Worried..

Ok here's the thing. I've had many failed weight loss attempts in the past. I usually have one cheat day a week (I'm a college student and things come up (visits from friends, nights out, etc). Ok so I usually eat between 1500-1600 cals a day cept on my cheat day when i don't really count calories (still try to work out though). I generally hit the gym as many times as I can. Usually that's 5 days a week. I went last friday and saturday and I'm going monday and wednesday. I'm going home this weekend so I can't make the usual friday trip as I'm driving home.

While at home, which this sucks, my family doesn't really eat healthy food. I'm thinking I'll just have to eat only little portions of each and stay away from the sweet tea my family drinks so heavily.  I'm gonna also volunteer to mow the lawn and take the dog on walks etc.

I started at 217lbs about 2 weeks ago.  I'm now down to at least 211, maybe lower (TOM making it hard to tell).  The BMR calculators tell me  You have a BMR of 1784.35.

I have a problem though. My best friend turns 21.  I'm already 21. I'm using this coming saturday as my cheat day but I'm worried. I've never been drunk with this girl. She wants us to have an ultimate girls night and I want to as well. She wants to see me drunk.  I want to let loose a little. Don't worry we have a DD. I'm going to a bar though with her that saturday. Any suggestions? I am not a lightweight so I need strongish drinks, but I want lower calories. Is one night going to ruin everything?  I'm doing so well it scares me.  I want to be thin so bad I can't stand it. Any input from anyyyyyyonnneee is greatly appreciated.

One night is not going to ruin everything, you just need to make sure you are back on track the next day.  If you are currently eating to lose weight then you have at least an extra 500-1000 to get to your maintenance calories.  If you eat (or drink rather) your maintenance cals you shouldn't gain.  If you still want to eat below maintenance, eat light (but still healthy) throughout the rest of the day and save up the majority of your cals for going out.

Yeah, one night will not hurt you, you should have fun and enjoy yourself! When I drink, which is rarely anyway, I usually go for rum and diet coke or something fairly low in calorie.

Your best friend wants you to get drunk?

Does anyone else see something wrong with this sentence, or is it just me?

I'm grasping for words, not wanting to be insulting by using foolhardy, immature etc.

Why would anyone want to deliberately get drunk? Because puking and being hung over and possibly not knowing what you did that evening are so much fun?

One night out will not throw you off of your goals, but don't be discouraged if the scale is up the next day just because alcohol makes you retain a lot of water. But if you make sure to get in a good workout that day and the days following and drink a ton of water and whole foods for a few days after, you should be totally fine. Have fun. Besides, if you don't give yourself a break occasionally, you'll go crazy.

And...her best friend is turning 21. I doubt they want to end up vomiting, they just want to have a good time. It's her 21st birthday!! I would definitely want my best friend to bar hop with me on my 21st!!

Haha thanks naturallyd,

this is a friend from home I've never had a girls night with. Drunk doesn't mean puking, hangover etc. I'm a college student. I'm not dumb. I'm not gonna get smashed.  I need a good night out and want to show my friend whom I don't get to see but a few times a year, a great birthday. 

Original Post by gpm55:

Your best friend wants you to get drunk?

Does anyone else see something wrong with this sentence, or is it just me?

Yep, my first reaction, too. I'm glad to see the original author has replied with some good sense, but still, the fact that college kids STILL think that "drinking to get drunk' is o.k. makes me sad--I'd do anything to change that mentality in the U.S. because it is, frankly, the root of a LOT of drinking problems (ie, they develop in the college years precisely because of this mentality.)

I'm not criticizing any individuals--just lamenting the fact that despite a lot of public discussion of the dangers of binge drinking, date/acquaintance rape of women who are intoxicated, etc., we, as a society, haven't made much progress (although the mention of a DD reflects some progress, I'll admit).

Consumption of alcohol should be for its taste, period. There is no other "healthy" reason to consume alcohol. This is the message we should be getting out there!

OK, stepping off my band wagon now. Sorry for the rant, and I would delete this rather than post but if it helps ONE person avoid a mistake, I'm glad!

Hey...

I'm going to assume you're not a moron.  You aren't going to get drunk and drive, or get so wasted you black out or go home with some stranger, and you're going to stick with your friend and hold each other accountable for your actions, because that's what people who aren't morons do.

I'm also going to assume you know this isn't healthy...that's why you're asking for advice.  Drinking is just empty calories, and it dehydrates you and does all sorts of horrible things to your body.  BUT it can be a really, really fun way to let loose, and it's legal, so it's the only way to get really crazy that society says is okay.

So here is my advice: accept that you're going to wreck yourself.  Day of the "party," don't eat much.  Both because alcohol has a bunch of calories and you'll want to "save up" and because the less you eat, the less you will have to drink.  You'll probably want to drink mixed drinks.  Any hard alcohol and diet soda drink (e.g rum and diet coke) has about 100 cals (if it is one shot...large drinks have more, of course).  Light beer has only about 110, and regular beer has maybe 150.  Bloody marys are good, too, but very salty.  If you really want a drink special (like a chocolate martini, melon ball, etc), go ahead, but be aware that they can have upwards of 400 cals each.

Also, DRINK SLOWLY!  Especially if you decide to drink on an empty stomach.  Don't do hard shots!  Once or twice I have gone from lucid to stupid much faster than I hoped because I chugged beers faster than my body could absorb the alcohol.  BAD IDEA!

And here is the best advice I have:  drink water before you go to bed.  Hopefully you'll still be upright and mostly functional.  MAKE yourself drink water, even if it makes you feel sick.  You body really wants the water.  I try to drink a glass of water for every alcoholic drink, but I'm kind of a lightweight, so that's rarely more than 4 or 5 for me.

You'll want to take extra good care of yourself the next day.  Drink more water, each nutritious foods (try to avoid hangover foods, even though they taste so good!)

Sorry this got long.  Have a fun time, be careful!  And just keep reminding yourself that you're right back on the plan tomorrow.  One day/night off is okay.

 

Just adding to the comments of the other "older (but wiser?)" posters on this thread. I, too, was taken aback by the 'best friend wants to get drunk' idea. But, it's been a long time since I was 21. So, berlylabs, one night of drinking your calories will only slow your pace for a few days, it won't permanently disable your diet; but really do think about the idea that best friends can laugh and have fun and celebrate without drinking to the point of excess. I remember having lots of fun in college while drinking very little-- it is possible. So, enjoy your night, be safe, and consider the fact that if you can remember your evening and laugh about it in years to come, it will be all that much more fun for you and your birthday-friend.

Oh puh-lease guys!  None of you ever had a friend turn 21 and took her out on a girls night to get buzzed and laugh like only a buzzed 20 something can?????  I'm 32 and I sure as hell have- as a matter of fact I'm living in Raleigh and going home to NY on 6/28 and I can't wait to see my BFF and go to "our" bar and yeah- get a little trashed together.  I haven't seen her in 2 years.

susieq76 - speaking only for myself here: yes, I remember having had too much to drink on occasion in my younger days, but I never purposefully went out with the intention to get drunk (as the OP put it: my friend "wants to see me drunk"). I guess that's the part that threw me. I am glad that the OP is planning on having a designated driver --that is an up side of planning ahead to drink a lot. As I've gotten older, I've realized that fun can be had without a buzz; and since the OP put the question out there, I think it is fair to respond politely - which I think everyone (you, included) on this post did. Everyone has his/her own way to socialize - so I was just tossing out another possiblility. To each her own - have fun with your friend in NY, and be safe.

Hey, some of ya need to stop being the moral police. She's a college student who is asking a good question that I think many are too afraid to ask. Plus, SOME college kids know how to hold their liquor too LOL..it ain't all puking and wretchin..

(Bottom line: Stick to the topic.. I'm a Social Worker so I could go on all day about the negative effects and outcomes of binge drinking!!!)

 

Berlylabs: I don't think one night is gonna wreck what good you have been doing as long as it doesn't become a habit.

you guys are seriously making a big deal out of nothing...the girl did not ask for your judgements on whether her drinking with a friend was right or not..she simply asked your opinions on what she could do to not ruin her diet...thats all

sometimes the ppl on this site can jump the gun to quickly

and i would suggest you eat lightly during the day, but dont go heavy during the night also cuz it can hurt you stomach

HAVE FUN

HAPPY 21ST!! :D

Firstly i always find it weird to think that americans can't drink til they're 21!!!! weird weird weird...how do you cope!

Secondly one night of drinking will be fine.. I only ever drink properly one night a week (used to be a thursday at uni and is now a sat due to full time work) and i used to drink rum and diet coke! (cheap where i went - only £1 each) but i think you actually need cheat days as you say - the more i think about this the more im convinced!

If i deny myself all the time then i'll start cheating a little bit every day but if i have a day where i know i can be more relaxed i just keep telling myself to save it...!

If you are giong out drinking i would give different advice from honey and say eat well during the day (healthy but well) because you'll line your stomach, handle your alcohol better, less likely to get alchomunchies and feel less crappy the next day! Drink lots of water to prevent water retention weight and a hangover as well!

oh and by the way *yawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwn* at the 'moral police' as someone very accurately put it.... yes we get that you don't approve, don't go preaching to everyone else! How about this...if you don't agree, then just don't do it and let those who want to carry on!