the next day because the water weight is what drives up the scale for me. I also don't drink during the week and typically only have 2-4 on the weekends. I do measure everything (OCD I know), but I find it keeps me in check. And don't let the Debbie Downers get you. Some of them have forgotten what it is like to be human.
  • xhecate
    xhecate Posts: 17
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    I used to have a very active social life. Then I decided to lose weight. Now my active life is in the gym! But it's not all bad, for me I enjoy the strength and solace the gym brings me. But that's just me.
  • DaivaSimone
    DaivaSimone Posts: 657 Member
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    When I was your age, I was drinking until the point I would almost passed out, and I would do a lot of drunk eating. Life was good! Now that I am a little bit older, and a little more wussy about hangover and short sleep nights, I moderate my drinking by chosing to drink only things I find good enough (in taste) to spend calories on.

    Actually, those drinks worth of spending calories are, for me, a good red wine (and even with wine, I'm picky), an Old Fashioned made with a kick *kitten* bourbon (Old Fashioned are basically made with spirit and a pinch of sugar, so it's probably lower in calorie then a lot of cocktails, but you have to love your drinks stiff and bitter) or a crafted IPA beer (70 IBU or more, it's the bomb). And, in some case, I will also say yes to gin and tonic (with handcrafted tonic syrup and small batch gin, how can you say no?) and caïpirinas (another drink made with spirit and a pinch of sugar only).

    The fact that I'm quite picky over my drink comes with the fact that my drinking is usually well planned (that helps a lot for controling alcohol calories), and I will drink more often at home with my BF than in bars. When I go out with friends, I usuallty drink soda water with lime, except if the bar have a good selection of bourbon and can make me a good Old Fashioned (or a mint julep! I forgot that one on my list). What I have learned while becoming a picky drinker is that I can enjoy a night out with friends without alcohol if I want to, I just have to decide that drinking does not worth it for that night. This is not sacrificing your social life: you still have a social life if you're not drinking, And on the days you chose to actually drink for real, you enjoy your drinks a lot more. It's like best of the both world.
  • maz504
    maz504 Posts: 450
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    I don't know what a fortnight is but if you're only going out once in a while, just go out, enjoy it, and move on? I go out drinking maaaybe twice a month (and maybe have a glass of wine on a few nights in between) and it hasn't derailed anything. Maybe slowed down my progress for a few days but it certainly isn't the end of the world. If you want to do something sustainable you have to allow yourself room for pleasures as well as discipline.

    ETA:
    and nobody wants to be in a state where they have no control over what they're doing..

    Speak for yourself! When I go out I make it count. :wink: :drinker:
  • Heirgreat
    Heirgreat Posts: 262 Member
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    champagne!!! Low crb, gets me tipsy and laughing quick and I also ensure I drink water or diet soda, I really like red wines but more sugar, I stay away from the mixed drinks, just too many calories almost fell out of my chair (not because I was drunk!) when I looked up how many calories my dirty Vodka martini packed compaired to champagne--also I now keep a tab, drink one alcohol drinks, if long night next few are w/out alcohol, then have another, limit to 4 drinks max for the eveninng, but I must down a liter or more of the other non alcoholic stuff. Works out too because I don't have to deal w/ hangover and I do limit it to weekend dates only.

    Am thinking about less alcohol in my life given I am an old lady now, but nawwwwww, work to hard, my glass of wine or champagne after work on Friday nights I am not giving up, still losing so not a problem,

    Hey, since you've received so many little nips on this thread, just to be redundant, don't drink and drive:) Take care have a good journey.
  • fatcity66
    fatcity66 Posts: 1,544 Member
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    champagne!!! Low crb, gets me tipsy and laughing quick and I also ensure I drink water or diet soda, I really like red wines but more sugar, I stay away from the mixed drinks, just too many calories almost fell out of my chair (not because I was drunk!) when I looked up how many calories my dirty Vodka martini packed compaired to champagne--also I now keep a tab, drink one alcohol drinks, if long night next few are w/out alcohol, then have another, limit to 4 drinks max for the eveninng, but I must down a liter or more of the other non alcoholic stuff. Works out too because I don't have to deal w/ hangover and I do limit it to weekend dates only.

    Am thinking about less alcohol in my life given I am an old lady now, but nawwwwww, work to hard, my glass of wine or champagne after work on Friday nights I am not giving up, still losing so not a problem,

    Hey, since you've received so many little nips on this thread, just to be redundant, don't drink and drive:) Take care have a good journey.

    Sorry, but champagne has TONS of sugar. :noway:

    ETA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champagne_(wine)

    "Méthode Champenoise is the traditional method by which Champagne is produced. After primary fermentation and bottling, a second alcoholic fermentation occurs in the bottle. This second fermentation is induced by adding several grams of yeast (usually Saccharomyces cerevisiae, although each brand has its own secret recipe) and several grams of rock sugar."
  • eAddict
    eAddict Posts: 212 Member
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    Spirits with diet drinks are lowest calories, I always go with vodka and diet coke
    Vodka and diet coke is always a favourite!

    Skip the Diet Soda.
  • Pectinbean
    Pectinbean Posts: 62 Member
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    I have little to no self control when I drink. It's ridiculous. Not so much with the getting hammered but with the eating badly and sneaky cigarette Not to mention hungover eat-a-thons. I'm a week into a 2 month hiatus from alcohol. I won't be hungover so there's no excuse not to do early morning runs on weekends, I'll save money, I'll eat better and I won't bleedin smoke (I NEVER do soberly).

    I reckon it's about changing mentality. Going to the pub is a release but I don't have to let go of everything! Hoping the 2 month dry spell will knock some sense into me. I do miss a wee Brew Dog of a Friday night already though (it's only been one Friday!)

    If you're not up for a break for booze, how about splitting rounds into water - booze - water?
  • xMrBunglex
    xMrBunglex Posts: 1,121 Member
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    When I started this journey, I partied hard. I did the same things a lot of people preach: worked out a lot, and logged all of my drinks in the calorie counter (for me, Jim Beam & Diets - at 105 cals a pop).

    Did I lose weight? Yes, the first 30-40 lbs or so came off rather easily. It became a slippery slope though, when I would tally up the drinks and say "Whoa, I better skip lunch if I want to party tonight & stay under goal." Also, although I got smaller & required less booze to get the same effect, I still drank as much as a 240-lb fat@ss.

    So a couple years ago, while ping-ponging around 175-185 lbs, I decided to see how big a role alcohol played in my inability to lose those stubborn "last 10 pounds" - after all, my goal was to get under 180 and I was having a hell of a time getting there. Not to mention I was on the other side of 40 and partying was starting to get a little boring, honestly.

    So, I took the plunge & gave it up. Dec 31, 2011 was my last drink.

    And I'm now down to 167 lbs & I'm as lean as I was in my mid-20s. I feel better than I've felt since then, too.

    Is there a correlation? Ab-so-****ing-lutely. Can you drink & lose weight? Sure. Can you drink as much as some people say they do and truly be healthy? Doubt it.

    I'll admit, I'm a bit of an extreme case. I'm sure there is a happy medium somewhere. Good luck!
  • suediet55
    suediet55 Posts: 27 Member
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    Hi I know exactly what you mean. i either drink brandy/diet coke or red wine.So now every other round i will try and just have diet coke so i'm not drinking as much. then hopfully i wont go over board and eat everything in sight. If i am drinking in the house i limit to 2 glasses of wine. Hope this helps
  • completeoneeighty
    completeoneeighty Posts: 3
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    I Have noticed a lot of people on here curse alcohol with a magic wand, but I dont see why. Sure, if you are drinking every day or even 2-3 days a week, it may be a bit excessive, but there is no harm in having a free day where you can take some shots back and drown a few if thats what floats your boat. If you work hard the rest of the week, I really dont see any harm in having a few drinks on a saturday night.
  • MiniMarc
    MiniMarc Posts: 19
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    just possted a thread on this. I always sabotage my results! I tend not to eat crap or over eat when i drink but beer is my vice and it goes straight to my stomach. The problem is i dont want a life without beer. Its not so much the calories its more the chemical/hormonal inbalances particularly beer creates which i worry about as not only is it calories but it will affect how your body stores fat/makes muscle for days after
  • StevenH74
    StevenH74 Posts: 129
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    When I started this journey, I partied hard. I did the same things a lot of people preach: worked out a lot, and logged all of my drinks in the calorie counter (for me, Jim Beam & Diets - at 105 cals a pop).

    Did I lose weight? Yes, the first 30-40 lbs or so came off rather easily. It became a slippery slope though, when I would tally up the drinks and say "Whoa, I better skip lunch if I want to party tonight & stay under goal." Also, although I got smaller & required less booze to get the same effect, I still drank as much as a 240-lb fat@ss.

    So a couple years ago, while ping-ponging around 175-185 lbs, I decided to see how big a role alcohol played in my inability to lose those stubborn "last 10 pounds" - after all, my goal was to get under 180 and I was having a hell of a time getting there. Not to mention I was on the other side of 40 and partying was starting to get a little boring, honestly.

    So, I took the plunge & gave it up. Dec 31, 2011 was my last drink.

    And I'm now down to 167 lbs & I'm as lean as I was in my mid-20s. I feel better than I've felt since then, too.

    Is there a correlation? Ab-so-****ing-lutely. Can you drink & lose weight? Sure. Can you drink as much as some people say they do and truly be healthy? Doubt it.

    I'll admit, I'm a bit of an extreme case. I'm sure there is a happy medium somewhere. Good luck!

    This is pretty amazing to be honest. I am heavier than you are but my goal is what you have achieved. I start at 125kg and have lost 6kg. I am aiming to be 85.

    Booze is my biggest demon. I have managed though to get down to maybe only two nights a week, maybe my next step is one and then nothing for a few weeks and then nothing.... I am trying, I am hoping.....
  • ChristineRoze
    ChristineRoze Posts: 212 Member
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    I only drink once a month, but when i do drink it's to get drunk I'm not going to lie haha. I used to consume like 2500 + calories of alcohol depending on what i drink. So now i try to buy things like coke zero & jacks, Diet lemonade & vodka or sugar free cruisers.

    Some of the clubs here even sell the sugar free cruisers or make diet lemonade and vodka which helps.

    But when i know i'm going to have a really big night and i don't want to spend my time paranoid about calories, i just don't eat much during the day. I'll eat as little calories as possible in food, and then drink alcohol and have a nice big breaky the next day (eggs & bacon etc) :)

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