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Drinking and Dieting

randycaver

randycaver

Bluelight Crew
Joined
Dec 2, 2001
Messages
21,709
Simply - how does one accomplish a successful diet while still drinking? Is it really possible?

It just seems like most of the activities I take part in with my friends and b/f revolve around drinking. Ive pretty much resigned myself to the fact that unless I cut out drinking (highly unlikely) I'm never going to diet successfully.

My problem is not so much that drinking is causing me to gain weight - it's the EATING while drinking that is. late night runs to eat fast food and eat crap I normally never would, eating junk food (chips) when I normally wouldnt. I mean I hardly EVER eat candy and junk food anymore, but when I drink all bets are off.

Am I just screwed or do I have to just learn better self control? Is it possible!?!?
 
Alcohol is filled with empty calories--it is made from grain after all (beer and hard liquor at least). Best bet is to eliminate it all together, or at the very least cut way back on consumption.
 
damn randy caver same problem here. I can keep my weight at the same if i run and exersice daily, then in evening get smashed. I try to not eat if I am going to drink alot..hard to do though. I think hard alcohol would be the best bet if your going to drink
 
You know I totally have the same problem. However, it is my understanding that your body burns alcohol calories before any other calories, so you are essentially putting any fatburning on hold while you drink.

It sucks, because I love to drink. Not get drunk, but I like to have a nice buzz a lot. ;)
 
I think you just have to learn more self control, and drink lite beer. Maybe eat a big healthy meal before drinking and promise yourself you will stay away from food all night. Ask your friends not to eat around you while drinking too.
 
MynameisnotDeja said:
Ask your friends not to eat around you while drinking too.
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Ideally, this would work. Realistically, her friends are going to laugh at her if she says "Listen, I am on a diet, so when we get all crunk later, please refrain from eating any food in front of me as it may tempt me to eat food as well."

Also, it's not fair to ask others not to eat as it's not their problem that you are trying to watch your weight, nor it is their responsibility to go hungry just because you want to.

My advice: Stick to lite beer, try not to eat after you start drinking, and try to moderate your drinking (both # of times per week and amount per session).
 
^^^ Excercise shold be able to counter it too.

Since Alcohol in the body breaks down into Sugar + H20 it's hard to avoid the calories!
 
HobbyIsBowling said:
Ideally, this would work. Realistically, her friends are going to laugh at her if she says "Listen, I am on a diet, so when we get all crunk later, please refrain from eating any food in front of me as it may tempt me to eat food as well."

Also, it's not fair to ask others not to eat as it's not their problem that you are trying to watch your weight, nor it is their responsibility to go hungry just because you want to.

My advice: Stick to lite beer, try not to eat after you start drinking, and try to moderate your drinking (both # of times per week and amount per session).
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Thats true..I guess it depends on who your friends are and how they view diet/drinking. I dont know....honestly most of the time Im drinking no food is ever around..maybe its just me. The only thing I can think is making sure you are full beforehand and then just got to sleep and eat in the morning.
 
Why are people recommending lite beer? Just curious because although Vodka etc have more calories per 100ml, you drink significantly less of them. I would personally switch to straight Gin or Vodka.

As others have said, successful diets avoid binge eating and late night eating, both which seem to be symptoms of your drinking. I would try to cut out the chips and kebabs and late night food of that sort...

In short, I think its very possible to still enjoy a few drinks while dieting. I would also recommend drinking water in between drinks and finishing off your drinking with a lot of water, i usually go for a litre.
 
CrazyAustralian said:
Why are people recommending lite beer?
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Less than half the calories with nearly the same alcohol content(.5-1% less usually) along with less carbs. Simple enough.
CrazyAustralian said:
Vodka etc have more calories per 100ml, you drink significantly less of them. I would personally switch to straight Gin or Vodka.
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It was my understanding that most hard liquors have more calories per shot (comparable to one 12 oz beer as far as amount of alcohol) than do even non-lite beers. I could be wrong on this, as I learned this back in high school health class.
 
The Beer Diet

Sure, doing shots of hard liquor may yield you fewer calories, but personally, I happen to enjoy drinking beer and wine. I'm not a big fan of shots.

I used to always end up eating a fair amount while drinking, especially when hanging out w/my b/f. However, during times of depression when I wasn't eating much, there were nights (not that I'm proud of it) that 2 glasses of beer WAS my dinner. I would wake up in the morning with the flattest stomach, due to the dehydrating effects along with not having much solid food the day before. I joked with my best friend that I'd invented a new diet - the Beer Diet!

Of course, this isn't healthy, just thought I'd share a little drinking/diet related anecdote.

Although! There were times when I wasn't depressed, eating normally, and was tempted to eat a bunch of junky stuff while drinking. Then I would think of the Beer Diet, and it would actually dissuade me. So there ya go.
 
I tend to loose weight when drinking much...... but I don't get hungry when drunk. I never need the late night burger like my friends do. I need another drink.
 
why not try eat when you get home instead of getting fast food - then you can make a healthy wholemeal sandwhich or even cereal is better than a burger....
 
All I drink is light beer anymore. Also, it's not that food is around when I drink, it's that someone orders it or we go get it. lol. Obviously, not thinking straight is the problem here ;)

I think I'm just going to have to cut way, way back.

I know I'm not the only one who gets hungry after drinking. All my friends are the same way. Even if we eat a meal, after drinking (and i'm not talking 2-3 beers, i'm talking 5-6 hours of drinking) we want MORE FOOOOOD!! ;)
 
I know I can eat ridiculous amounts of food after a few good hours of boozing. Whole pizzas and stuff, whereas normally I can't finish 3 slices. I have surprized myself that way on more than one occasion, heh.
 
randycaver said:
I know I'm not the only one who gets hungry after drinking. All my friends are the same way. Even if we eat a meal, after drinking (and i'm not talking 2-3 beers, i'm talking 5-6 hours of drinking) we want MORE FOOOOOD!! ;)
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Hell, I drive us all to Taco Bell! Of course, I think that the whole food thing is much more of an issue with beer and such. Maybe we should switch to hard liquor? 8(
 
The #1 reason why I hardly ever drink is because its a waste of calories. I guess, after time, you can hopefully get in the same mentality!

Best of luck :)

PS, IMO, you look great and don't need to diet! Though I know it doesn't matter what other people say about you, because I am the same way. I always think I have to be constantly dieting or whatever, even though everyone tells me I'm skinny. We are our own worst critics :(
 
hashforlife said:
I tend to loose weight when drinking much...... but I don't get hungry when drunk. I never need the late night burger like my friends do. I need another drink.
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This is pretty much how I am. For me, eating kills the buzz.
 
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