Drinking alcohol & MFP

It's probably more of a personal assessment than anything.

I drink a few times a week, but I cut down my beer to one, or I just have a single mixed drink, and I'll make it something with diet soda to avoid the extra calories with regular sodas or juices. BUT I also don't tend to feel like I have to drink, so I don't tend to miss it when I cut back on it, and one drink doesn't put me over the edge into a bunch, and I RARELY eat more while drinking. I've never been a social drinker/eater much, but that's me.

If you want to lose the weight but know you'll have issues keeping to one drink or two, don't do it. Everyone is different with alcohol, and you may be one of those that just needs to avoid it with your goals.

CajunCher2005 wrote: »

Most people who drink do not lose weight, but gain it. Not only does alcohol have a LOT of calories, but it makes one want to eat high calorie foods and definitely discourages one to move less as in falling asleep watching television instead of sprinting around the neighborhood for half an hour.

This is not true. Some people who drink do not lose but gain, but you can't say that most people who drink don't lose but gain. Lots of people lose weight while still drinking moderate amounts of alcohol. They just fit it in their calorie goal. I drink occasionally and I don't have any problems losing weight. I can have one or two drinks and be fine though and I don't have any problems with overeating while drinking. And if you are drinking and say going out dancing then you will be burning some of those calories. I may not be sprinting around the neighborhood, but I don't fall asleep on the couch watching television after drinking either. If the OP has trouble controlling her eating while drinking or limiting herself to one or two drinks then she may be better off not drinking at all. But if she can fit one or two drinks into her calorie goal and be satisfied and stop there and not go over on what she eats then she can drink occasionally and still lose weight.

I usually log a whisky or brandy in the morning as an "in case" during the week so that I know it'll fit into my day. I remove it at night if I didn't consume it. Weekends I log 3 drinks per day, and again remove as needed.


It's pretty rare that I would go over those limits, but when I do, I log it and go on with my life...

I LOVE red wine. It's one of my most favorite things in the world. Its been my experience that, if I tell myself "I can't have that," I feel like I'm depriving myself (even if I'm not). So, I've decided not to deprive myself of anything. Instead of giving it up completely (which, in my opinion, is unsustainable long-term), I have red wine once a week (Saturdays) and now I look forward to it. I always try to create a healthy snack to pair with it like a fruit & cheese plate so that I'm not tempted to over eat. Drinking can be a slippery slope if you're not careful, but keep yourself honest while tracking and stick to your plan.

I quit having the after work beer, because it's a lot of calories to add so many times a week! I'll drink on special occasions now, like once every 2 or 3 weeks, because it doesn't set me back too much, and I generally just go to sleep afterward. For me, the problem is the hangover day when I want a whole pizza and a big mac and a cookie cake. But if I don't get totally wasted, i won't have that hangover day! So control yourself. Know your limits.