Does anyone else get "drunk" during weightloss?

I have been very good with my alcohol consumption.  I went from drinking every night (red wine) , to the weekends, and now I drink maybe 2 days per month.  I must say . . . the weight has really been coming off since I quit drinking as much.  But there are those days when I have 3-5 drinks on a saturday night and am wondering if thats really that bad for me (besides the calorie content . . . I take that into consideration)  I dont know if this is technically considered binge drinking, but I feel way better off than when I drank on a daily basis.  I always consume enough water to keep myself thoroughly hydrated, and it definitely takes less wine to give me a buzz.  Considering I am 22, I do enjoy to get a little "shnik - ered" occasionally so please do not post anti-alcohol things at me.  i feel like I have already come a long way, and would just like to know what people think about this random drinking of 3-5 drinks every couple of weeks.  I have done some research on the internet, but would like to know what others think.  Thanks everyone!

Yes, usually on my cheat days hubby and I will have a few shots or beers. I don't eliminate anything from my diet, I just practice moderation and balance. I make good decisions MOST of the time and allow for discretionary calories and splurge days every 2 weeks.

I started cc at the beginning of Jan and turned 21 at the end of Jan, so I'm right there with you.  I definitely indulge sometimes, but now I barely, if ever drink on the week days. That sure cut out a lot of calories! My non medical opinion is that it's fine. We are young and deserve a little fun as long as we don't go overboard and are safe! Some of the healthiest people I know drink relatively often, and more so when they were young.  Have fun!

Thanks for the posts!  I am just happy I cut back as much as I did!  That was a big improvement for me.  It's definitely nice to have a lower tollerance now :)  I want to enjoy my early 20s with friends without restricting too much but I also want to be healthy!

I used to drink every day... And not just a glass of wine or two, but several huge glasses of wine during the week or three or four vodka cocktails and three or four shots on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.  (What can I say, I still follow the "college weekend", even at 24!)

 When I decided to get serious about my weight loss, I knew if I cut out drinking completely I'd be miserable since it's a big social thing for me and my friends.  So I drink three days a week, and I allow myself to get tipsy (and occasionally drunk) once a week.  And I'm still losing at least a pound a week.  I think it's hard to cut out something completely and lose weight, especially if it's something that you'll do again when the weight is off, so I allow myself to indulge.  I try to eat fewer calories on days I plan on drinking (I eat lots and lots of veggies since they're low cal, but filling), and I make sure to pay attention to the mixers I use, but I haven't cut out drinking at all.  I'm a big girl (I started at 220lbs) and that might be part of why I've been still losing, but I don't think that the occasional indulgence will reverse your weight loss. Just be careful of the late night drunken binge eating.  I keep carrots around my house and NO junk food, so I won't be tempted, but it's a definite risk.  

Allydan -  I used to drink a bottle of wine per night, about 4 nights per week.   I became very sedentary and gained more than 30 pounds in 3 years :(  I started my weight loss in April 2007 and have v.e.ry. s.l.o.w.l.y lost 20 of that :)  It's when I started limiting my consumption that I really noticed a change . . . not just the weight loss but I actually had energy to work out.  Thank so much for the replies, and if anyone else has experience, let me know!  Thanks and good luck to all!

I used to drink a LOT.  You can probably scroll through the lounge and food forums and find some of my drunken posts in there.  Drinking didn't hinder my weight loss at all.  I've lost sixty-seven and a half pounds (gotta count that half a pound, it means a lot!) while still gettin' my lush on.

The only reason I don't drink a lot now is I'm too busy with all these wedding plans, and my oh so generous mother gave me her damned cold.  Alex drank tonight, though.  He said vodka and Hawaiian punch was generic NyQuil.  I opted not to 'cause I'm working on wedding invitations and Moly + Booze + Sharp objects = DISASTER.

I duno about u guys but i'm in college, i'm not using it as an excuse but it is very hard to not drink on the weekends, its kind of a social thing. Along with this site and some of the advice from the cheater's diet and other nutritionists that i've watched on tv and read about, i had decided a long time ago that on weekends i would not diet. Now weekend for me would be Friday and Saturday. Sunday i'd get back on the wagon. In short, in June i was 145 and now Im down to 122. I approached the 120s around november. So essentially it was about 5 months or so that it took. I barely exercised. Tried whenever i could. What helped me the most was water, 1200-1300 cals on weekdays and basically whatever on the weekends. I tried not to eat after drinkin cus then it would just become wayy too many cals but even when i did, it never seemed to matter. It kicked my metabolism actually and i ended up losing the next day.  I say those 2 days keep me sane. I do get drunk on fridays and saturdays and enjoy myself. All my friends see me losing weight and they know i don't starve myself, although i do get a lil crazy about calorie counting lol on weekends i promised myself never to think about it! And I don't.  Even if i cheat a bit on weekdays, that's not drinkin but through jus eatin a lil more. I still always give myself a break on the weekends. If u don't give urself a break, a diet even a more straightforward calorie counting diet is very hard to stick to!! U must live life man, carpe diem! I hope u guys take my advice!
Some drink advice:
I usually stick to wine, light beers, rum and diets, whiskey sodas, crystal light on the go mixed w/ vodka ..
When i take shots i don't care, generally i never have the really sweet creamy shots anyways. Although i drink i do mostly always stick to some light drinks like the ones i listed because even when u do decide to binge drink. The calories are like tripled if u have mixed drinks that aren't diet so its not worth it.

Hope i helped!

i agree with paro1486: "If u don't give urself a break, a diet even a more straightforward calorie counting diet is very hard to stick to!!". amen. i work very hard during the week..at my job, at the gym, and on CC, so the weekends are my playtime and my time to relax. im young and fun, so drinking is a huge part of my social circle. HOWEVER, i do try to cut the calories whenever i can by drinking red wine (antioxidants!), diet sodas for mixed drinks, and sugar free red bull (when i need a little kicker). i also try to drink A LOT of water prior to...it helps me survive the next morning.

EVERYTHING is good in moderation. and, in my opinion, if drinking is part of my social life, and i enjoy having fun and silly times over a few glasses of wine with my friends, i am not going to give it up for vanity reasons.

cheers to the party people!

I never was a really big drinker, but I do socially drink. I've been faithful on CC since Jan 1st, and this past weekend I went down to New Orleans with some friends for Mardi Gras. One Pat O's Hurricane later, my friends were shoving cookies and chips and other carbs down my throat to try to sober me up. :) It was bad. haha. I definitely attribute that to the dieting, because last year it took many more drinks to get me to that point!

I definitely drink on social occasions, I just watch it that day if I know i'm going to drink later.

I've completely quit the beer or two I'd have with/after dinner during the week. Mostly for the calories. I haven't given up my weekend fun, but I start later and don't usually go out both days.

The weeks we have the kids are harder, because my S/O likes to go out on his bowling night and once more during the week, simply because we can.

It's not hindering my weight loss.

I still drink, but will only drink vodka or bourbon with diet coke.  A one-shot drink of either of those is about 65 calories, so as long as I stay active while I am drinking (dancing or mingling) I can afford to have a couple drinks.

 I would avoid beer or foofy drinks like the plague---lots of sugar and calories.  I remember reading somewhere that gin has the least calories, but it tastes like Christmas tree to me, so I avoid it.  But fo only 65 calories, I'm fine with my bourbon.

If you're doing shots, stay away from the creamy stuff and stick to straight liquor like tequila or something.

Just don't give in to drunken munchies!

I think part of it is planning. I'm not a heavy drinker anymore, but from time to time I like to go out and let loose. On those days, I eat REALLY well. A lot of good veggies, like spinach, asparagus, beans, etc. Maybe I'll eat oatmeal iwith craisins in the morning to get in some more fiber and nutrients. For snacks I try to eat a lot that fills me up but food that is low in cals (grape tomatoes, yellow peppers, cucumbers, etc.) I also make sure to get in my protein: maybe tuna or grilled chicken with salad. I try to do NO SUGAR on drinking days cause alcohol is so hi-carb. I also drink a lot of water during the day. So it's kind of like "prepping" for the drinking out. And if I can get a workout in, even better. If I do all this (which, I hardly ever do, but I *try* to get at all or most of these strategies) I usually have a lot of cals to spare, which are then *spent* on alcohol.

Oh yeah, and I really try to not eat when I'm drinking...or after!! 

Haha, I have to credit exercise with getting me off the sauce.

I would come home and kill myself trying to get a workout in ASAP so I could drink! It drove me insane, having to work out the minute I walked in the door, and of course drinking exacerbated my stress levels in the long run.

So I quit, and now it is so much more fun when I drink (of course I still drink! I just plan for it like a week in advance) cuz it only takes a few beers to send me to a pretty nice place.

I was becoming an alcoholic, thank you, Billy Blanks for saving me!!! lol

Also, if you cut back on your alcohol consumption, your tolerance for it decreases.  This is why you get a buzz quicker now.