Drinking....the Bain of my weight loss

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Replies

  • joemac1988
    joemac1988 Posts: 1,021 Member
    UGGGGHHHHHH

    I used to just drink on the weekends but that would be like 6 shots of scotch x 3 days. I'm just over 2 weeks dry (I'm not quitting forever, just trying to quit effing up my cut progress) and it has mad a massive difference. I'm using an app called Habit Bull to track the days and have a friend I'm doing it with for support. Give it a shot! Alcohol will still be around when you decide you've earned a drink :)
  • crooked_left_hook
    crooked_left_hook Posts: 364 Member
    Libby283 wrote: »
    I just had to stop drinking...the 4:00am post bar nachos and 6:00am post club corned beef hash breakfasts were killing me. I'll have 1 or 2 drinks at a party or happy hour but it's been 8 years since I've been drunk and I don't miss it even a little bit.

    No one says to get drunk. Last year my doctor put me on a new allergy/asthma medicine without telling me that it did not play nice with alcohol. I proceeded to drink my normal two bottles of wine and found myself deathly ill. I would not wish that on my worst enemy. I do not even want a hint of a buzz when I drink.

    The other reason I stopped drinking is that I developed an allergy to the histamines in alcohol, and tannin gives me migraines. I'm limited to sake, cider, and high quality champagne, all in small doses. Last time I had happy hour champagne I went home with hives, a stuffy/runny nose, elevated heartbeat, and vomiting...from 2 glasses. Not fun. I've had the same reaction from wine, tequila and vodka. I'm not complaining though. It just makes it easier to maintain my weight and have productive weekends.
  • Kimblesnbits13
    Kimblesnbits13 Posts: 369 Member
    MichSmish wrote: »
    wiremog wrote: »
    I just had to stop drinking...the 4:00am post bar nachos and 6:00am post club corned beef hash breakfasts were killing me. I'll have 1 or 2 drinks at a party or happy hour but it's been 8 years since I've been drunk and I don't miss it even a little bit.

    I've reached the conclusion, after years of denying the truth, that I'm going to have to do this too. Drinking is 100% the reason I've put all the weight back on that I lost 7 years ago. I work in a really boozy industry (PR) in Soho, London's booziest area, so it's gonna be tough!

    I work in fashion and the company I'm at LOVES happy hours...it's not so hard. Just get one drink and learn the art of nursing it for an hour, drink a water, then (maybe) have a second. I can drag 2 drinks out for at least 4 hours. Everyone else around you will be to drunk to notice or care :)

    that is the truth! I've recently come to this conclusion myself the past 6 months, and totally do the bolded above now - it makes me feel so much better, i'm not longer embarrassing myself getting all boozy, waking up the next morning with little to no memory of the night before, food and booze hangover, etc. I'm much happier, and still having fun :smile:

    Agree with the above about making the drink last! I sometimes get a super strong martini and sip it slooooowly. I can't do that with sugary drinks though because I can't make juice last that long. Wine and beer is tough because I geniunely love the taste.
  • geri1geraldinesuzanne
    geri1geraldinesuzanne Posts: 125 Member
    weekends are a must!
  • kdiamond
    kdiamond Posts: 3,329 Member
    Yup. I love drinking too. When I am really trying to do something special I cut it down to once a week tops.
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    i don'tk now all the science behind it - but when I drink my RD has me log it as both carbs and fat - so you take the overall calories for the drink, subtract the carb calories and then the rest is fat - it has something to do with how your body metabolises alcohol - its made me much more aware when I can easily blow my daily fat allowance with a drink
  • ritzvin
    ritzvin Posts: 2,860 Member
    I've learned to like rum & diet coke. (I'm not willing to spend the calories on "cranberry juice" to go with my vodka. Actual cranberry juice (yum), yes...flavored apple juice with a bit of cranberry juice (blech), no).
  • mommarnurse
    mommarnurse Posts: 515 Member
    I drink heavily maybe twice per year. Mostly, probably because I do drink so sparingly, I'm really not good with hang-overs. Hangovers are not worth it to me. They put me out of commission for at least one or two days, severely dehydrate me, etc. I've found that these episodes lead to me not eating for an entire 24 hrs after due to being sick so that balances out the caloric surplus from the night before. On the upside, drinking sparingly means you become quite the cheap drunk. A couple drinks at the bar and you have a nice buzz :)
  • ZeroTX
    ZeroTX Posts: 179 Member
    edited April 2017
    My recent love is craft beer and it definitely interrupts, if not entirely counteracts, weight loss efforts. Typically a good high ABV craft beer is going to be 250 calories or so, as compared with say 100 calories for a Coors Light. The good news is I can usually just drink ONE good craft beer vs. at least 2 regular light beers.

    I've also been in search of a lower cal craft beer, but honestly, that's just not a thing. If I absolutely must have a cold one and cannot afford the calories of a good beer, I go for a Coors Light. It has the most/best flavor of the macro brew light beers. On my next grocery trip I'm also planning to buy a 6-er of Shiner Light Blonde, which is better. I'm just not sure if they sell Shiner Light in other parts of the country. Even so, Shiner Bock isn't too bad at maybe 150cal per 12oz bottle and it's not bad beer at all (not craft level good, but not Miller Lite level bad, either).
  • katspence09
    katspence09 Posts: 1 Member
    edited April 2017
    I'm 26 and still in the "drinking at every social event" phase. Wine gave me a little belly over the winter so now I'm trying to work off all those wonderful bottles I drank. It's such a bummer because wine is just so good! What I keep thinking though is how nice that summer bod will be. Keeps me on track and in the zone!
  • Theo166
    Theo166 Posts: 2,564 Member
    I'd suggest with trying quality sipping drinks, like top shelf scotch, whiskey, or tequila. They are quite enjoyable and with some training can last much longer than mixed drinks. Don't take on rocks or with water as it's easier to gulp them down.
  • ChelzFit
    ChelzFit Posts: 292 Member
    I love my wine! I used to be better at just drinking vodka and club soda with a lime because it was low calorie but I usually only drink once or twice a month so when I do I choose what really want. I also really like cranberry and vodka. I am not a big beer fan. My problem is once I start drinking then the munchies start and before you know it we are ordering pizza in at 2 in the morning.
  • bigmuneymfp
    bigmuneymfp Posts: 2,235 Member
    Titos tonight!
  • nowine4me
    nowine4me Posts: 3,985 Member
    Wine is the first thing I cut out when I'm trying to lose weight. Besides the calories of the wine itself, I always overeat when I drink too much, then blow my workouts the next day because I feel like crap. It's just not worth it. When I'm in maintenance, I can work in a glass or two on a Friday night, no problem. But I keep it to that.
  • BuffMom84
    BuffMom84 Posts: 180 Member
    I drink wine or liquor mixed with water or seltzer water. I used to drink beer or liquor mixed with soda. I've gotten to the point where I somehow trained myself not to eat at all after I started drinking, or if I do I just have a few pretzels or almonds (no more late night pizza deliveries or trips to Taco Bell). But I'm sure I would have lost weight quicker if I hadn't drank at all!
  • trigden1991
    trigden1991 Posts: 4,658 Member
    I stick to a spirit and diet beverage (vodka & diet coke is my go to) to keep calories the lowest. Alternative an alcoholic with non-alcoholic drink and you're halving calories.
  • Unknown
    edited April 2017
    This content has been removed.
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    I drink every weekend, I party hard and I work out hard tho. it works for me. not stopping, love my drink and love my cardio!
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    I like to think Untappd and MFP are battling over my fitness soul.

    Untappd is typically the victor.
  • Allgaun
    Allgaun Posts: 222 Member
    Becks Light has 64 calories for 12 oz. Too bad you never see it in bars.
  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,142 Member
    edited April 2017
    Mojitos are my downfall!

    Mojitos are mostly water anyways :lol: think how hydrated you will be

  • tjones0411
    tjones0411 Posts: 179 Member
    The hunt for calories was the reason someone invented the "Skinny *kitten*", which is vodka, soda water and lime.
    Not sure it's worth drinking if you'll be drinking that though.

    That's my go-to! It's actually really good - very refreshing. I don't like sweet drinks, so for me, it's perfect. Sometimes I'll toss some muddled mint in there too. I can promise you, it's definitely worth drinking!
  • Austex_Egger
    Austex_Egger Posts: 44 Member
    The post drinking munchies are my challenge as well. I enjoy Scotch and Small batch Whiskeys, I now limit myself to 1 bottle a month and that seems to work for me.
  • aubintex
    aubintex Posts: 29 Member
    cbmarble wrote: »
    I love some craft beer (never really been a wine drinker), so I'd love some recommendations on some low(er) calorie beers. Can't make myself drink Mich Ultra.

    Shiner Light's not bad
  • fiddletime
    fiddletime Posts: 1,868 Member
    I love wine, so don't drink much of it unless I fit it into my calories. I drink 2-3 oz of scotch a few nights a week. I don't drink enough to get the munchies with scotch since I don't like it as much as wine, and seldom drink "too much".
  • mk2fit
    mk2fit Posts: 730 Member
    I'.ve been here for 2-1/2 years and drink vodka every day. I managed to lose over 70# and still have my vodka, tho not Tito's. (darn it) Anyway, you can diet, have your alcohol and lose weight. Just count the alcohol in your calories in and run or exercise it off, just like any other calories. The hardest part is overeating when you have had a bit too much to drink. Good luck
  • KathyRohr1
    KathyRohr1 Posts: 5 Member
    Agreed! to so many- I both drink too many calories, then eat too many after my good intentions fade with the drinkies. Think I will stick with vodka and club soda for now, then can still have a few. Was happy to see the low # of calories in vodka.
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