Alcohol?

I was just wondering if alcohol is totally off limits? I eat really well and do 40 minutes of cardio 5 days and toning 2 days a week, but I drink sometimes on the weekends. I've lost 35 lbs but recently I've hit a plateau (I still have 15 to go). Do I need to cut out the alcohol to start losing again.

Well, as long as you can fit alcohol into your daily calorie limit, technically it's ok, but if you're at a plateau, all you can do is try to cut it out and see what happens. If it works, you'll know. If you don't try it and stay on the plateau, you can't be sure if that's the answer. Nobody can really tell you what will work -- you just have to try.

I had me a pina colada today for lunch.  I was told that alcohol is really bad.  That's why most men have that beer belly.  Keep count!

i'll tell you straight up. its pretttty bad. shots of liquer, at the lowest (which maybe i'd reccomend if you HAD to drink((bacardi sugar-free)) rank up at 90 calories a shot. if wines your thing, i'd probably reccomend red wine. as thats only 85 calories a glass. not so bad.

Let me tell you.  I've been trying to drink less, but my friends are awful peer pressurers when it comes to drinking.  I said no tonight and it took me at least a half hour to get them to realize I really wasn't going to drink.  Oye! 
In the past when I have gone out drinkin, I've gained.  And I spend the week tring to shed unnecessarily gained lbs. Though I usually have fun, so I suppose the it's worth it.  sometimes.

I'd suggest drinking less, if you want to move past the plateau.

That's just blows my mind. When my friends and I went out if somebody didn't want to drink, we could have cared less. Yet, I hear stories like yours ALL the time. Must be the newer generation ...

I think generally a couple of drinks at the weekend isn't going to set you back that much and you shouldn't feel guilty about them either. However, if you are at a plateau maybe give up drinking or cut down to a lower calorie drink for a couple of weekends just to move you past it.

Ahh...here's a subject I can talk about...Yes, a lot of alcohol is very bad for a diet, but as one person said if you can fit it into your calorie count, do it.  BUT, and this is my biggest warning, do NOT substitute alcohol for food when it comes to calories..meaning don't only eat 500-1000 calories that day when you are going to drink because that is bad.  For me, before I started my diet/workout plan I was drinking between 10-20 cans of beer a week (that is 1-2 nights out with friends) every week...when I calculated my total calories for the week and researched what I needed/should be getting I did leave room for alcohol.  I've cut that 10-20 down to no more then 6 at a time and no more then 2-3 times a week.  Today (first time drinking since I started my diet almost two weeks ago) I had a small bottle of wine and a 40oz beer.  I got a buzz but instead of the 2000+ calories I used to intake on a drinking night it was only about 550...and I still had fun!  So when you break it down if you're only going to drink 1 or 2 times a month, go ahead.  just don't over do it.

I love having drinks several nights a week (2-3), and it's simply a matter of math to me.  If you drink 10 miller lites, that's 960 calories.  If you do it 2-3 times pe week, you're really making it alot harder on yourself to lose weight.  I gained around 50 lbs on just drinking beer, soda, juices and other calorie laden beverages.  One day I realized that drinking 2 monster energy drinks with 300 cals apiece, a 320z soda with 400 cals was equal to a two lb per week loss, without changing my food choices at all.  I'm not sure what your situation is with the plateau, but try to reduce your daily calories by 200-300.  This way you'll be able to enjoy a few nights out knocking a few back, and you may even get some snacks in too!

I feel your pain aimee. I really enjoy my drining but after reading up on this, I guess the drinking has got to stop!

Wow this is a old forum. Frig that though, allow yourself 2 drinks at least one night of the week. You'll relax (one shot=64 calories, so together you'll only consume 128 calories!) For me, I will risk one night of consuming 128 calories worth of alcohol to relax. :) We're only human! These small delicases make us happy lol