Social weekends with alchohol?

I do great on the weekdays, but wonder if any of you out there have had the same issue I have on the weekends.

I am in my late 20s, and live in a city. I go out. I'm dating someone, so we've pretty much died down our weekend out to one night a week. I've been trying to do something like Weight Watchers (anyone else feel WW is a lot like calorie counting? I've even bought one of their recipe books that tell you great recipes with calories in meals--and not have to pay to be on their program...FANTASTIC), and skimming calories all week to be able to use it toward my night out. By "night out" I don't mean splurging on food-basically just drinking all night. I've switched to vodka/club soda after a few miller lites, then eventually comes shots. I live in a city that doesn't sleep, so when we go out it can be until 3am or so.

Just wondering if any of you out there have the same problem. I think I found my way around it, and it just seems I can't weight myself at the beginning of the week after that because I'm still retaining water-but by Friday I'm down 1.5-2 lbs (having not gained anything from the drinking).

 Anyone else having to work around there social weekends?  Anyone have any suggestions on how they combat it? I've also learned even when I'm hung over, I can't give into my urges to eat horrible all day.

You go girl! You are better than I am.  I eat like crazy after drinking the night before.  I have to. It's the only thing that makes me feel better.  My goal is to give myself a limit of not more than three drinks. 

I start with Coor's light and go to vodka martinis but the shots are usually lemon drops or something else sweet.

My girlfriend told me to try cherry bombs.  A cherry bomb is cherry flavored vodka and red bull energy drinks.  She said she is not as hung over because of the red bull.  I'll have to try it with the sugar free red bull though.

What fun is it to loose the weight, if I can't get my party on?  I'm also interested in suggestions.

 

I'm more worried about your liver than anything else.  For the sake of it you should average no more than 1 alcoholic beverage a day.  Drinking more than that can also raise your risk of some other diseases, like breast cancer.

I know, most shots people want to take are sugary. If you can stomach it, chilled vodka with a slice of lemon on the side, it's called a lemon drop-but you usually have to tell the bartender that's how you want it, otherwise they will put sour mix in it.

I know, it's hard when I'm hungover not to eat horrible. I sometimes sleep 1/2 the day away, then I'll just eat twice-or once, depending on how hung over I am. :)

Original Post by mgrondin:

I'm more worried about your liver than anything else.  For the sake of it you should average no more than 1 alcoholic beverage a day.  Drinking more than that can also raise your risk of some other diseases, like breast cancer.

 

Thank you for the concern. Once I'm settled and no longer living in a city and being young, I will probably not drink like I do now-maybe a glass of wine a night. If it means anything, I don't drink all week, so it's like I'm saving that one drink a night for one night! 

It's my lifestyle, and it has been for a while-but each to his own, you know?

I am in exactly the same boat as you.  I eat very healthy and am pretty active but put on weight because (a) getting older (b) not burning off the booze calories as fast.  I used to bartend so I probably was getting a workout every night but now that I have a day job I have to really work to get the weight off.  Just started spinning.  I don't drink unless I am out with friends but that could mean 6 nights a week since I also live in a city that never sleeps.  Last week I cut out drinking completely and noticed a difference.  Not something I want to do forever but I am going on vacation in two weeks and want to see if it helps at all. White wine spritzers are ok, and believe it or not dark beers and guiness have a lot less calories than one might think.  So far I have decided to start the evening with water or diet red bull and then allow a drink or two after about an hour or so.  Tried my plan last night and it worked pretty well.  Also, adding cucumber and cherries to club soda is a nice alternative to water and can substitute at least a couple drinks when you are out.

 And although I am not a doctor and am aware of the warnings of having more than one drink a day I think we stress to much in this country about what we should and should not do.  Every day the opinions change.  Sure I am a woman and should only have one drink a day, but I also happen to be as tall as a guy and weigh as much as my husband, lol.  I have lived abroad and have to say they don't focus on limits as much and have far less incidences of substance abuse and dependecy issues. 

Yeah, I think trying to find a way to work it in. Before my boyfriend and I started dating, I was out 4 nights a week with my girlfriends, and when him and I met-both of our weekly drinking habits were a lot different then they are now...but we are in love, and I have put 8lbs on since we started dating-of course, he doesn't care.

 But with my nightly routines changed to just trying to go out once a night (missing my $2 draft night on Tuesdays with the girls, though. :( ), I can see it's easiler to lose weight. :)

 I agree with you, I lived abroad-and they are not as cautious as us. If I lived as cautiously as I should, I would never leave my house! :)

 Great to hear there are other girls out there that are in the same boat.

My trainer has told me to limit calories during the day if I know that I will be drinking that evening.  I actually looked up the calories in the alcohol I drink and there are a lot! I think that is what can sabatoge you.  Knowing how many calories you should eat a day so you can be in your deficit will help you to plan out nights.

My friend's birthday is coming up and I'm totally paranoid about what I'm going to drink. I think I'll go the vodka and club soda route too... Plus I probably won't eat that day, which is a horrible idea, but I don't want to be over just because I want to celebrate with my friend. AAAH.

Agh, I'm in the same boat as everyone else here!  LOL, we should start a club!  I go out about once a week but my downfall is...I love the sweet drinks!  Sweet shots, drinks, sweet anything LOL.

I've heard that the Mojito is a good low cal drink but I can't drink anything with vodka (my other downfall) because it makes me VERY ill.  What do you all think about drinks with diet coke?  Too lame to ask for a Rum and diet coke?  LOL

I'm a good friend of the Chicago nightlife myself!  I'm single so the weekends with the girls have been more frequent, BUT I try to keep it to one good night a week, too.  I say stick with beer or something mixed with diet soda.  My drink of choice used to be vodka & tonic til I found out that tonic is as many calories as pop.  And seltzer just doesn't do it for me AT ALL.  It sucks that places don't have diet sprite.  So either rum/whiskey and diet coke, or lite beer is what I stick with.  Be careful with limiting your calories on the day of, because you dont want to drink on an empty stomach!

Original Post by laschndr:

I'm a good friend of the Chicago nightlife myself!  I'm single so the weekends with the girls have been more frequent, BUT I try to keep it to one good night a week, too.  I say stick with beer or something mixed with diet soda.  My drink of choice used to be vodka & tonic til I found out that tonic is as many calories as pop.  And seltzer just doesn't do it for me AT ALL.  It sucks that places don't have diet sprite.  So either rum/whiskey and diet coke, or lite beer is what I stick with.  Be careful with limiting your calories on the day of, because you dont want to drink on an empty stomach!

 

I know, I switched to club soda instead of tonic for the same reasons...sometimes I get it with a splash of cranberry juice, so it's the least amount of calories as possible. :) I can't drink dark colored liquors because I become "crazy woman". Light beer is what I do, too, unless I plan on getting drunk. By the time I have enough beers, I will have had so many calories and be super full. :) Oh, Chicago, you wonderful city...why do you have to be so much fun!

Original Post by rabavert001:

Agh, I'm in the same boat as everyone else here!  LOL, we should start a club!  I go out about once a week but my downfall is...I love the sweet drinks!  Sweet shots, drinks, sweet anything LOL.

I've heard that the Mojito is a good low cal drink but I can't drink anything with vodka (my other downfall) because it makes me VERY ill.  What do you all think about drinks with diet coke?  Too lame to ask for a Rum and diet coke?  LOL

Oh, I would definitely be drinking diet and jack or diet with rum if I could drink dark liquors...I have had bacardi and diet (which is by NO MEANS odd to order, at all). :)

Original Post by miso_pretty:

My friend's birthday is coming up and I'm totally paranoid about what I'm going to drink. I think I'll go the vodka and club soda route too... Plus I probably won't eat that day, which is a horrible idea, but I don't want to be over just because I want to celebrate with my friend. AAAH.

Make sure you have a little something in your stomach, otherwise you might have a BIT too much fun. ;) I've been skimming those calories during the week, so that I don't have to not eat the day of...and it's helpful, cause the next morning I'm not craving some HORRIBLE hang-over food. :)

Hey

Rabavert- I too am in this class of people, but as a Mojito drinker, I would not recommend it as a 'low calorie' drink. I make a mean mojito, and I have even tried to make simple syrup- (thick sugar water) with splenda. Mojito's have a lot of sugar, combined with the rum it's a belly buster, I know...

I will stay on the search and let you know if I find anything, currently I can enjoy some vanilla vodka on the rocks- anyone know how many calories?

whoever said it before, guiness is one of the lowest calorie beers out there oddly enough- which i liked it.

I just found this...sad two of my favorite drinks

are the margarita and white russian. :**( 

Serving size is one glass (200 ml)

Calories

Margarita

453

Martini

413

Mint Julep

143

Old Fashioned

206

Pina Colada

297

Screwdriver

200

Singapore Sling

230

Sloe Gin Fizz

120

Tequila Sunrise

253

Tom Collins

120

Black Russian

291

Whisky Sour

166

Blue Lagoon    

179

White Russian

360

haha I love this.  Last  Saturday I volunteered to be the DD (We usually walk everywhere but it was raining : ( ).   Best choice I ever made--Not only did I not pig out with my roommates when we got home (they were *very intoxicated*) I felt so good in the morning I went to spinning at 9.  AND this week they all owe me drinks as part of the DD deal, so not only did I save calories last week, I'm saving money too! WOO!

 Any ways, I usually stick to Diet/Vanilla Vodka.  I eat a pretty big lunch, workout in the afternoon and take a nap around dinner.  By the time I wake up its time to get ready to go out.  A few slices of light bread and a HUGE glass of water fill me up so I don't get *Sloshed* but have a good time and no hangover in the morning b/c of the water!

I LOVE BEING 21...although its killer on the college budget and waistline : )

 

I just graduated from college, but all of my friends are still in and so I usually drink 2 nights a week. I love whiskey and usually mix it with diet coke, which isn't too bad. I wish i could do the vodka and club soda, but I hate vodka, ugh. I also do a lot of light beer, I mean we usually play beer pong, flip cup, etc. I just try to burn it off the next day with running!

I used to be a pretty heavy drinker (I live like four blocks from a bunch of bars and half my friends are in the indusrty), so I knew I wasn't going to be able to stop drinking completely when I started losing weight, but I've definitely cut back.  I eat lots of veggies and fiber during the day if I know I'm drinking that night, so that I stay full, but manage to save enough calories that I can have a few drinks.  Recently I've started drinking vodka and diet coke, which sounds weird, but actually isn't too bad if you like diet coke.

Not lame at all.  I used to bartend and would not even flinch if someone asked for a drink with diet coke.  I like vanilla vodka and coke with a cherry so it might not be that bad with diet.  Try some of the flavored vodka's with club soda as well.  Just be careful because some have sugar in them.  Stoli rasberry, grey goose organge are good, not sure about grey goose pear.  But Stoli blueberry, which I love, def has sugar which adds on the pounds and gives you a nasty hangover. 

On a side note, I definitely have to cut out booze until I get to my goal weight.  Went out Wed and had a couple drinks.  Ended up drinking 550 calories and did not go to the gym the next day.  Plus I cheated the whole day.  Felt horrible since I am going on vacation in two weeks and have been making great progress.  Sooooo hard going out in a city and ordering water!

 Also tried to make drinks with Splenda.  My husband (who is naturally a twig) makes fun of me but he's not the one who has to fit into a bikini!

yeah, that stoli blueberry is poisonous! There is a "special" drink at one of my late night bars, that you only know if you know the guys who work there-it's a blueberry delight, but upon ordering it, you know your next day's hangover just got worse.

 

I like the idea of two slices of bread and water! Never thought of that one.

I'm not surprised by the margs and mixed drinks calories...they are super sweet. :)