post-alcohol cravings
smith176
Posts: 27 Member
so I have big nights out, which obviously adds hundreds of calories to a day's totals anyway, but the next day all I crave is carbs and really fatty foods. I tend to give in to these cravings purely to make myself feel slightly more human after a big night. So the question is, will this one day of eating really badly, and the added calories from the alcohol, going to undo all of the hard work I've been putting into losing weight?
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Replies
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Alcohol will affect you worse than the food you ate. Both? Will definitely mess with what you're doing. Why not just cut your "big night outs" out.0
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How often do you go out? It looks like you have two cheat meals when you do this, the evening you drink and the day afterwards. It may make losing weight a lot harder. Sorry, but it is the honest truth. I think you have to find a happy medium between enjoying your life and creating a healthy lifestyle. Choose your nights out carefully and try your best to get back on track the following day. Good luck!0
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Not at all imo.
I go out quite often, mainly Fridays or Satdays. Im going out this Fri so as normal i will diet all that day, then when im actualy out i'l drink what the hell i want, which is usually a lot. Sometimes at the end of the night i'l eithergo for a Subway or a McDonalds and to top it off i genrally eat pure junk the next day. Like i'l get up and have a bacon and egg butty and eat whatever i want for th course of the day. I feel this helps with the hangover and as long as i get back on the diet on the Sunday and diet all week again, by the time get weighed the week later, that night out and the junk food thats follows hasnt ttuched me
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Because everyone deserves to have a life while dieting. Just keep your eye on the long term goal. Dont let your plan get derailed because of a few bad meals. When I have a friday or saturday drinking night I save my calories and work out harder to earn some calories! That way I dont feel guilty about the 7 diet tonic and vodkas (and breakfast out w/friends the next day). Also drink water. Lots. And Vitamin B-12 the night before is important.
Go for more lean protein than carbs too the next day too, it will still give you that satisfied feeling you seek0 -
Yes.
I used to work three jobs, school full-time, and party 6 nights a week. I was like a zombie and didn't even realize it. I thought I was livin it up! Now I'm 40 and really starting to live it up!
Also, you will suffer consequences for more than 1 day. You will be dehydrate the the next day, depressed (even if you don't think you are), weak or flat out won't exercise and more.
Plus, you felt guilty enough to ask us!?!0 -
I dunno how often you go out, for me its probs 2-3 fri/saturdays in a month and as i say, it doesnt affect my weight loss at all cause im good at making up for it but if its affecting u then maybe do something different. I wouldnt go as far as t sa don't go out as often cause what the point, lifes for living. Where do u draw the line.0
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No. You can't undo all your hard work with one day of unhealthy eating - just like you can't lose a ton of weight with one day of healthy eating & exercising. However, if you already drank a lot last night & you're going over your calories again today, it's not just one day anymore. If it's not something you do regularly, it's fine, but if this is your normal pattern, it could throw you off your weight loss goals in the long run. Personally, after I drink, I crave Chipotle because it always seems to make me feel better. I think that's okay, but I don't do it all the time & if I eat Chipotle (or whatever), I fit it into my calories for the day. I say eat whatever makes you feel better today, then start fresh tomorrow. Next time you plan to go out and have a few drinks, try to eat lighter throughout the day, so you won't go way over your calories - or exercise more that day to make up for it. The next day, try to plan everything out so you're fulfilled, but you don't go over your calorie goal. Easier said than done, I know! Good luck! 0
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I completly agreeBecause everyone deserves to have a life while dieting. Just keep your eye on the long term goal. Dont let your plan get derailed because of a few bad meals. When I have a friday or saturday drinking night I save my calories and work out harder to earn some calories! That way I dont feel guilty about the 7 diet tonic and vodkas (and breakfast out w/friends the next day). Also drink water. Lots. And Vitamin B-12 the night before is important.
Go for more lean protein than carbs too the next day too, it will still give you that satisfied feeling you seek 0 -
Even if I don't throw up, I always weigh less the next morning after a night of drinking.
And I definitely crave bread and greasy food, especially burgers and fries to cure my hangover.0 -
How often do you go out? It looks like you have two cheat meals when you do this, the evening you drink and the day afterwards. It may make losing weight a lot harder. Sorry, but it is the honest truth. I think you have to find a happy medium between enjoying your life and creating a healthy lifestyle. Choose your nights out carefully and try your best to get back on track the following day. Good luck!
This!0 -
Usually, when I plateau, I have what I like to call "a fat kid moment" where I'll have chicken wings or an omelet without regret...even if it puts me over my daily limit. Funny part is that it boosts my metabolism into high gear and I end up losing more weight than if I try to ride the plateau out. A friend told me once that the body knows what it wants, and if it is craving something, within reason, have it. So long as you can stay under target the remainder of the week.0
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thanks for the feedback guys. I tend to go out about once every two weeks, so I'm kind of hoping that 1 or 2 bad days out of two weeks won't undo all of my work.0
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While greasy fatty foods sound good, and your brain is telling you that that's what you want, what you really want is salt and sugar.
Also, what your body wants is lots of good fresh food. Fat and all that gets in the way of your bodys ability to repair itself.
I did a good bit of research on this as I was thinking of developing a hangover cure, I never did it because I started a different business. But, although it seems counter to what you want, you should eat a nice green salad, maybe a small serving of pasta. Then, a teaspoon of sugar or honey.
Don't give in to the crappy food and you'll feel better faster.
I can't answer to the effects of it all because I party a bit myself. I'm thinking of stopping for a while though. Not sure if I can, but I may give it a shot (pun intended).
Things like Gatorade are great too as they have electrlites, salt, sugar, all of it. Also, you need tons and tons of water. Gallons of it.
By the way, while its a pain in the butt, I've experimented with drinking alcohol and water together. So, for every alcohol drink, I also have a glass of water...I just down the water after each drink. When I've done this, I wake up with no hangover regardless of how much alcohol I drink. But, it's one for one all night. Do ths, and your hangover days are over. ...that will be $9.95 for anyone that just read that. Thx.0 -
Yes.
I used to work three jobs, school full-time, and party 6 nights a week. I was like a zombie and didn't even realize it. I thought I was livin it up! Now I'm 40 and really starting to live it up!
Also, you will suffer consequences for more than 1 day. You will be dehydrate the the next day, depressed (even if you don't think you are), weak or flat out won't exercise and more.
Plus, you felt guilty enough to ask us!?!
This. agreed0 -
Thats similar to me then and im sure it won't cause it doesnt with me and i tend to drink loads lol. You can't stop going out just cause of your diet, you've got to have some life lol.thanks for the feedback guys. I tend to go out about once every two weeks, so I'm kind of hoping that 1 or 2 bad days out of two weeks won't undo all of my work.0 -
Same with me sometimes. Without sounding gross alcohol seems to go straight through me, like i can't stop peeing on a night out plus you burn cals off dancing most the night lol.Even if I don't throw up, I always weigh less the next morning after a night of drinking.
And I definitely crave bread and greasy food, especially burgers and fries to cure my hangover.0 -
Same with me sometimes. Without sounding gross alcohol seems to go straight through me, like i can't stop peeing on a night out plus you burn cals off dancing most the night lol.Even if I don't throw up, I always weigh less the next morning after a night of drinking.
And I definitely crave bread and greasy food, especially burgers and fries to cure my hangover.
Yeah, if you dance, that's great. I hate dancing, so... I just sit on a barstool and try not to get into a fight, stumble or crawl home, and wake up in my bed the next day, hopefully, or on my porch if I couldn't get the key in the door.0 -
Haha lmao! I only ever once was found falling asleep on the doorstep of my house clutchin a McDonalds. God job my mum came outside to find me ha.
Same with me sometimes. Without sounding gross alcohol seems to go straight through me, like i can't stop peeing on a night out plus you burn cals off dancing most the night lol.Even if I don't throw up, I always weigh less the next morning after a night of drinking.
And I definitely crave bread and greasy food, especially burgers and fries to cure my hangover.
Yeah, if you dance, that's great. I hate dancing, so... I just sit on a barstool and try not to get into a fight, stumble or crawl home, and wake up in my bed the next day, hopefully, or on my porch if I couldn't get the key in the door.0 -
I don't agree with giving up going out. The point is to have a life you enjoy, not deprive yourself and be miserable right?
I go out with my friends on most weekends. I just started MFP so the changes I made include:
1- Being hyper aware of the number of drinks done (vs. shoting back a shot and not remember having it the next day)
2- Counting every single tiny "oh I'll just have a bit of that" calories. If I have one tiny bite, I count it. A sip of someone's drink, I count it.
3- If I know what restaurant we are going to, I'll look at the menu online beforehand and look at calorie counts. If the menu is horrible (Gordon Biersch!), I'll note how much of a portion I can eat.
4- Exercise exercise exercise to cover the calories (this seems pretty effective to me)
5- I cut out beer for wine and liquor. Sounds funny, but beer calories are ridiculously high to me, even the ones you think are lite beers.
Just my two cents... 0 -
Don't get me wrong...You deserve to have a life! That's just it though. You have made a decision to IMPROVE your life! If you want to improve your life that's not gonna include drinking a lot and eating bad.
Peeing and dancing doesn't help. Your peeing so much means your body is recruiting all the water it can to proccess the booze and is leaving you dehydrated. Not to mention it's bad for your liver, Dancing is great but, not so much if your drunk and dehydrated. It's gonna make you more dehydrated. Don't get me wrong...it's fun. Not healthy though.
The next day...you all know what happens...wake up with a mostly empty 12pk on the porch, grease on your lips, thirsy, and the hmm let's see I remember doing this and that uhggg and that.....This is if your lucky.
Sure the go out and have some fun is great AND healthy. That's normal life. 99% of us are not normal. Normal is have a beer, a glass of wine and go home. WE have a pitcher of beer or a bottle of wine and go pig-out at White Castle. That's not good.0 -
I find it amusing that we're discussing this on the day after St. Patrick's Day.....in the States it is a day of drinking way too much.
I don't think it is going to make you gain weight if you do it once a week. But the alcohol does cause lots of problems in general, both regarding the food choices during and after drinking, and the way your body processes the alcohol itself.0 -
I dunno how often you go out, for me its probs 2-3 fri/saturdays in a month and as i say, it doesnt affect my weight loss at all cause im good at making up for it but if its affecting u then maybe do something different. I wouldnt go as far as t sa don't go out as often cause what the point, lifes for living. Where do u draw the line.
How much have you lost doing this?
And how do your macro and micronutrients look?0 -
I guess I'm pretty lucky...when I drink, I just crave more alcohol. Not food.0
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I guess I'm pretty lucky...when I drink, I just crave more alcohol. Not food.
A far better way to be... and generally far more entertaining.0 -
I have been told I'm quite entertaining when I drink...
A far better way to be... and generally far more entertaining.I guess I'm pretty lucky...when I drink, I just crave more alcohol. Not food.0 -
I have been told I'm quite entertaining when I drink...
A far better way to be... and generally far more entertaining.I guess I'm pretty lucky...when I drink, I just crave more alcohol. Not food.
I believe there may be truth in that....0 -
Hi Smith,
those big nights out with alcoholic drinks and food overtime will add up and affect overall weight loss plus your health! You are 19 - so good time to start being healthy and cut out some "big nights" - limit to once or twice a month...??0 -
So far as your weight loss is concerned its down to the good old equation.
(Calories in - Calories out)/3500 = weight change in lbs
To throw some general numbers at this, say your calories out is 2,000 per day (around average for a moderately active woman)
Sunday thru Thursday you stick to a healthy diet and eat 1,500 calories per day.
Friday you are healthy until you hit the town, another 1,500 calories.
Friday night you hit the town and have 8 alcopops 1,360 calories (about 170 each)
Saturday you eat unhealthy 2,500 calories
So the equation for the week
Calories in = 12,860, Calories out = 14,000 so you would be losing 1/3lb per week
If you stuck to the healthy diet of 1,500 calories per day you would lose 2lb per week
So if you are somewhere near to the person I just made up your night out would mean that your weight loss would take 6 times longer than if you did not do the nights out.0 -
Going out and drinking a lot can be fun. Part of the reason you crave food is that because alcohol is quickly metabolized as a sugar, placing serious huge demands on your pancreas's capacity to deliver insulin. After a night of partying, your exhausted endocrine system needs help in the form of a quick sugar fix. And so it sets up cravings to get you to eat high glycemic foods. You can't trick nature. After several drinks in quick succession, you body will crave simple carbs including, possibly, another drink!:drinker:0
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The only thing that really matters here is how you answer the question: "How do I want to get from here to there?" There are plenty of people on this site who are gung-ho to get results as quickly as possible, or are willing to make sweeping changes to their diet and lifestyle in one fell swoop. I personally am not that type...I have good and bad days, but try to keep things at a deficit for the week. I have decided that I am in this for the long haul, and if that means starting something I can stick to and only dripping 0.5lb a week, it's what I will do. Last year I was on MFP for just under two months and lost 10lbs by diligently following the MFP guidelines. Then due to a combination of circumstances and a few days of unhealthy eating, I gave up and gained back my loss.
However this time I am doing things differently and allowing myself to splurge once in a while, since I am finding that it keeps me happier. For me, being happy in this journey will keep me trucking along. I have been doing this for 50 days, and have lost at about half the rate that I did last time, but I'm just not feeling deprived at all this time around. If the weight comes off more slowly, I'm still better off becoming more healthy than trying to scrutinize my macros to ensure that they are perfect every day, then becoming depressed and going into free fall and giving up if I'm not 100%. I'm sure there are plenty MFP-ers that do everything the "right" way all of the time, and that's great for them. They are also the ones that will likely criticize your diet and exercise imperfections, and make you feel like crap and make you want to give up (despite their best intentions) if you don't live up to THEIR ideal of how YOU should conduct YOUR journey to better health.
My advice- for what it is worth- is find out what works for you. Take things slowly. Make a goal to institute a small change to either your diet or your fitness each week. Start by being honest with yourself. What will make you ultimately continue on this path? Are you motivated by losing two pounds in a week eating absolutely clean? Are you motivated by knowing you are making healthier choices in your life, even if it means losing more slowly? Only you know what will work best for you. And no, I don't think you will "ruin" your diet if you go out and drink once a week....:drinker:0
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