Any Drinkers Out There?

I have no problem keeping my calories under 1200 per day... it's just the drinking that throws everything off. Although I drink Lite beer, I still love my Jack & Diet. Are there any other whiskey drinkers out there that can provide alternate suggestions? I'm sure many of you will suggest getting rid of alcohol altogether... but that's much easier said than done.

Replies

  • JBurger2066
    JBurger2066 Posts: 161 Member
    I drink Jack and Coke Zero. Cuts out the calories from the soda anyway. Haha.
  • bugzinc
    bugzinc Posts: 291 Member
    um...get rid of alcohol? yea right...lol....
    just drink less often. I drink either Friday or Saturday. It's my reward for all the hard work.
  • cavewoman15
    cavewoman15 Posts: 278 Member
    it might be a good idea, but i would definitely not give up alcohol! i try to do red wine or liquor (vodka or bourbon) as much as possible. definitely cut out any calories in mixers (like, i NEVER drink margaritas). if i know i'm going to go out for a big night i just try to make sure i burn a bunch of calories that day. also, try to eat as good as i can.
  • mittyerica
    mittyerica Posts: 13
    Try to cut it out until the weekend? Or, go with mixed drinks where you can use diet soda/tonic/etc. Beer and fruity drinks have a lot of sugar and/or carbs. It is hard.
  • victoria4321
    victoria4321 Posts: 1,719 Member
    I like my whiskey straight. Jameson shots are only 70 calories :)
  • becsks
    becsks Posts: 12
    I just joined MFP, which means I'm admitting I can't have that after work beer anymore. Boo. But I refuse to give up my beer and wine entirely, and your jack and diet sounds pretty good as a drink option! I just workout and save some drinking calories for the weekend. They're worth it. We need treats. This is a lifestyle, not a temporary diet.

    lower calorie drink options include: white wine versus red, light beer, liquor mixed with diet soda or soda water (I often have a vodka with soda water and lime.) Avoid all fancy cocktails like margaritas because they are calorie bombs (unless you make it at home with fresh lime juice). If you really like the taste of whiskey, you might go for nicer quality liquor and have it on the rocks.

    Bonus when you're healthy though: you become more of a lightweight so you need less booze for a buzz!
  • I love whiskey too but when I'm dieting I TRY to stick to gin or vodka. If I'm on a crazy kick I'll go so far as to buy 3. It's a zero calorie soy vodka.
  • gaiareeves
    gaiareeves Posts: 292 Member
    It's fine to drink and go over calories now and then, just don't do it every day. Splurging on alcohol once a week isn't going to be massively detrimental to your weight loss; it's less about alternatives and more about moderation when it comes to drinking (:
  • staceyseeger
    staceyseeger Posts: 778 Member
    Patron shots work for me!
  • cmthorsness
    cmthorsness Posts: 83 Member
    More of a gulper!!! MMMM Beeer!
  • luv_lea
    luv_lea Posts: 1,094 Member
    I like my whiskey straight. Jameson shots are only 70 calories :)

    Mmm. Jameson.
  • no offense, but under 1200 calories a day seems like wayyyyy too little? maybe its cause I weigh 200 lbs, LOL
  • achief192
    achief192 Posts: 192
    Don't try to stay under 1200.......work out more = more calories to play with :)
  • I just try to limit it as much as I can.. Though that doesn't work as often cause if I drink one, I'll have 13. Hahaha! So I'll usually, if I decide to drink I'll save it for a designated day. One day won't hurt! Plus it's something to look forward to! :)
  • amanda3588
    amanda3588 Posts: 422 Member
    I've switched from beer/margaritas/whiskey/rum/beer/daquiris/long beaches/long islands/beer.. wait, did I say beer yet? (Give me a break, I'm a Wisconsinite!) to vodka.

    When I go out with friends (boating, camping, etc) I bring my own booze. I bring Voli, Skinnygirl, or Little Black Dress Vodka and use Crystal Light lemonade or raspberry lemonade as a mixer.
  • queenofgrey
    queenofgrey Posts: 70 Member
    i drank about 900 calories at a party on saturday, ate pretty well, exercised, and stayed under my calorie goal of 1410. stick with jack & diet, if you're going to drink. it's 65-90 calories per drink, depending on how you pour, & a few of those can easily be budgeted for throughout the day. i mean, it's possible to drink -- get drunk, even -- and still successfully lose weight. but, like everything else, it needs to be done in moderation. alcohol has a lot of seriously negative effects on your body, & not just the obvious ones, but ones that actually affect your ability to lose weight.
  • Bug207
    Bug207 Posts: 58 Member
    I don't give up the alcohol I like... I'm sorry but my margaritas are just aren't going anywhere because I'm dieting. Instead, I choose to drink less often (one night a week as opposed to three) and make sure to eat high volume, low calorie foods the day I decide to go drinking. It's saved me not only a ton of calories, but also a fair chunk of change haha.
  • Nah don't cut out drinking....hell I never will...I drink on Saturday it's my cheat/reward day:)

    Drink what you like it's all about control...Have a few and enjoy:)
  • saral8981
    saral8981 Posts: 65 Member
    I struggle with this also, bump for later reading
  • mkgrayson
    mkgrayson Posts: 17
    Keep it simple:
    Scotch (I prefer a good single malt) - 103 cal.
    Vodka Soda Lime - 103 cal.

    Yuengling Light - 99 cal.
    Miller Lite - 96 cal.
    Bud light wheat - 118 cal.

    Get your Veg.
    Bloody Mary (big one) - 250 cal.

    I try to manage so that I drink on days with a big deficit. Also, the toughest part, I have tried to cut way back during the week.

    Best of luck and STAY HAPPY!
  • In the summer I like vodka and water with a lemon and a lime. Keeps me hydrated and about 70-90 cals.

    However, I enjoy captain and diet at times and straight whiskey with a good cigar. I know I know.
  • UhOhItsKylie
    UhOhItsKylie Posts: 92 Member
    Pshh, I won't tell you to cut out alcohol. I work hard all week long - both at work and during my workouts - so I definitely don't have a problem having a drink (or two or three... lol) on a Saturday night. I'm not a whiskey gal, but if you're open to something else, vodka soda and some fresh lime squeezed in is low calorie and really refreshing. And of course, there's always red or white wine.
  • Dudagarcia
    Dudagarcia Posts: 849 Member
    Maybe drink an 8 ounce glass of iced lemon water with a stir stick In-between the liquor?
  • nasja1984
    nasja1984 Posts: 98 Member
    I have no problem keeping my calories under 1200 per day... it's just the drinking that throws everything off. Although I drink Lite beer, I still love my Jack & Diet. Are there any other whiskey drinkers out there that can provide alternate suggestions? I'm sure many of you will suggest getting rid of alcohol altogether... but that's much easier said than done.

    Yes, I used to drink but found out it is counter-productive for dieting. You can eat, or you can drink, but you can rarely do both. If you save calories for booze, you will not have enough for good nutrition. If you eat VERY CLEANLY (and that means the biggest nutritional bang for your buck) you may be able to slide in a drink or two now and then but it should be wine as most alcohol is carbs that turns to sugar. I am sorry to have to tell you this but I know I won't be the only one saying this. I used to drink canadian club and diet coke. I weighed a lot. To be successful at dieting, you have to change your eating/drinking habits. Unfortunately, drinking also tends to stimulate the appetite. The secret to weight loss is carb control. You will need to keep it around 100 carbs a day while cutting. You can actually lose a LOT of weight by just cutting out alcohol and restaurants even with zero exercise. You will get a lot of good advice and some bogus advice from these forums. The thing to do is decide what has the ring of truth to it and investigate it yourself to your satisfaction. Don't take everything written as gospel, really research it and you will find your answer.
  • alohabrie
    alohabrie Posts: 204
    Gotta have my wine so I cut out any alcohol Monday thru Thursday. Fri/Sat/Sun - I make sure to fit wine calories in by exercising. I always find a way to fit in those calories!
  • DrMAvDPhD
    DrMAvDPhD Posts: 2,097 Member
    Yeah, I find drinking once a week or every other week isn't preventing my weight loss. And I'm not going to drink some nasty "skinny" drink. Give me some wine, I'll work the calories off ;-)
  • iluvprettyshoes
    iluvprettyshoes Posts: 605 Member
    what?!! I don't have to give up alcohol??? I haven't had any for a month now!!! Er....Hang on I'll be right back.....
  • Nessiechickie
    Nessiechickie Posts: 1,392 Member
    Love my bottle of Rose wine at the end of the week. <3
  • I really struggle with this too. The way i have been doing it is allowing myself one drink on the weekends for every mile I ran over the past week. So, if I ran 2 miles every day Monday-Friday, that's a total of 10 miles, so I can have 10 drinks Friday-Sunday! Not sure if calorically that all that adds up, but it's at least motivation for me to run. :)