Drinking

harley79
harley79 Posts: 79 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Is there anyone that has a few drinks after work and still was able to lose weight?

Replies

  • hassankarimi82
    hassankarimi82 Posts: 153 Member
    Losing weight is simply down to being in a calorie deficit regardless of what you eat and drink.
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    harley79 wrote: »
    Is there anyone that has a few drinks after work and still was able to lose weight?

    A few drinks every day?
    While maintaining a good nutritional balance and without large amounts of exercise?

    It's going to be rough going.

    A few drinks every once in a while and a strong focus on assuring variety, a calorie deficit and an overall healthy lifestyle? Not a problem, see the bold.
  • samhennings
    samhennings Posts: 441 Member
    Of course.

    You need to be smart about what you drink, and just make sure you keep to your calorie goals.

    For example, a friend of mine switched from Lager (200+ cal per pint) to Vodka and Diet Coke (about 60 cal per drink, if memory serves)

  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    edited May 2016
    Every day? Possible yes but think you will fail to fit in a lot of drinking, adequate nutrition and remain in a sustainable calorie deficit.

    Calorie issues aside - (and from personal experience) getting into the habit of "a few drinks" after work can be a slippery slope that morphs from wanting to needing those drinks. If improving your health is your #1 priority rather than just weight loss then it's worth thinking about.

    My personal technique when losing weight was to regard drinking as a treat, not an everyday event, and spend twice as much on a bottle of wine but drink half the amount to keep the pleasure but halve the calories.

  • kirstengeffen
    kirstengeffen Posts: 103 Member
    I had to give up drinking. A "few" drinks always turned into 10. And then I'd get the nibbles and inhibition would get tossed out the windows and I would've consumed 2000 calories in one sitting. Just wasn't worth it for me.
  • Sassie_Lassie
    Sassie_Lassie Posts: 140 Member
    I pre-log my alcohol in the morning because I know that I'm going to have a couple glasses of wine at night. Then I'm able to adjust my eating the rest of the day so that it all fits in my calories.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Yeah, I drank regularly when I was losing weight. If you log the calories and keep within your goals, you should be fine.
  • MissusMoon
    MissusMoon Posts: 1,900 Member
    edited May 2016
    I have a glass or three or wine now and then. I'm losing weight at a terrific rate. I fit it into my caloric deficit. No way I could do it everyday. If alcohol is part of your regular life, you'll need to learn to make room for it so you don't set yourself up for a fall later. Moderation and planning is the key.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    edited May 2016
    findingkirst wrote: »
    I had to give up drinking. A "few" drinks always turned into 10. And then I'd get the nibbles and inhibition would get tossed out the windows and I would've consumed 2000 calories in one sitting. Just wasn't worth it for me.

    I'm pretty much the same...although I would have passed out several drinks before 10! LOL

    I allow alcohol on certain occasions now. The last occasion was Thanksgiving. I'm going to an event on May 20th that I'm going to have a few drinks. And then I'll go dry again.
  • kmbrooks15
    kmbrooks15 Posts: 941 Member
    findingkirst wrote: »
    I had to give up drinking. A "few" drinks always turned into 10. And then I'd get the nibbles and inhibition would get tossed out the windows and I would've consumed 2000 calories in one sitting. Just wasn't worth it for me.

    This. Alcohol lowers inhibitions, so you can easily end up doing something like eating way over your goal. And you don't have to be completely smashed for it to happen.
  • UpEarly
    UpEarly Posts: 2,555 Member
    I have a beer or two about three nights a week. I didn't have trouble losing weight and haven't had trouble maintaining. And I drink real beer - not the 90 calorie low carb "ultra" stuff.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    kmbrooks15 wrote: »
    findingkirst wrote: »
    I had to give up drinking. A "few" drinks always turned into 10. And then I'd get the nibbles and inhibition would get tossed out the windows and I would've consumed 2000 calories in one sitting. Just wasn't worth it for me.

    This. Alcohol lowers inhibitions, so you can easily end up doing something like eating way over your goal. And you don't have to be completely smashed for it to happen.

    Yeah, this would be my exception to the "of course you can drink and lose weight" advice -- if you know that alcohol leads you to drink more than you meant to or eat things you wouldn't otherwise eat, that is something you'll have to deal with. It won't work to drink and lose weight if you have room for two glasses of wine and have six or if you order a giant plate of nachos when you have a drink or two.

    People need to understand themselves and make their decision based on that.
  • cargram
    cargram Posts: 4 Member
    I think a few drinks a night would not allow you to succeed because 1) it increases your calorie intake that would have been better used for healthy nutrients that your body needs; and 2) it increases the likelihood of eating something you shouldn't because your inhibitions are lowered, and 3) decreases the chance of working out because you are hung over ;-) ha ha! I have set up the goal of only drinking on the weekends. On the weekends I log my alcohol and account for the calories. You should not have to give up any thing to lose weight - just control it in moderation.
  • upoffthemat
    upoffthemat Posts: 679 Member
    I drink a lot less for the reasons people have cited above. It is hard to fit into calories, it does make me want to eat more, but mostly the less I drink the less tolerance I have for it and I feel crappy quicker when drinking. I just don't like how I feel after having more than one drink.
  • MommyMeggo
    MommyMeggo Posts: 1,222 Member
    edited May 2016
    harley79 wrote: »
    Is there anyone that has a few drinks after work and still was able to lose weight?

    Calorie wise, I could fit a 6oz glass of red, nightly, sure. But usually I want more than one TBH- especially when the hubs comes home early and we get chatty.
    So Im actually breaking from any on M-F and if I have some banked Ill enjoy a glass or two on Saturdays or Sunday with dinner. Even if I have the calories I feel its a hindrance in other ways as well as weight loss. Also, I want to eat all the things while I sip. I like to sip while I cook too. So its like "oh ill just eat less dinner and pour a 2nd glass" - then dinner is served and well, it just didnt work out. LOL.
    And the whole "ill have this tonight and be super on point tomorrow" approach doesnt work for me. My scale is all the proof I need.

  • stacyjh1979
    stacyjh1979 Posts: 188 Member
    I regained 35 of of the 50lbs I lost last year (in less than 6 months) due to drinking. I can't do it in moderation (I'm an alcoholic) so I'd drink close to a day's worth of calories (easier to do than you'd think, my drinks were about 250 calories each) AND eat on top of it....plus I'd eat stuff I normally wouldn't and in amounts I normally wouldn't. Granted not everyone gets this out of control but I agree that you don't have to be totally smashed for it lower inhibitions/cares and undermine your goals.

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