Can't give up alcohol - started replacing meals with beer...

v6s30
v6s30 Posts: 43
in Health and Weight Loss
Hiya. I am 5ft8 and 146lb (female) and am looking to lose another 20 pounds..

My total calorie goal is 1250 excluding tea and coffee (almond milk no sugar) so probably ends up at 1300

I am finding it hard to fit alcohol into my daily allowance. After work I feel like I need a drink or two and can't imagine not drinking... so to fit into my calorie goal i'm having to skip dinner in favor of beer.

Do you guys know of any really low calorie beers I can buy with good alcohol content? Thanks :)
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Replies

  • Fentyman
    Fentyman Posts: 58 Member
    Are you trolling me!? Am i being trolled!?
  • sheedy17
    sheedy17 Posts: 128
    AA seems like a better option than MFP
  • GothyFaery
    GothyFaery Posts: 762 Member
    Not trying to be mean but you might want to seek help. It's not healthy to "need" alcohol every day. As far as low cal beers, doesn't someone make a 64 calorie beer?
  • 126siany
    126siany Posts: 1,386 Member
    It's already extremely difficult to get full nutrition on such a low calorie goal. Replacing a quarter of those calories with a few drinks a day is quite ill-advised.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    I'm a 5' 8" female and went from 145 lbs to 135 lbs eating 1800 - 2000 cals a day. Beer fits into that goal, a long with regular food. You could probably stand to up your calories, depending on your activity level, and rather than replacing a meal with nothing but a beer, have the drink along with a healthy dinner, and still lose the weight.
  • dalesimpson1
    dalesimpson1 Posts: 26 Member
    When I want a beer I have a Miller 64 or Bud Light 55, although I am a regular whisky drinker.
  • thavoice
    thavoice Posts: 1,326 Member
    She sounds like a party girl.

    We likey a party girl!
  • DanaDark
    DanaDark Posts: 2,187 Member
    Beers tend to have high calories due to being mostly not alcohol.

    Presses (Flavored Vodka and Soda Water) will be your best bet, coming in at around 100 calories a pop (while a beer will bring you about 140 calories per 12 oz).

    If you can keep to two presses, you can rig your dinners to be low calorie and very nutritious still.

    Example dinner:

    4 oz chopped grilled chicken breast covered in 1/2 diced bell pepper served over a bed of spinach and/or romaine lettuce and a glass or two of water will come in at around 300 calories.

    I LOVE to go have a drink too. But if it gets to the point of affecting your nutrition, then it becomes a problem and needs to be scaled back some.

    Alternatively, you could pick up exercise to offset the increased calorie intake.
  • abadvat
    abadvat Posts: 1,241 Member
    yea-k.gif
  • hambonester
    hambonester Posts: 1
    You could drink Miller Lite. 4.2%alc 96 calories/12 oz.. I like it fine for when I'm having a few... then a few more. You will rack up calories if you drink higher carb beers like a micro-brew. Dont waste your time with miller 64 or Amstel lite or Bud 55. they have like 2.4% alc. so if catching a buzz is your goal those brands are a bust. If you like the taste you could save calories with these, but they taste like water anyway. Another option, do any exercise you love (p90x3 is only 30 min) and you can drink those calories without guilt. Party on!
  • jld11050
    jld11050 Posts: 8
    Most of the lite beers are crap with the exception maybe of miller lite or amstel.. but thats my taste. Do you need the alcohol or are you a bar person. I am aheavy drinker- 3-4 days a week at the bar but have found its the bar not the alcohol so I switched to nonalcoholic beer. Haven't had a drink in 3 weeks - not going to until sept 4th ( opening day football go seahawks!) - Maybe try non alcoholic beer 5 days and reg 2 to start you off.
  • arnostbilej
    arnostbilej Posts: 56
    I'd say switch to weed ... but that, unfortunately, opens another Pandora's box of endless munchies. :smokin:
  • emtjmac
    emtjmac Posts: 1,320 Member
    Here's the problem: the lower the calories, the lower the alcohol content. If you're drinking to feel the effects of alcohol then you will not be happy with some low calorie beers. Bud Select 55 calorie beer has 2.4% alcohol... 2% more than non-alcoholic beer.
  • jld11050
    jld11050 Posts: 8
    or switch to vodka on the rocks - 40-60 calories and no fat
  • Cliffslosinit
    Cliffslosinit Posts: 5,044 Member
    I'm a 5' 8" female and went from 145 lbs to 135 lbs eating 1800 - 2000 cals a day. Beer fits into that goal, a long with regular food. You could probably stand to up your calories, depending on your activity level, and rather than replacing a meal with nothing but a beer, have the drink along with a healthy dinner, and still lose the weight.

    ^^this and....
    2cwnz3k.jpg
  • eric_sg61
    eric_sg61 Posts: 2,925 Member
    Give it up to reach your goal, then add some back in when you reach it. It might fit your diet easier at maintenance.
  • macrylan
    macrylan Posts: 7
    Why do people feel the need to be rude? smfh.. answer the question or don't answer at all……

    but here is my two cents when I NEED a drink or two since some work days leaving you thirsty! I usually have 2 vodka waters with cucumbers or lemon. it's not everyones cup of tea but it works for me! I also have a glass of water for each drink I have! Alcohol makes you retain water so don't give it the chance to by alternating an alcoholic drink and glass of water :-)
  • BrainyBurro
    BrainyBurro Posts: 6,129 Member
    Hiya. I am 5ft8 and 146lb (female) and am looking to lose another 20 pounds..

    My total calorie goal is 1250 excluding tea and coffee (almond milk no sugar) so probably ends up at 1300

    I am finding it hard to fit alcohol into my daily allowance. After work I feel like I need a drink or two and can't imagine not drinking... so to fit into my calorie goal i'm having to skip dinner in favor of beer.

    Do you guys know of any really low calorie beers I can buy with good alcohol content? Thanks :)

    if this is real, it sounds like you may have a drinking problem.

    with that out of the way, add some exercise every day so you have a higher calorie allowance. weight loss really isn't rocket surgery. eat less than your TDEE every day to lose weight. if you don't have room for everything you want to eat (drink), then increase your TDEE or decrease your deficit.
  • Delquin
    Delquin Posts: 33 Member
    Hiya. I am 5ft8 and 146lb (female) and am looking to lose another 20 pounds..

    FYI, you're already in your ideal body weight zone for your height. Dropping to 126 will make you at the extreme low end, and beyond that well underweight.
    I am finding it hard to fit alcohol into my daily allowance.

    So don't. You do know that alcohol is poisonous to your body, right? (And yes, I did drink and occasionally drink.)
    After work I feel like I need a drink or two and can't imagine not drinking...

    No one needs alcohol. If you can't imagine not having a drink, you need to talk to someone about your dependency on alcohol.
    so to fit into my calorie goal i'm having to skip dinner in favor of beer.

    And if you're skipping nutrition for poison, please go talk to someone immediately.
  • JoelleAnn78
    JoelleAnn78 Posts: 1,492 Member
    Why do people feel the need to be rude? smfh.. answer the question or don't answer at all……

    but here is my two cents when I NEED a drink or two since some work days leaving you thirsty! I usually have 2 vodka waters with cucumbers or lemon. it's not everyones cup of tea but it works for me! I also have a glass of water for each drink I have! Alcohol makes you retain water so don't give it the chance to by alternating an alcoholic drink and glass of water :-)

    I missed the rude responses. Pointing out that someone may have a drinking problem is not only NOT rude, but could be helpful for this individual moving forward. If I was replaceing meals with alcohol, and seeking ways to fit food into my day around my alcohol, I'd want someone to point out that this could be a red flag. Thanks though. Carry On.......

    Oh, and in the interest of answering the question... since I am certain this was a "rude" response by your standards.... I drink bourbon & diet - about 100 calories. Don't like beer, so I can't really help you there.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Sounds like you're a well-adjusted person.
  • v6s30
    v6s30 Posts: 43
    Thanks (most of you) for your advice. I have decided to stop eating back my exercise calories so 1250 is total calories. I don't want to use my exercise kcals every day because unfortunately I sometimes have to have cheat days which I use my exercise calories for. I am thinking of switching to spirits but I don't enjoy drinking them and I drink beer because I love the taste as well as the alcohol. Maybe I should explore some spirit options that I will like. I think my family will start judging me if I start drinking vodka alone though....
  • oldusa100
    oldusa100 Posts: 2
    I had the same situation. I switched from beer to scotch and when that got too expensive, I switched to vanilla stoli and diet coke. There's a great resource in getdrunknotfat.com

    I also increased my cardio to offset drinking, but sometimes it wasn't enough.
  • martinel2099
    martinel2099 Posts: 899 Member
    Not trying to be negative, but giving up meals for beer isn't the right attitude. I'm also wondering why your calorie goal is so low, what's your weight loss goal per week if you don't mind me asking?

    Here's a better way to do it, and this is a real example as I'm going out drinking tonight with a buddy of mine, feel free to look at my diary for today.

    Tonight I'm going over to a buddies place to drink, have a good time and play video games (typical guy night I know). I know I will probably at most have 6 cans of miller lite, or 72 oz, so I'm planning my day around the amount of beer. I had a lite breakfast (I don't usually do breakfast but I woke up hungry today), had a lean cuisine for lunch, have a planned snack and I'm either going to chilli's or applebees with him tonight for dinner. I've prepared for dinner by adding two healthy choice entrees to my tracker, I'll just delete the one I don't use after.

    I'm not replacing any of my meals just so I can have beer but I am exercising smarter choices to plan around it. If I wanted to I could also go to the gym prior to hanging out with my buddy and burn 800 calories in an hour on the elliptical. 800 Calories extra would more than pay for 6 12 oz beers for a man my size.

    Trade gym time for beer. Smarter. Don't trade meals, you need to eat.
  • v6s30
    v6s30 Posts: 43
    I don't have a drinking problem but I do need a drink to help with my other problems...
  • MiloBloom83
    MiloBloom83 Posts: 2,724 Member
    As far as i know, there are no good low calorie beers.:drinker: Although my neighbor refers to Coors Light as "Pork chop in a can".
  • jeffd247
    jeffd247 Posts: 319 Member
    I know I'm getting trolled, but I don't care and I think the question sparks a fun debate. :smile: Here is my reply:



    I think you have a few options, but you'll have to decide where your own priorities are:


    1. How about exercising off the calories rather than removing a meal?

    2. Be willing to sacrifice some flavor and buzz for calories. If you care about counting your calories as much as you do about getting drunk then the low calorie beer options should be no problem.

    3. If getting drunk is #1 either stop worrying abuot calroeis or start drinking vodka or some other clear hard liquor that has less of a calorie cost than beer.

    4. Try cutting your drinking down to 1-2 nights per week and refer back to 1

    5. If you can't make any choices at all... just get drunk and be willing to live with the extra calories and pounds in your life.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    I don't have a drinking problem but I do need a drink to help with my other problems...

    I'm just gonna leave this here so you can think about it.
  • williams969
    williams969 Posts: 2,528 Member
    First off, I think your calorie goal is a little low. I'm shorter, probably a little older, and the same weight (15lbs to goal). I eat an average of 1500-1600 calories a day and lose just fine. A little alcohol fits in that goal just fine, while still hitting my micro and macro nutrient goals.

    Second, I suggest stepping back and reading what you typed as if someone else typed it. Someone wants to give up one whole meal a day (on an already very restricted calorie goal) in exchange for alcohol, on a schedule that sounds very frequently. That does sound unhealthy. Hence, the questioning of your health and safety. Just chew on it for a little bit. We care!:flowerforyou:
  • asdowe13
    asdowe13 Posts: 1,951 Member
    And if you're skipping nutrition for poison, please go talk to someone immediately.

    Poison??

    Where do you get your info from?

    It's not poison! It's alcohol!

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