Is alcohol ok if it fits into my calorie count?

Yes, it's fine if it's within your calories, and as long as it's not ALL your calories, of course! For me, if I have too much to drink - even if I stay within my calorie goal - It's the next day that gets me. I find that I'm a bottomless pit the day after and could eat everything in sight. So I have to be careful because it could get me on not one but two days.

gracepost123 wrote: »

Wait..... You can BANK your calories?? Like roll over calories?? Like if I have 100 calories left over every day for 5 days then on Saturday I have 500 extra calories?

Yes. It's all about the overall trend. Some people eat based on a moving weekly average equal to their calorie goal. So, they might eat 1500 one day and 2500 the next if they are on a 2000 calorie goal. Or, 100 under their goal 6 days a week to have 600 extra calories for one night.

Switch from "Diary" to "Nutrition" on the menu on the mobile app, and this should show calories by week. At any moment you can check to see how many bonus/unused calories you have left from the previous 6 days plus what you have left for the current day. So, if you were under overall the previous 6 days, then you'll have your normal calories left for the day, plus some "bonus" calories. Of course, it works the other way, too. If you were over earlier in the week, then no bonus. Just get back on track with your daily goal and move on.

For this to work as intended, you need to log accurately and consistently.

If you already know you want to eat more on certain days and less on others, but still meet your calorie goal over the course of a week, then it can be really simple if you have the paid premium MFP account. Among other things, it lets you customize your calorie goal to be different on different days. Just make sure the weekly average is equal to your daily calorie goal.

gracepost123 wrote: »

random255 wrote: »

Although MFP doesn't let me directly log it, I build up a calorie deficit for the week, knowing full I'll drink it on Saturday night. So I'll shave off 50 cal here, 140 cal there, and by Saturday I'll be 300-500 cal under what it says I should be (even for the deficit). Then on Sat when I drink my 5-6 diet coke and vodkas, it works its way back towards even.

I've still been losing 1-2 pounds a week doing this.

Lots of others do this, they call it 'banking' their calories. You just gotta' be careful, don't want to under eat too much, because those vodkas aren't coming with a ton of nutrients.

Wait..... You can BANK your calories?? Like roll over calories?? Like if I have 100 calories left over every day for 5 days then on Saturday I have 500 extra calories?

I call it "piggy banking"

gracepost123 wrote: »

random255 wrote: »

Although MFP doesn't let me directly log it, I build up a calorie deficit for the week, knowing full I'll drink it on Saturday night. So I'll shave off 50 cal here, 140 cal there, and by Saturday I'll be 300-500 cal under what it says I should be (even for the deficit). Then on Sat when I drink my 5-6 diet coke and vodkas, it works its way back towards even.

I've still been losing 1-2 pounds a week doing this.

Lots of others do this, they call it 'banking' their calories. You just gotta' be careful, don't want to under eat too much, because those vodkas aren't coming with a ton of nutrients.

Wait..... You can BANK your calories?? Like roll over calories?? Like if I have 100 calories left over every day for 5 days then on Saturday I have 500 extra calories?

Isn't CICO great?! I drink twice a week usually and I have 5+ drinks those nights. I always fit them in.

My trainer has said if it fits into your DAILY macros it is fine. She sent me a link to someone that was training hard for a fitness competition that decided to eat a snickers a day as an experiment to see if it impacted her results. End result was that it did not...but it fit within her macros. My preference is a tasty craft beer...fills me up more than wine without a lot of additional calories and it is easy for me to stick to just one...not so with wine. On days I know I am going to drink a little more, I just exercise more and eat a little less to create room in my daily macros.

srecupid wrote: »

quiksylver296 wrote: »

Ultimately, yes. The problem I have when I drink is the munchies I get once I'm intoxicated. Somehow, those never end up getting logged.

What are you drinking? I find heavier craft beers leave me fuller so I don't feel like eating. I could almost use an iPA like some people use protein shakea

Why not both?

Yes!

Oops, double post.

Still, since I can't seem to find a way to delete this post, I'll add that perhaps there is an impact when people drink significantly more and have more alcohol in their system on a more frequent basis. But I simply don't consume to that extent so I can't vouch for that aspect.

Yes - I think it helps the long term sustainability of weight loss. You've got to be able to live and socialize if that's what you do! But I've got to add that I've recently cut out alcohol entirely in solidarity with my spouse due to her medical problem, my body has changed for the better.

I actuality do log my drinks into MFP. I saved them under recipes. Or if I have beer I save the bottle cap or the "ring" thing on the cans, so I know how many to log.

Hope this is helpful, please add me I'm always looking for new friends to stay motivated with.