How do you cope with managing alcohol?
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Hey all,
I just started here and coping ok with the restrictive calories in terms of food, but alcohol... this is so hard with a social life, which revolves a lot around events involving drink. What do you do?
If I may, I originally come from countries where we drink a lot. I mean far more than the US and even the UK.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_alcohol_consumption_per_capita
Having said that, we have a different approach to alcohol consumption. Usually, it goes with a meal and/or before a meal but only students and youngsters would drink alcohol on its own to get wasted.
With that being said, I have always had rules when it comes to alcohol consumption: I never drink alone. (Even wine which is considered "sacred" in my two original cultures).
I also found out that there is absolutely NO NEED to drink alcohol at a party. (And that is quite a revelation in the UK where people no matter how old they are would binge drink more easily). I have managed to avoid the peer pressure to drink booze even if everyone else does drink. As long as you're contributing to the party and that you look like you're enjoying yourself, then that's it.
When I WANT TO have a drink, I usually anticipate and count the corresponding calories in my daily intake. [Although, as I allow myself one cheat meal per week, I also tend to not count the calories for this one. (It actually boosts your metabolism as long as you do not exaggerate).]
Finally, another revelation to me: calories are not that high in pure alcohol, it is usually everything that goes with it that have a high-calorie ratio.
E.g. One pint of draught beer (520ml) is about 190 kcal.
One glass of red wine (125ml) is about 90 kcal.
One shot of whisky (35ml) is about 70kcal.
Same for a shot of vodka.
However, cocktails can be far higher in calories because of all the sweet additions to the drink.
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girl_inflames wrote: »I'll admit I drink far too much and it's probably why I'm no longer losing weight. My mother just died however...so I'm coping as well as I can. Usually though, I mix vodka or rum with sparkling water and try not to eat as much that day if I'm going to drink.
sorry to hear that, my dad died a few years back. Give yourself the mourning time and do what makes you feel better
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@KetoneKaren yeah I totally know what you mean. I had those friends when I was younger too. Now I'm very selective of who I choose and some do and some don't drink that much. They're all lovely people. I think it's more on my part as I feel like I want to relax and normally I do it through alcohol. I know it's not the answer. Some people's weakness is cakes, fast food etc. Mine is alcohol
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Don't drink so much. Personally I quit alcohol in my late 20's because there was really no need for it to me.Hey all,
I just started here and coping ok with the restrictive calories in terms of food, but alcohol... this is so hard with a social life, which revolves a lot around events involving drink. What do you do?
Do you drink to be in the "in" crowd? Or do you just like to get buzzed up? Either way, alcohol is 7 calories per gram and doesn't store in the body, so it has to be metabolized. Until it is, NO OTHER ENERGY SOURCE (fat/carbs/protein) is used.
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I really like Corona Light and it's only 99 calories so I can easily fit two in when I go out. It actually works out well because with calorie restrictions I can feel a bit tipsy just off of one beer, then I'll start one more before I eat and then just sparkling/plain water or tea after that. I don't go out a whole lot though so when I do it's usually higher calorie craft beers, at least two, and I chow down so it blows my deficit no matter what.0
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@teamvic yeah it is a great city, I love it here. Also as you will notice, a very skinny, health conscious city.
Actually for most part I don't consider my diet that bad thanks to Berlin's influence, traveling and previously dating a vegetarian. Although recently I have been buying crisps and cookies, which clearly has an impact. If I don't watch my weight, I easily put on. Saying that though I never go through a whole packet at once. Biggest downfall though is alcohol, this is a regular feature and I binge. I can cut the snacks. I get pangs, but it can be manageable. But drink is really hard to cut due to the association with fun, relaxation, enjoying time with friends. I try to suggest other activities with friends and have tried, but tbh sometimes I just wanna drink...obviously some underlying issue there, but I have yet to resolve it.
Worst thing is the next day I just want to eat something fatty :-/ This time though, I'm going to make a conscious effort to log everything, even it's depressing. Least I can try and make up for it and be aware how many calories are going to be in that pizza I want to order the next day! I'm determined though.
Thanks all for the advice everyone. Actually I have a summer work party tonight. That means free alcohol and food. Yep FREE - which is never easy to resist. But I made a deal with myself. Im going to log everything regardless of if I feel *kitten* about seeing it the next day. Alternate drinks, alcohol and water. Try and get a lot of veg in to fill up. This is a special event, so even if I no doubt will fall off the wagon, I'm going to dust myself off tomorrow and get back on 0 -
Even before I started losing weight I have never been a big drinker. Most events I just don't have any, and all is fine and no one complains (other than the occasional fun poking for being a Russian who doesn't drink heavily). Sometimes like once or twice a year I would have a glass of something, which is easy on the calories since it's only one glass.
I understand not everyone is a light drinker and that alcohol may be just as important as food is to me to enjoy social times, so maybe the way I deal with food would work with alcohol? I basically just pick the foods I absolutely want and love, add a small portion to my plate, slowly eat it while socializing, and only go for seconds if I really still want more. It still packs a calorie punch, but with careful planning I can usually take it.1 -
Lyla -- socializing without the social lubricant takes some getting used to. You can amuse yourself by stepping back & watching the badly behaved drunks. There is one in every situation no matter how high brow.
My "excuse" is always that I'm the designated driver. Over the years people got used to me not drinking & now it's a "thing" when I do drink when out with friends.
I've also grown really picky about what I will drink. I'm not about to waste my drinks on junk. If I'm gonna have some, it will be really great wine, not nasty box stuff or what most places offer as house wine. I get too hung over on the hard stuff so that stopped being fun years ago, post college.
Last night at dinner with friends I would have loved to have joined in but again I was the designated driver so I stuck to non-alcohol. I caved to peer pressure to have a soda not just water but even that is few & far between.
When I do indulge the water in between really helps.0 -
If you meet someone wat a bar/party/drinking event there's a good chance you just met someone who, duh, likes to go to bars/parties/drinking events (not saying that's bad, just stating the obvious). If you replace those with some other activity you'll still meet people, just ones that like that activity, whatever it is. To kind of extend on what the other poster said, which is it you REALLY want? To meet someone or to meet someone while drinking?0 -
@kitkatlp thanks for your comments. I actually don't drink alone often and if I do, it's because I got home from a night out and am not ready to stop drinking. Terrible habit I know, so I really try to restrict that. Hard to tell wasted me though, I can tell you.
It's not so much the peer pressure, although there will be some element. I think it's to get in their head space or get away from what's going on in my head a little too,
So you have a cheat meal and don't count the calories? And it boosts metabolism? Im trying to take it into account today, but I have a work party so free food and drink. Amazing, but terrible for my diet. I think I may as well write it off for tonight
Wow a shot is only 70! I'm going to try and drink more spirits. Just gonna hit my wallet harder
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@ninerbuff No nothing to do with being in the 'in' crowd. Actually I left that a long time ago when realizing how shallow my friendships were. It is the buzz. So you mean my body has to use that energy before anything else?0
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@MonkeyMel21 light anything would be good, but unfortunately in Berlin it's not on the list. The only time I really saw light beers was when I lived in Australia. You're a lot more controlled, its hard for me to stop at one...0
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@amusedmonkey you know what, that's a really good idea! I normally avoid the drinks I actually love as I choose costs over taste. The reality is I would much rather a mojito/mixer than some cheap crappy wine. Normally my aim is get drunk. Though if I go for the taste over money, maybe I would drink actually a lot less. I'm going to try that and savour the taste more
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@Trish1c someone else said go for what you really like above. I think this is a really good idea, maybe I should spend less money on crap alcohol and spend more on nice alcohol! I do feel it the next day. You can really tell the difference between a night of mixers which I consider more pure, than a night of bad beer and especially wine. I always feel extra worse. I was just conscious of money, but I do feel it has a bad effect on me not just where calories are concerned, I guess like everything - there's a reason it's cheap
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The only cure for me was to avoid situations where I knew a lot of drinking would occur.0
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Ahh. I hated giving up alcohol but it affects your metabolism so I don't drink nearly like I used to, plus, its full of calories. Its hard though because my husband drinks wine almost daily, so I want to! ....but I want to cut and lose the weight more! Once I am done cutting I will up my calories, and then can fit drinking in on weekends more regularly I'm sure. for the most part tho, right now I am only drinking occasionally. I would say once a month. For parites, birthdays etc.1
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@kitkatlp thanks for your comments. I actually don't drink alone often and if I do, it's because I got home from a night out and am not ready to stop drinking. Terrible habit I know, so I really try to restrict that. Hard to tell wasted me though, I can tell you.
It's not so much the peer pressure, although there will be some element. I think it's to get in their head space or get away from what's going on in my head a little too,
I understand and I do sympathize. Sometimes, alcohol does help to forget the daily stress and relax. You may find ways to achieve that with something else. I mean working out does achieve that too.So you have a cheat meal and don't count the calories? And it boosts metabolism? Im trying to take it into account today, but I have a work party so free food and drink. Amazing, but terrible for my diet. I think I may as well write it off for tonight
I think a cheat meal per week is absolutely necessary to boost your metabolism. But it's only one meal per week, and not one day per week and again, it's not about eating +5000 cal in one meal but it's just allowing to exceed your daily intake with that meal, enjoy, get the food you wouldn't normally, and just get back to your normal routine after that. I've lost 70lbs so far in 6 months doing it.
Last Sunday, I had my BBQ birthday party. It was my cheat meal. I drank two glasses of red wine, one glass of champagne. Had some cake, grilled chicken, pasta salad, some quiche, crackers, carrots, cucumbers...Wow a shot is only 70! I'm going to try and drink more spirits. Just gonna hit my wallet harder
I did go to the gym in the morning, mowed the lawn immediately after that, had a light breakfast (about 300kcal) and a light dinner (about 300kcal too). I didn't put on any weight.
Also, I do allow myself, one whisky shot once in a while because I have very good whisky I brought back from Japan...
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@CalorieCountChocula I see our point, but I am a very social person and want the person I meet to be the same. I have done other activities, but it's never been as easy to meet someone, or someone I would be interested in... Also, true I am social, but when meeting a guy for first time that I fancy, I get so nervous...alcohol helps. I'm working on overcoming this. I can now do one or two drinks on dates, but I still need that crutch initially0
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@kevinf2380 that means cutting my social life a lot. I am friends with musicians who play in bars or work in bars
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I simply stop drinking alcohol when I'm training/dieting and drink water instead.
If you properly count calories, you can fit alcohol into your diet but, usually there's only room for 1 can/glass/shot of booze a day b4 you run out of room for real food.
very true, I can keep to 1200. that's no problem and you're right it cuts real food. It's just hard attending a social event without some form of social lubricant
This is so very sad. ;- (0 -
offer to be the designated driver..... thats what I do if I don't want to drink when I go out. 1
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I have a mantra: no exercise, no booze!
If I exercise enough calories to consume alcohol, then I do. Otherwise I (try to) abstain.2 -
@kitkatlp yeah I have tried meditation, yoga etc. before. I plan to start yoga again as that really does give me a feeling of well being. I suffer from depression and really alcohol is a form of self medication for me. And trying to motivate someone who has ongoing depression (even when I'm trying to motivate myself) is difficult. But Im giving myself space and time to make baby steps integrating things gradually. If I see as a mountain, then that's what it will be and I'll never get things done that way. Or to rephrase I haven't got things done that way, so I'm taking a different approach this time and not expecting everything to happen overnight.
Maybe my summer work event will be my cheat for the week and get back on it tomorrow. I'm already expecting the worst. So accept and get back on it I've already limited my cals for today
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would work, but I live in the city. I know one person who drives hereSwissHausfrau wrote: »offer to be the designated driver..... thats what I do if I don't want to drink when I go out. and I don't own a car here
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Drink within calories or in moderation in public places with a drink such as a rum and diet coke or wine with a side of ice. In private parties....BYOB ~ Skinny margaritas....... 1 shot tequila, 2 shots Skinny margarita mix, 1 diet mountain dew. Like 76 calories. Happy me
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I have a mantra: no exercise, no booze!
If I exercise enough calories to consume alcohol, then I do. Otherwise I (try to) abstain.
I think Im going to go for this in future or as someone before said make a note of how much I drank and either work to deficit for that in the week or work off the amount I drank
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@kitkatlp yeah I have tried meditation, yoga etc. before. I plan to start yoga again as that really does give me a feeling of well being. I suffer from depression and really alcohol is a form of self medication for me. And trying to motivate someone who has ongoing depression (even when I'm trying to motivate myself) is difficult. But Im giving myself space and time to make baby steps integrating things gradually. If I see as a mountain, then that's what it will be and I'll never get things done that way. Or to rephrase I haven't got things done that way, so I'm taking a different approach this time and not expecting everything to happen overnight.
Maybe my summer work event will be my cheat for the week and get back on it tomorrow. I'm already expecting the worst. So accept and get back on it I've already limited my cals for today
That is very different. You should NEVER use alcohol as some sort of medication or even a short-term solution for your depression. I do hope that you're seeing a therapist to treat your depression (and hope you're not taking any medication for this depression which are usually not compatible with alcohol). Otherwise, there is a significant risk that you would use alcohol as an "easy" temporary fixer. That's how your create addiction.
Although, I agree with your approach: "one step at a time".
I do wish you well and hope that you'll get out soon of this depression as I think this is the first thing to sort out before embarking on a healthier lifestyle.
Big hug from me.1 -
@kevinf2380 that means cutting my social life a lot. I am friends with musicians who play in bars or work in bars
If your social life is a higher priority then your health it's going to be tough. You can still see them outside of bars.0
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