Alcohol affecting my progress!

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Replies

  • PayneAS
    PayneAS Posts: 669 Member
    Become the designated driver! My friends loved it because they knew they would be safe with me to look out for their drunk butts and also knew I would get them home. There are even a lot of places that, if you tell them you are the DD, will serve you non-alcoholic drinks for free. Sometimes they'll give you a wristband or just mark it on your napkin. It is a win all around. I get to laugh at my friends' silly antics, they stay safe, and I don't spend a ton of money having a great time out!
  • Meaganandcheese
    Meaganandcheese Posts: 525 Member
    When I used to go out a lot, for me it was about feeling like I needed to have a drink in my hand. Whoever said the first drink sells the second is spot on - but it doesn't have to be a drink-drink. Even now I alternate between a mixed drink and a diet soda/water. You can still be social, order rounds along with people, but you really cut back on what you take in. Not only do I have less booze, I don't want to eat as much after I get home and I feel a lot better the next day.
  • AnninStPaul
    AnninStPaul Posts: 1,372 Member
    I always start with a seltzer/club soda/water, and try to alternative that with the alcohol.
  • Stacyanne324
    Stacyanne324 Posts: 780 Member
    The first thing I did was switch from regular beer to Yuenglng Light. I've found that I can still enjoy a beer or two or a glass of wine or two most nights and not have it affect my weight loss at all as long as I make sure that the drinks fit into my daily calorie plan. I also tend to eat a very light breakfast and lunch to save the majority of my extra calories for dinner and drinks which I enjoy. I've been steadily losing doing this.

    There is one day a week I allow myself a free day and in exchange for that I stay lower calorie than I need to the other days of the week. That one day I'll drink and eat and not worry about it. It's done wonder for my weight loss journey and my mood; :)

    must be close by to me...not many people know Yuengling!

    I think it's a PA/NJ thing mostly. My inlaws live in NJ where I'm from and always have it on hand. I'm out in Lancaster PA now. Where are you?
  • missjoci
    missjoci Posts: 412 Member
    Hi Guys,

    I'm just wondering if anyone has the same issue and if they have any advice for me...

    I work for a company with a lot of young professionals (20's and 30's). We all get along really well and typically on Fridays we will go out for drinks after work. I find that I'll have a few classes of wine or a vodka soda but often times that leads us to another bar and before I know it I've have four drinks (totaling over 400 calories) and then I'm starving and just want to go home and eat more than I should.

    How can I go out with my colleagues and not make this mistake? Does anyone find themselves in this type of situation?

    I hope this Friday night binge isn't slowing my metabolism....

    I think it's great to take a week or two break here and there if you can. Otherwise, try to plan ahead so you have extra calories for a late night meal and drinks. Bringing a snack in your purse is also a great idea (protein bar, granola bar, etc). I count some of my drinks and food for the next day since they happen after midnight. I don't think alcohol hurts metabolism too much if you are working out, but it makes burning belly fat harder in my experience. :) I find this to be a problem when I go out too. Stick to the low cal drinks as much as possible and enjoy yourself. Once a week won't hurt you. :flowerforyou:
  • mzbehaven1
    mzbehaven1 Posts: 55 Member
    perfectly said !
  • Fieldsy
    Fieldsy Posts: 1,105 Member
    The first thing I did was switch from regular beer to Yuenglng Light. I've found that I can still enjoy a beer or two or a glass of wine or two most nights and not have it affect my weight loss at all as long as I make sure that the drinks fit into my daily calorie plan. I also tend to eat a very light breakfast and lunch to save the majority of my extra calories for dinner and drinks which I enjoy. I've been steadily losing doing this.

    There is one day a week I allow myself a free day and in exchange for that I stay lower calorie than I need to the other days of the week. That one day I'll drink and eat and not worry about it. It's done wonder for my weight loss journey and my mood; :)

    must be close by to me...not many people know Yuengling!

    I think it's a PA/NJ thing mostly. My inlaws live in NJ where I'm from and always have it on hand. I'm out in Lancaster PA now. Where are you?


    Basically 10-15 min from the sports complex in Philly
  • Stacyanne324
    Stacyanne324 Posts: 780 Member
    The first thing I did was switch from regular beer to Yuenglng Light. I've found that I can still enjoy a beer or two or a glass of wine or two most nights and not have it affect my weight loss at all as long as I make sure that the drinks fit into my daily calorie plan. I also tend to eat a very light breakfast and lunch to save the majority of my extra calories for dinner and drinks which I enjoy. I've been steadily losing doing this.

    There is one day a week I allow myself a free day and in exchange for that I stay lower calorie than I need to the other days of the week. That one day I'll drink and eat and not worry about it. It's done wonder for my weight loss journey and my mood; :)

    must be close by to me...not many people know Yuengling!

    I think it's a PA/NJ thing mostly. My inlaws live in NJ where I'm from and always have it on hand. I'm out in Lancaster PA now. Where are you?


    Basically 10-15 min from the sports complex in Philly

    Yeah, definitely local then. We were about an hour from Philly now but in NJ we were only about 20 minutes from the city. I love how the locals here refer to Yuengling simply as Lager... :) The light is decent as far as light beers go.
  • CassieReannan
    CassieReannan Posts: 1,479 Member
    I have always been a non drinker... I choose not to drink. Not only is it bad for you, it makes you look like an idiot.
    I drink on occasions which is about 5 times a year. I drank a glass of wine for easter and was already tipsy.
    I can live without drinking and dont need it to have a good time.
  • jporcelli
    jporcelli Posts: 10
    I enjoy my wine and to drink, but now I feel much more comfortable that I can drink socially and still lose! Thanks so much for all the awesome feedback. I havent been really active with the MFP family mostly cause I was just shy and embarrassed I had gained my weight back.. so thank you all so much for the support! I plan to be much more vocal in the MFP fam.
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    http://www.leangains.com/2010/07/truth-about-alcohol-fat-loss-and-muscle.html
  • sfoxy219
    sfoxy219 Posts: 103
    I can relate. I'm in this situation 1-2X a week and it's killing all chances at losing weight. I go for one drink but then people buy me drinks and I feel guilty and feel as if I have to drink them. I know I don't but i feel as if I do. Than after a few hundred calories in alcohol I go to food. I wish I had advice for you but I can't even control my own situation.
  • essjay76
    essjay76 Posts: 465 Member
    For me personally, the first drink sells the second. I find it almost impossible to "just have one" (the same way some people have trouble with just one cookie or just one french fry, lol).

    When I was previously at my goal weight, I didn't eat perfect, but I didn't ever drink any alcohol or caffeine. Now I eat very clean, but I drink alcohol and caffeine and find that the weight is not coming off at all. I find that the real problem is like you said: alcohol lowers my inhibition to eat more, so even if I am eating healthy foods, it doesn't matter. I eat too much. I find caffeine does the same. It curbs my appetite for a little while, but once it wears off, I am starving, and I eat too much.

    Anyway, I am trying to quit alcohol and caffeine. I really enjoy them, but they are wrecking my goals. Feel free to friend me if you need a buddy in quitting!

    I knew there was a reason I friended you, my dear!! I'm right there with ya! :-)
  • essjay76
    essjay76 Posts: 465 Member
    And to the OP, I understand, I understand!! I wouldn't say I'm an alcoholic but I was pretty close for a while. In my 20's and up until a few years ago, I used to drink every single day. If you looked at my food diary (Non MFP) from 2010 and previous, I had alcohol in some form all the time.

    I have always had good eating habits, and have always exercised regularly, but I know alcohol always set me back from staying at my ideal weight/fit. I was never the type that had "just one" drink, and I would consume as many as 10 mixed drinks in a night. Plus, after that, I would drunk eat, and make poor choices, and sometimes not even remember what I ate. This caused me to gain weight over time, and I knew I needed to stop.

    It took me a long time to get to the point I am now. I stopped drinking everyday and limited it to the weekends or on social occasions instead of drinking alone. Then eventually Happy Hours dwindled down, then I limited it to once or twice a week... I'm still working on controlling how much I drink when I do. This is the main reason I'm on MFP. When I have alcohol I have no control over my diet.

    At least now, I opt for mixed drinks with diet sodas (whiskey and diet coke or diet ginger ale), or some kind of light beer. At least now when I drink I log everything in MFP, so I'm more awayre of the empty calories I'm consuming.

    Yes, it is possible to lose weight while still keeping room for alcohol. I worked out like crazy to be able to drink the way I wanted, but never logged it, so I overestimated how much room I had.

    A lot of people had good tips, but you're already one step ahead of things by logging your alcohol in MFP.

    If anyone else reading this is in the same boat with alcohol, feel free to message me and friend me! I welcome the support! It's hard but it can be done!

    And OP jporcelli, good luck! You can still enjoy and succeed with your weight loss goals!
  • googsgirl
    googsgirl Posts: 76 Member
    Essjay76,

    I just wanted to say I think your honesty is very very commendable, regarding your personal struggles.


    I am not sure I know many people who would open up about their challenges and invite others to make positive changes as well.

    I wish you all the best in health and happiness on your journey towards bettering yourself.
  • barefoot76
    barefoot76 Posts: 314 Member
    For me personally, the first drink sells the second. I find it almost impossible to "just have one" (the same way some people have trouble with just one cookie or just one french fry, lol).

    When I was previously at my goal weight, I didn't eat perfect, but I didn't ever drink any alcohol or caffeine. Now I eat very clean, but I drink alcohol and caffeine and find that the weight is not coming off at all. I find that the real problem is like you said: alcohol lowers my inhibition to eat more, so even if I am eating healthy foods, it doesn't matter. I eat too much. I find caffeine does the same. It curbs my appetite for a little while, but once it wears off, I am starving, and I eat too much.

    Anyway, I am trying to quit alcohol and caffeine. I really enjoy them, but they are wrecking my goals. Feel free to friend me if you need a buddy in quitting!

    I knew there was a reason I friended you, my dear!! I'm right there with ya! :-)

    *hugs!*

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