Drink Beer for the Calories?

rschmmidt
rschmmidt Posts: 296
edited September 30 in Food and Nutrition
This might sound crazy, but I am wondering this:
If I am trying to eat my exercise calories earned, it seems like I can just drink beer. When I added it to my diary from the MFP database, it says it contains carbs but not much else. Red wine came up with similar numbers. Obviously I don't want to get drunk every night, and alcohol doesn't have any good nutrients, but could someone theoretically drink beer and wine often while not hindering your weight loss progress? Seems too good to be true. I've been trying to avoid drinking but it sort of seems like that's not really necessary as long as the numbers work out.
Or am I missing something?
Thanks

Replies

  • zeus277
    zeus277 Posts: 17 Member
    I drink PLENTY of alcohol calories and I'm still losing weight..........so far.
  • silkysly
    silkysly Posts: 701 Member
    Alcohol slows down your metabolism.

    http://www.enlita.com/health-articles/diet-nutrition/reasons-alcohol-can-make-you-gain-weight

    http://www.fitness-health.co.uk/metabolism.htm
  • Larius
    Larius Posts: 507 Member
    It's far from ideal, but can be done. I'm living proof.
  • flbutler
    flbutler Posts: 26
    Good ? I would like to know as well! That has been the hardest thing for me to give up as I love to come home from work and have a nice cold beer and talk to my husband about the day on the patio.
  • MayhemModels
    MayhemModels Posts: 367 Member
    It works for me :drinker:
  • killagb
    killagb Posts: 3,280 Member
    You could always opt for the lower calorie/carb beers, but if it all fits into your daily intake, it's all good. Keep in mind it could make you retain water more.
  • datguy2011
    datguy2011 Posts: 477 Member
    its not good to do so.. infact you should eat your burnt cals at all.
  • skinnyinnotime
    skinnyinnotime Posts: 4,078 Member
    Unless you're planning to give up alcohol for ever i don't see why not...I do!!:bigsmile:
  • juliapurpletoes
    juliapurpletoes Posts: 951 Member
    I enjoy a martini many night s a week and have lost nearly all I set out to do here (20 pounds).

    Cheers - you can only do what you make up your mind to do! :drinker:
  • lindalou0703
    lindalou0703 Posts: 226 Member
    mich ultra is low calorie :drinker:
  • SimplyFreckled
    SimplyFreckled Posts: 444 Member
    I say go with the wine...... Its good for your heart!! *giggle*
  • kimtpa1417
    kimtpa1417 Posts: 461 Member
    I am not a daily drinker but love to have a few on the weekends and everytime I do I have gained weight. So now I only drink about once a month.
  • Sooznine
    Sooznine Posts: 29 Member
    I drink beer and wine occasionally... work it into the calories allowed... and while it doesn't totally mess things up, it does tend to impede regular progress. We have a weekly outdoor market where we hang out with friends and drink several beers every friday. Before summer, my losses were quicker... since the summer markets... a little slower. I think a lot of it is retained water. So long story short (too late) i think it's ok, sometimes. I don't think it's practical (in my life) to cut it out entirely!
  • katesbeach
    katesbeach Posts: 38 Member
    It doesn't help, but it hasn't hurt me yet! I drink a few times a week, usually beer or wine, and have been consistently losing. Obviously that's not the same for everybody, and maybe I'd lose faster if I cut it out, but I work at a bar and I love beer too much! I say drink in moderation if that's what you want, keep to your calories, and don't stress about it too much if it's not slowing you down or making you gain!

    And I'm editing to add that Yuengling Light is surprisingly good for a light beer, and only 99 calories! Cheers!
  • shesnotthere
    shesnotthere Posts: 117
    Red wine actually does contain antioxidants. I drink, but to be honest? I lose weight faster when I am not drinking, even though I try to keep my alcohol calories within my daily calorie allowance. However, life is for living, drink up !
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    Everything in moderation works for me - including alcohol.
    I don't drink it just to make up calories but I have a regular date with my husband at the pub so I will have one or two ciders then and sometimes a glass of wine during the week if I have the cals.
    Hasn't stopped me losing weight.
  • abyt42
    abyt42 Posts: 1,358 Member
    When I've got the allowance, and the inclination, I have a good beer every now and then. My problem: beer goes with so many salty, crunchy indulgences.
  • ashleypietz
    ashleypietz Posts: 87 Member
    If it fits into your calories for the day it won't keep you from losing weight but I wouldn't replace too many food calories with alcohol too often.
  • rschmmidt
    rschmmidt Posts: 296
    Alcohol slows down your metabolism.

    http://www.enlita.com/health-articles/diet-nutrition/reasons-alcohol-can-make-you-gain-weight

    http://www.fitness-health.co.uk/metabolism.htm

    Thank you, those articles were helpful and make sense to me.
  • Thomasm198
    Thomasm198 Posts: 3,189 Member
    Well, I have a few drinks every weekend. It didn't do me any harm. If you have the calories free, I say go for it. :drinker:
  • mrshickey
    mrshickey Posts: 239
    I recognise that this is a lifestyle change- however I don't plan to give up alcohol for the rest of my life. im still losing weight, maybe not as fast as id like but im just impatient. Have a drink if you want one, enjoy it, and if its under your calories goal, even better.


    cheers!!
  • killagb
    killagb Posts: 3,280 Member
    I like my calorie free vices :smokin: *wink nudge* lol
  • gavini
    gavini Posts: 248 Member
    there have been many studies showing positive health benefits from daily but small alcohol usage so for many people there is no reason you have to give up the beer when you get home or the wine with dinner, you just need to contain it to that one or if you are a bigger person perhaps two drinks to maintain the positives
  • joyfulthanks
    joyfulthanks Posts: 155
    Alcohol slows down your metabolism.

    http://www.enlita.com/health-articles/diet-nutrition/reasons-alcohol-can-make-you-gain-weight

    http://www.fitness-health.co.uk/metabolism.htm

    These were informative...thanks!
  • brewingaz
    brewingaz Posts: 1,136 Member
    Dark beer generally has the same health benefits as a glass of wine does, but with less alcohol than wine. Alcohol does slow down fat metabolism, but still has health benefits when enjoyed in moderation. Drink up!
  • TDGee
    TDGee Posts: 2,209 Member
    Remember, it's YOUR life. You can do what you want to, or not, YOUR choice. I personally have cut back considerably on my alcohol intake, but still put the lampshade on my head occasionally. It's true it will slow your metabolism down some. The trick is to get your metabolism ramped up so a drink won't have that much of an effect. If you like, I'll write you a note giving you permission to have a beer. I'm really nice like that. :drinker:
  • elliecolorado
    elliecolorado Posts: 1,040
    I drink beer a few times a week and to be honest I use my 'exercise calories' for beer. I hardly ever eat my exercise calories, but if I do it's usually for beer and it hasn't slowed down my weight loss at all, well maybe it has, but not enough to care, I still lose about 2-3lbs a week. I gave up alcohol for a while, but then I realized that it wasn't realistic for me to never drink again. I drink less than I used to but I still drink a couple of times a week.
  • rose313
    rose313 Posts: 1,146 Member
    I drink a light beer a day, but I cut out hard liquor and mixed drinks about a year ago. It works for me.
  • rschmmidt
    rschmmidt Posts: 296
    I like my calorie free vices :smokin: *wink nudge* lol

    Space Needle, you're in my neighborhood!
  • rschmmidt
    rschmmidt Posts: 296
    Thank you everybody for your responses. It makes sense to me now. All things in moderation, of course, but I was only seeing the calories and nutrients and not thinking about what it does to your metabolism.
    I appreciate your feedback.
    Good luck to you all in meeting your goals! Cheers! :drinker:
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