Drink a cocktail almost every night? How do I let it go...

My family has always had a cocktail or two~maybe it's a southern thing~ Anyways...I was wondering if anyone else has this. I bet I drink just as many calories or more than I eat.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

It depends on what you consider a cocktail.

If you're talking about a shot of whiskey on the rocks, that's not so bad.

On the other hand, if you're referring to one of those huge Long Island Iced Teas, then you are drinking a ton of calories. 

Is the cocktail a social thing or are you drinking alone?  Can you mix your own cocktail? Do you have cocktails because you want to get tipsy or is it just because other people around you are drinking?  Perhaps a diet cranberry juice with a small splash of vodka or something else that isn't too high in calories or even just go for a diet sprite without alcohol.

Usually its a glass or two of wine...or a blend with diet sprite. No juices, but then again wine is it's own juice! 

No drinking problem, it's just always been what we do. "End of day" kind of thing...

 

Thanks,

I drink everyday... but it's rarely more than two. It's considered good for a woman to drink one drink a day and ok for a man to drink two. IT would be hard for it to be more calories than you eat unless you are considering a long island or something of that nature to be one drink, as someone already pointed out. Wine is only about 150 cals or less for 5 oz.

replace it with another healthier drink. possibly milk w/ tea? or just milk. soy-milk.

that's been one of my biggest obstacles too...its just what i do...but sometimes a couple glasses of wine would turn into the whole bottle in the process of cooking and eating and hanging out after. 

i've been doing better by trying to just have a drink 2 or 3 days instead of every day.  and then just having one glass of wine, 2 max.  and drinking plenty of water.  it does suck at first b/c its not what you're used to but it becomes more natural.  it's kind of nice.  one of my biggest successes was going OUT to dinner and drinking water only.  i knew i conquered myself. at least your drinking lower cal drinks though...wine is great, liquor w/ diet soda is great b/c its only the liquor that contains calories. 

One drink if you budget into your calories and exercise should be fine.  I would definitely get some exercise to offset it and dilute it as much as possible with seltzer water or something so that you don't get a big sugar spike.

It's said that a glass of red wine a day is actually good for you. I'd say there's nothing wrong with it, just count it into your calories. I always end the day with a cup of cocoa, it's a habit thing and it makes me nice and sleepy. As long as the alcohol isn't a crutch, don't worry about it. I think worrying is worse for you than a glass of wine ;)

I'm right there with you (and yes I'm from the south). I never considered it, but by the time you add a can of soda and a shot of something you're over 200 calories. If it's a 2 drink night that's almost as much as a regular meal for me!

just take it easy with the wine and work it into your calories and you will be fine.  It is a good idea to actually *measure* it out though in a measuring cup so you know where to fill up your glass to.  I suggest investing in some small wineglasses too, so then you can have your 2 glasses and not feel like you are missing out :) 

Maybe every second night you could drink diet soda instead? :)  

I saw this article the other day and decided not to worry about 1-2 glasses of wine with dinner.  Of course, I still have to account for it and make room for it in my daily count - and if I'm getting close, or want a bigger deficit I'll go without and not worry about it. 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22571032/

I've cut back from 1-2 a night to 1-2 a week.  I don't miss it - much - well, ok, sometimes.  But I do know that if I have a glass of wine it's way easier for me to rationalize bad choices at dinner, so I find it better to stay away from the wine except occasionally.  Oh yeah, I live in the south too!

I love my evening glass of wine!  But that said, when I am really pushing to knock off the pounds, that seems to be a logical thing to cut back on. I started brewing herbal iced tea - unsweetened.  No big fuss - just a pitcher of cold water in the refrigerator with 4-5 teabags.  The tea will infuse the water even without heat.  I also bought some really pretty, funky glass tumblers.  So every few nights, instead of wine, I will pour myself a glass of my herbal tea in one of my cool glasses.  Herbal teas are often a cool color as well, so it looks very festive in the glass.  Sounds corny, but it does help me feel like I am still treating myself to a fun drink at the end of the day, with -0- calories. 

That said, when I want a "real" drink, I go for club soda with Jack Daniels, or with a flavored vodka.  Probably the lowest calorie and lowest carbohydrate mixed drink.

Good luck!