Alcohol

TFG_em
TFG_em Posts: 174 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I am not usually a big drinker. I will drink socially. I am currently going through some big changes in my life - I got engaged, I'm about to move to a new city, and start a new job. Also, holidays are coming up, so there are a lot of invites to Halloween parties, etc. For the last several weeks, I've been drinking every weekend because of all the celebrations. I realize this adds A LOT of extra calories. I don't drink beer, so I stick to mixed drinks. I know I could just drink less; everything in moderation. But, if anyone has any tips on how to reduce your calorie intake when having a few drinks, please share!

Maybe you have a drink recipe that may be better than others?
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Replies

  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    you can drink whatever you want,,just go work it off.
  • lorib642
    lorib642 Posts: 1,942 Member
    There are some lower cal drinks in this link

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10006966/alcohol-drinks#latest
  • MysteriousMerlin
    MysteriousMerlin Posts: 2,270 Member
    edited October 2014
    KANGOOJUMPS wrote: »
    you can drink whatever you want,,just go work it off.

    Some drinks have a whopping amount of calories. I wouldn't want to have to work off the calories if I can just make smarter choices to begin with...

    There's a line of vodkas I think are called Skinny Girl, or something close to that. Supposed to be low cal.
  • ShellyBell999
    ShellyBell999 Posts: 1,482 Member
    KANGOOJUMPS wrote: »
    you can drink whatever you want,,just go work it off.

    ^^^This is how I manage it.
  • spingirl605
    spingirl605 Posts: 181 Member
    Red wine is typically a lower calorie drink (that's my beverage of choice). I also like gin and soda with a splash of lime, or vodka cranberry, spiced rum and diet coke. I really like my wine...Pretty much drink it every day.
  • 13bbird13
    13bbird13 Posts: 425 Member
    I've heard vodka and tonic is a good lower-cal choice, but I do love my wine so I haven't really tried it. Moderation is key... especially if, like me, booze makes you want to eat a bunch of stuff your non-boozed brain would think twice about. The alcohol calories pale in comparison to the huge plates of spaghetti I'm capable of putting away after a couple glasses of wine!
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    I'm confused. Don't you just log it and count the cals like you would anything else? If you're having 300 cals in alcohol tonight, you need to have 300 less cals throughout the day, no?

    Am I over simplifying it, or are you overthinking it?
  • RosieWest8
    RosieWest8 Posts: 185 Member
    I think that as long as you are working out consistently and not overdoing it every weekend, it should even out over the year. However I have mixed flavored vodka with just plain water before. I didn't do it because I was counting calories -- I did it because I was at a music festival in the summer and it was HOT and we only had 1 camelbak -- so we were trying to off-set our alcohol induced dehydration by using good ole' H2O as our mixer. It tasted fine. You can try out some 'low calorie' or 'skinny' brands of cocktails or whatever but if you're going to drink...then drink what you like. I'm not a big believer in sacrificing enjoyment/flavor for less calories.
  • SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage Posts: 2,668 Member
    I've heard the "Skinny Girl" line is pretty good, though I've never tried it. I prefer either a glass of wine, or the Diet Smirnoff Ice that's 80cals per bottle.
  • jkwolly
    jkwolly Posts: 3,049 Member
    jacksonpt wrote: »
    I'm confused. Don't you just log it and count the cals like you would anything else? If you're having 300 cals in alcohol tonight, you need to have 300 less cals throughout the day, no?

    Am I over simplifying it, or are you overthinking it?
    Yep.

  • lorib642
    lorib642 Posts: 1,942 Member
    It's just less calorie dense options. Yes you still log it the same
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  • astronomicals
    astronomicals Posts: 1,537 Member
    Any hard liquor (NOT LIQUEUR!) with soda water, but, most people dont like that.

    Why not just use diet soda as a mixer?

    Dry wine is another good option.
  • StevenH74
    StevenH74 Posts: 129
    Keep a glass of water at hand, break up the drinks with water intervals and try and stay away from the nibbles also.
  • slider728
    slider728 Posts: 1,494 Member
    Here is a website that will basically guide you on how to get the drunkest on the fewest calories: http://getdrunknotfat.com/

    As I have started watching my weight, I figure there are two options. If I am looking to get drunk, I go with the hard liquor with a calorie free mixer (usually diet Coke) which will allow me to get more alcohol with fewer calories. Alternatively, I will go for quality over quantity and cut back on my drinking but drink what I like (Zombie Dust beer from 3 Floyds or pretty much anything from 3 Floyds falls in this category). At around 160 calories a beer for ZD, I limit myself to 2 and call it a night.

    If you are planning on staying at a party that is going to last awhile, alternate alcohol with water or diet soda. Have a lower calorie mixed drink then have a soda or water. Not only will it help pace your alcohol intake, it'll help prevent a hangover as well. If someone asks you why you are doing that, pull out the staying hydrated/preventing a hangover excuse. Anyone who has drank too much and regretted waking up the next morning will have no issues with that strategy :)
  • fatcity66
    fatcity66 Posts: 1,544 Member
    Straight bourbon or whiskey over ice, or with water. Or just mix your liquor of choice with diet soda. Regular tonic does have sugar, hence calories. You can also add a flavor enhancer, like Mio to your drink.
  • eldamiano
    eldamiano Posts: 2,667 Member
    Yep, by drinking less. Alcohol has more calories per gram/ml than any other substance other than fat.
  • lawyermom81
    lawyermom81 Posts: 2 Member
    Prosecco and champagne are relatively low cal. Its about 90 cals a serving.
  • beamer0821
    beamer0821 Posts: 488 Member
    most of your calories are from the alcohol itself. for me when I'm trying to keep it light i usually have a light beer thats about 90 calories. or i have a vodka/soda water with lime. about the same amount of calories. however depending on the bartender pour so thats why i stick to beer when I'm really watching it.

    if its a party i bring my own skinnygirl brand bottle which essentially just less alcohol. i also have been hooked on BonAffair that is low calorie (read less alcohol) sparking wine the whole bottle is 300 calories.
  • pdank311
    pdank311 Posts: 137 Member
    Jameson / rocks. Vodka / Monster Rehab (20 cal / can) if you need that cracked out feeling.
  • EmotionalEater84
    EmotionalEater84 Posts: 311 Member
    Just be mindful of what you're mixing the alcohol with. I would also alternate a glass of water between each drink. Saves on calories and the hangover, win/win!
  • rainunrefined
    rainunrefined Posts: 850 Member
    I stick to a glass or 2 of wine. Or tequila, club soda, and a squeeze of lime. If I'm just having one drink I'll get a hard cider.
  • glitter1021
    glitter1021 Posts: 11 Member
    Miller Lite - low in calories and only 3g carbs
  • amcook4
    amcook4 Posts: 561 Member
    I can keep my alcohol calories pretty low by sticking to diet mixers and rum/vodka. If I know I will be drinking one night, I'll try and leave room in my day for it, say don't have any snacks all day and/or get a good workout in. Or if I plan on going to a weekend party, I'll stay a bit under all week and go over that one night.

    For me it is working well.

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  • skiextrm
    skiextrm Posts: 144 Member
    I tried this the other night and it was great! 2 ounces Cabernet Sauvignon with half a can of Polar Diet Orange Dry. Wine Spitzer!
  • mad_lifting_runner
    mad_lifting_runner Posts: 37 Member
    edited October 2014
    Remember that the instant alcohol hits your system your body stops metabolizing anything else in an effort to get the poison out of your system. Which means everything else gets stored because the liver simply doesn't have time.

    So if you have a good deficit for the day/week already that'll help quite a bit.
  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
    Depends on the bar, and how much alcohol they put in the drink. If they are a 'generous' bar, and put more than one shot in the drink, you could be off on your calculations. A shot of Captain Morgan is 150 calories, a shot of Bacardi is 100 calories. Vodka is roughly 80. Using diet soda saves calories as well. Wine is risky, because depending on the size of the glass, you don't know what you are getting. A serving is about 3 oz, but a lot of places use very large glasses and you can get servings much larger than the typical size.
  • LauraPa1mer
    LauraPa1mer Posts: 65 Member
    jacksonpt wrote: »
    I'm confused. Don't you just log it and count the cals like you would anything else? If you're having 300 cals in alcohol tonight, you need to have 300 less cals throughout the day, no?

    Am I over simplifying it, or are you overthinking it?

    Neither, you missed the point. They were asking which drinks had fewer calories.
  • BillRicks1
    BillRicks1 Posts: 473 Member
    fatcity66 wrote: »
    Straight bourbon or whiskey over ice, or with water......

    /\ THIS /\ The only real problem is that after a few you end up saying "Just one chip won't hurt" or "I'm sure that Chex Mix will fit in my plan and I'll still be under".

  • Heirgreat
    Heirgreat Posts: 262 Member
    champagne and chardonnay, are lower calorie drinks but "hard" alcohol is a lot of calories in comparison as well as usually need to be mixed with juices or sugar type mix, unless you drink shots-still add up and not much there, best to avoid mixed drinks for saving calories.

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