My two diet destroyers--Got tips?

Im a 24 yr old college student and I do well during the week. Eat healthy, excersize, etc.

But during the weekend, i like to go out and drink. Ill have a diet coke and vodka or a dirty martini. Low-cal stuff.

But i do drink alot. Not binge drinking. But enough for it to screw the calorie count. Any ideas on how to limit this? Other than the obvious (stop drinking, dont eat, etc.).

Should I eat less on those days? Drink different things?

Secondly,
I have a big problem with grazing. I dont do it often, but it is a small weakness. Any tips on how to avoid this? how do you avoid it? Just picking here and there.

Wed. Apr 16, 2:11pm

diet destroyers

I feel your pain about the calories in alcohol. Yes, you gotta pay the calorie bill somewhere along the line, so if you can plan on eating less calories somewhere along the line. :) When you go to the bar try ordering a plain diet coke or club soda every other drink. Since you aren't denying yourself another drink you may find that you end up drinking less calories without realizing it.

As for grazing, if you make yourself log what you eat and hold yourself accountable for the calories there's nothing wrong with it. I make sure no more than 3 hours pass before I eat something. It keeps me from binging later in the day. I looove to eat at night. Sigh. Let me know what you think if you try this. And good luck!

Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 2:34 PM

the beck diet solution is great to retrain your brain as to how we approach food. I use to be one that grabbed a handful of something when in the kitchen or eat a piece of this and that, but she teaches you to be mindful while eating.. so now i sit at the table and eat ANYTHING. I have a orange I sit and eat it at the table.. the bds has helped me avoid problems food by saying no choice its not on plan or I didnt plan to have this.. check it out its a great tool.. its not a diet or meal plan.. you choose your meal plan and beck helps you stick to it by cognitive behavior therapy.. it really does work.

another thing about blowing it on the weekend.. the weekend is no different than the rest of teh week.. you work your butt all week .. why blow it on the weekend.. make the week end a STRONG end to a great week.. you can do this! I hope this helps a bit..

Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 3:06 PM

Stick to the diet coke and vodka; a lot of dirty martinis actually have a lot of calories in them, due to the olive "juice," which is often pretty similar to olive oil.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 3:08 PM

Find a number you can live with and stick to it with - stay at 2- 3 - is that not enough? Do you need to get wasted every weekend? 300 calories won't kill you - how many do you do? 6? 10?
I stick to two drinks all the time and it works great.

for grazing - plan in advance with healthy snacks instead of meals - I do banana, can of tuna, fat free cottage cheese, V-8...
then don't eat other crap.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 4:26 PM

drink one glass of water between every drink.. this was one of the greatest tips I got from this site.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 4:47 PM

pp, thanks! That's a great tip.

Thursday, April 17, 2008, 4:01 PM

Yep, the one glass of water per drink is excellent strategy and it really helps the next morning too. Even if you don't think you get hangovers you might be surprised at much better you feel in the morning when you're not dehydrated. I drink more water in general now as a result.

Friday, April 18, 2008, 9:44 AM

Appalled...

First of all I am appalled that only 1 person suggested limiting the number of drinks. Helllllooo!! Alcohol is not only empty calories, it messes with your metabolism, and in the long-run has some detrimental effects. Let's not even mention the behavioral issues. Why is it so hard for people to reel in their drinking? Are we all so self-conscious that we need an artificial personality to help us make it through social gatherings?

I am not saying ban alcohol...heck I love red wine and allow myself a glass every so often (no more than 2x a week). I even will have the occasional martini...but I refuse to let alcohol control my social interactions. Plus now that I am focused on my health, I know that no amount of alcohol can replace the feeling of confidence I have when my systems are just humming from good food, exercise, and a clear mind. That exudes confidence and there is no need to drink when I am that confident and perky!

How about not reaching for that drink and focusing on yourself and the people around you? Enjoy the company you keep, enjoy the evening, and in the morning you can go to the gym and enjoy your healthy, sober body.

Friday, April 18, 2008, 9:54 AM

You're forgetting the all important reason: getting tipsy is fun.

Friday, April 18, 2008, 9:56 AM

I hear you 9:54 - this site is about being healthy - just reign it in a bit OP

-4:26

Friday, April 18, 2008, 10:13 AM

I was a heavy drinker when I was in college - and i have no regrets. Sure I made a fool of myself and did things I wouldnt normally, and certainly consumed excess calories - but it was college, and it was fun. I too am 24 but I am 3 years out of college I am "reigning it in". OP - Enjoy it while you can!

Friday, April 18, 2008, 10:19 AM

everyone in the club getting tipsy

Ahh OP I too feel your pain. Its hard not to want to get drunk on the weekends. I try and stick with gin and tonic both pretty low cal, or sometimes Ill drink red wine. My biggest issue is eating when I am drunk though..ew I can scarf down half a pizza in a few minuets at the end of the night....oh well it happens to the best of us. Us for grazing little snacks throughout the day are good for your metabolism as long as they are healthy I wouldnt worry

Friday, April 18, 2008, 10:30 AM

some ideas

drinking is a no-no (especially hard alcohol)...you can try to trick yourself and do the club soda with juice (and try the drinks virgin-style)--or opt for a red wine (which is good for your heart)

As for grazing, snacking is ok as long as it's healthy but it's the bad snacks that will get you into trouble.

If you're going to snack, make sure it'll fill you up and you are getting your veggie and fruit intake. If you're going to choose something healthy, why not make a smoothie? something healthy to fill you up (like for breakfast) and add it with some toast or oatmeal (to get your fiber in as well). This is a yummy recipe that I love for a tropical smoothie (just don't add booze ha!)

http://buzz.prevention.com/mufa-breakfast-flatten-your-belly/

Link

Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 2:53 AM

RE: 9:54's comment

I am not a college student and I too enjoy drinking on the weekends. No, it's not every weekend and it's in moderation but it's just part of my lifestyle. Do I do it to get typsy or have a different personality? No! I am a 38 year old professional career person with 3 teenage children. The weekends the kids go out and have their own plans my husband and I hang out with our friends. For years I've had to refrain from that to be home with the kids but now it's nice to have that release, go out riding hang out with our friends, have a few beers. That's just the way it is. Oh yeah, and I really do try to compensate my food calories for the beer I drink. I've lost ALOT of weight in the past several years and am now pretty little, why not go out there and have some fun once in a while? Fun that I missed out on in my college days or earlier years when I was too bogged down to take time out to do it? Like my husband says, life is not all about work and cleaning the house, you need to have times to make memories and have fun! It's my time to destress and it's not hurting anyone or anything, including my waistline!

Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 11:09 AM

10:30am poster from Friday - Gin and Tonic is not low-cal because Tonic is very high in calories, equivalent to regular soda.

Because it's called "tonic water," people assume that it's just carbonated water, and has no calories. This isn't true. That's seltzer water that you are thinking of, or club soda. Tonic water has the same amount of calories, sugar, etc., as a regular Coke or Pepsi or Sprite. Some bars have diet tonic if you ask for it, but not many. Grocery stores tend to carry it though, so if you're making drinks yourself, at home, you can buy the diet tonic instead of the regular.

Red wine is much lower in calories than gin and tonic.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 12:00 PM

Good to know. I don't like the stuff but also equated it to club soda!

Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 12:20 PM

soda water can be a little bitter - ask for it w/ 2 limes

Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 1:41 PM

They do make diet tonic water if you like gin and tonics and want them at home. I haven't found a bar that carries it though.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 3:37 PM

I like vodka and club soda...ask for a SPLASH of OJ if you want just a little flavor...

how do red and white wine compare, calorie wise??

Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 5:41 PM

"Any idea on how to limit this?" Hmm, this is a hard one to figure out, HOW ABOUT LIMITING HOW MANY YOU DRINK! Its not rocket science, if its screwing up your cal count then cut back on the amount of drinks you have and if you know your going to go out drinking, eat less cals during the day. DUH!

Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 7:39 PM

...

You'd be doing yourself a favour to at least lighten up on the drinking but do stick with vodka as for grazing chewing gum helps me a bit and keeping baby carrots around for snacking frenzies will save you some regret.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 9:32 PM

TO APPALLED

Why not try "reigning in" your self rightiousness. For you to assume OP is looking for a new "personality" would be like me assuming that you're a prudish, boring, piece of crap.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 10:43 PM

goto dance clubs, drink while you are dancing this way you get exercise and you may not drink quite as much. Have fun your young, enjoy it while you can.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008, 10:20 PM

The less you eat, the quicker you'll get drunk..

So.. less food and less drinking. But healthy? Not so much, haha. Less food in your tummy before drinking often equals puking.

Thursday, April 24, 2008, 11:45 PM

Related Content: How To Lose Weight- The Basics Weight Watchers Points System The Fat Smash Diet The Eat To Live Diet The Beck Diet Solution How To Get The Motivation To Lose Weight		How To Be Successful Using PEERtrainer How To Burn Fat Online Weight Loss Support- How It Works Does Green Tea Help You Lose Weight? Tips On Using PEERtrainer Visit The PEERtrainer Community Diet and Fitness Resources
Fitness Weight Watchers Meetings Learning To Inspire Others: You Already Are Writing Down Your Daily Workouts Spending Money On A Personal Trainer? How I Became A Marathon Runner		Preventive Health How To Prevent Injuries During Your Workout Flu Season: Should You Take The Flu Shot? Are You Really Ready To Start PEERtrainer? Super Foods That Can Boost Your Energy Reversing Disease Through Nutrition
New Diet and Fitness Articles: Weight Watchers Points Plus How To Adjust Your Body To Exercise New: Weight Watchers Momentum Program New: PEERtrainer Blog Archive Review Of The New Weight Watchers Momentum Program		Weight Loss Motivation by Joshua Wayne: Why Simple Goal Setting Is Not Enough How To Delay Short Term Gratification How To Stay Motivated How To Exercise With A Busy Schedule
Real World Nutrition and Fitness Questions Can Weight Lifting Help You Lose Weight? Are Protein Drinks Safe? Nutrition As Medicine?		Everyday Weight Loss Tips How To Eat Healthy At A Party How To Eat Out And Still Lose Weight The Three Bite Rule Tips On How To Stop A Binge