ALCoHoL?!?!

i'm 22 and i can't help it... i drink.....but its soo bad for you it makes my calorie counter rocket sky high...im never guna drop the lbs like that....what does everyone suggest for alcholic drinks that arn't to bad on the calories/sugar/fat???

How about making a wine spritzer?  Rather than having 2 glasses of wine, have one glass's worth in a tall glass with sparkling water or diet soda?

Steer clear of the pina coladas, with their calorie-laden coconut milk, and be careful of anything with a lot of fruit juice; you're getting the sugar, but not all the benefits you would get if you ate the actual fruit instead.

I haven't stopped drinking because I'm trying to lose weight; I just have to account for it.

Original Post by parsonssam:

i'm 22 and i can't help it... i drink.....

At the risk of being preachy, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say:  Yeah, actually you can help it.  Drink if you choose to, and drink responsibly, but please don't fall into the trap into thinking you have no control.  If you honestly don't have control concerning alchohol, then it would be a good idea take a good look at your habits.

That being said, I agree with post #1 in watching for any mixed drink with fruit juice or calorie/sugar laden mixers.  The spritzer is a good idea.  You can also use diet soda to extend the "longetivity" of a shot of vodka, rum, or whiskey.  Some bars may also have sugar free mixers.

Good luck!

Vodka, soda water and a slice of lime. Or, you could just drink something that you absolutely hate - it will make you sip very, very slowly. Another benefit of staying sober is not eating late-night junk food.

OMG!!  Beck's Premier Light!!  64 calories per 12oz bottle!!!!   plus it's more filling than a regular mixed drink! Only probelm is it's kinda hard to find when you're out at the bars, but it's the only thing I buy to keep at home.

any 80 proof alcohol is only around 60-80 calories so get it with club soda.  And supposedly drinking alcohol with diet sodas increases the affect by 50% so maybe 2 drinks will feel like more and you'll stop. 

I totally feel you on this.  If I know I'm gonna go drinking at night i put it in my food log early in the morning. It helps me eat healthy the rest of the day cuz the calories are already in my face

spirits and diet mixers, lite beer, dry white wine.  only allocate youself 1 or 2 nights a week where you're allowed any alcohol to limit the damage. fit it to your calories.  just treat alcohol like a big piece of chocolate fudge cake, you can have it but you have to make it fit your diet and it's going to do you no good if it's more than an occasional treat.

I usually have a vodka and cranberry or even a rum and coke. I don't know what the calories are for either of these drinks, but it hasn't affected my weight yet.

Maybe a shot or 2 of vodka? Is that really bad?

I'm a lightweight, so I tend to not drink all that much...

 

my favorite drinking & dieting trick is to alternate cocktails with mocktails. if I'm having gin & tonics, for example, I'll alternate every one with club soda & lime. most places serve them in exactly the same glass as the cocktail, so you feel & look like you're having a real drink. this works especially well for nights where you think you'll be out for a long time. it allows you to have, say, five "drinks" over several hours (mocktail-cocktail-mocktail-cocktail-mocktail ) with only the alcohol and calories of two actual drinks. (don't worry, you'll still get a buzz - try it, if you don't trust me.)

the benefits are many... you still get buzzed but don't get drunk (saves you from doing dumb things)... you don't blow your diet but you still have a good time... your friends don't even know what you're up to, so they don't tease you about not drinking... you save a LOT of money, especially over time: $2-$8-$2-$8-$2 --> $22 instead of $40!... keeps you hydrated so you look lovely & feel good when you wake up the next day...

you can also order cocktails in a "tall" glass, where you get a single shot but double the mixer - a good thing if the mixer is non-caloric. you can also ask for a "splash" of a caloric mixer, such as cranberry juice or ginger ale, for a little extra taste & color without the calories.

when i go out to drink i uaually bring a measuring cup &like to have 6-8 oz. of 80 proof vodka mixed with diet coke. sometimes ill just drink it straight though...

 

I've been a student living in uni accommodation getting wasted every night. Been there, done that.. I'm only 19! I should not be thinking like this! But I do still enjoy getting drunk once every so often.

I do it all or nothing - If my friends are not drinking much, I won't touch a drop. If it is made clear beforehand that we are out to get completely smashed - I won't eat much that day to save cals (I know this is really unhealthy tho) and then proper, full on go for it!! What's the point wasting calories on just "having a few"..? Alcohol has a specific purpose - to get you drunk.

I think the lowest cal drink you can order is vodka + diet coke. That's what I always drink. Sometimes throw in a gin + diet coke or a "light" alcopop to mix things up a bit. I always find it more effective to mix your drinks! Or I just start taking little drinks of random ones that I find lying about out of curiosity.

.....ahh.. some good, solid, healthy advice there..

Original Post by cookie_love:

Alcohol has a specific purpose - to get you drunk.

Anyone who says this hasn't experienced truly good, high quality liquor or beer.  Getting drunk can be fun, but trust me, it does get old.

on edit:  Or the person has had good liquor or beer, and they just don't appreciate it yet.

Thanks everyone for all the feedback...I usually drink coors or bud light for beer and when i drink hard liqour i usually have a vodka water barlime or a vokda/chrystal light or a rye and ginger..i'm trying to behave myself but with the summertime and working 12hr shifts its hard not to want to unwind after a shift or on the weekend with a couple cold ones...if anyone thinks of anything else keep posting..

Also i agree with the statement if u just dont drink then u also wont eat crappy food late at night...unfortunately these usually go hand in hand....I went to a concert on saturday and drank 16oz beers and ate so much bad food my calorie counter was up over 2500 cals and im supposed to be around 1900 for my weight and height..lol ooppsy i guess it was cheat day!

Original Post by parsonssam:

... its hard not to want to unwind after a shift or on the weekend with a couple cold ones...if anyone thinks of anything else keep posting..

 

At the risk of getting preachy again, be careful if you find yourself "needing" to unwind with alcohol on a consistent basis.

Hot bubble or aromatherapy baths are great for unwinding, too, you know - and calorie free.

I'm going to challenge you a little.....   For just one week, don't drink any alcohol at all.  It's not a 'forever' thing but it will show you a few things including.....

1.  It's possible to enjoy yourself and relax without alcohol.

2.  You'll find other things to drink besides beer etc.

3.  Your weight-loss at the end of the week will be staggering!

Give it a shot... All you've got to lose is a few pounds of unsightly flab :-)

Original Post by girlfighting27:

OMG!!  Beck's Premier Light!!  64 calories per 12oz bottle!!!!   plus it's more filling than a regular mixed drink! Only probelm is it's kinda hard to find when you're out at the bars, but it's the only thing I buy to keep at home.

any 80 proof alcohol is only around 60-80 calories so get it with club soda.  And supposedly drinking alcohol with diet sodas increases the affect by 50% so maybe 2 drinks will feel like more and you'll stop. 

I totally feel you on this.  If I know I'm gonna go drinking at night i put it in my food log early in the morning. It helps me eat healthy the rest of the day cuz the calories are already in my face

 I don't agree with drinking the Beck's Premier Light if you're wanting to get a buzz because it contains only 2.3% alcohol.  So you would need to drink the whole six pack to 'feel good'.  LOL   Now, if you're drinking because you simply enjoy a good brew, then go for it.

oh boy do i feel your pain on this one! being in college is not the best environment for limiting alcohol calories, if you know what i mean. here's what i do to try to limit that damage:

only drink a couple times a week,

STAY AWAY FROM COCKTAILS!!!! there are so many hidden calories in so many cocktails. i would recommend mixing with diet soda or soda water with lime. there are also light fruit juices. i loooove cosmos...i nearly died from joy when i found light cranberry juice at the grocery store!

work it into your diet. if i know i'm going to be drinking i make sure to factor it and eat less during the day. you shouldn't do this all the time, but for a special night out i think it's okay!

#1 -- If you are worried about sounding preachy, don't preach. you aren't saying something that is news to anyone. It only makes me wonder if you have an alcohol abuse problem yourself. This is CC not AA. (Sorry, but was I the only one thinking this?)

 

#2 -- Bacardi makes low cal alcohol now - I think its called "Island Breeze" or something like that. Check it out

Also - if you are going to have wine, opt for a red, it has lower amounts of sugar in it and you also reap the health benefits (as long as you are not drinking the whole bottle every night).

I just work out to make myself feel less guilty for the extra calories I know i'll end up consuming.

 

Original Post by vwilmar:

#1 -- If you are worried about sounding preachy, don't preach. you aren't saying something that is news to anyone. It only makes me wonder if you have an alcohol abuse problem yourself. This is CC not AA. (Sorry, but was I the only one thinking this?)

 Ummm...Thanks for the advice.  And no, I don't have an alchohol problem myself, but another thanks for the unfounded assumption.  I grew up with an alcoholic father, and went to school with people who routinely used the "I can't help it" excuse to drink themselves into a habitual problem or a trip to the emergency room.

Yes, this is CC, but the moderators aren't exactly handing out posting straight jackets - and I do believe I addressed calorie consumption.

So pardon me, or not , for giving a little bit of well intentioned advice  - during which I do believe I specifically stated it was their choice.