Hi. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to incorporate sucessful dieting with occasional drinking. I live in a town and went to a college where drinking multiple times a week was the norm. That fact that I "kept my drinking to a maximum of once a week or not at all was considered weird. FOr all of you party girls out there, how do you balance your diet and drinking social life. I am on Weight Watcher and I have tried drinking my "points" for the day. But I consider that dangerous, not only because of the ramifications of drinking on an empty stomache, but when I am tipsy, I make poor food choices. Have any of you done it successfully or should I just resign myself to the fact that I really won't be able to enjoy a few beers on a Friday night. Let me know.
My own plan is my own design, and this is what works for me. I have a diet break once every 8 weeks. On this week I eat within my normal calories for three days, then on four days go over, quite deliberately. My meals are still healthy but I have some treats. I don't drink alcohol except on this week, and then on only one day of this week, and that's my treat. So I can't have say a high fat pub lunch and then a few drinks, I can have a nice home made dinner and then go out to the pub instead.
The trick to surving maintenance week is exercise. Your food can relax, but not the exercise, I still go to the gym five days a week during maintenance, just like I will for the rest of my life when i am really maintaining instead of just pretending!
On this week I plan to maintain (I have done this 5 times, including my birthday week, and Christmas) and I have never gained in this week. Bizarrely on two occasions I have lost!!! Which has taught me to relax a bit, that my body and brain kinda know what they are doing now!!!
That's just one idea, I am sure there are other party girls who have managed to still have some fun and lose weight!
I feel for you. I love beer. I probably drink more carbs than eat, but that's changing. I've tried the weekend only beers but then I'd blow all the hard work I put in the week before. So, as of three days ago I decided to love my butt more than my beer, and cut out the cold cervezas. (I'm thinking to myself that as my diet progresses and I see actual results I may, probably will, treat myself, but until then I'm going to try be tough.) Everyone is different and for me it's all or nothing....for now!
This was a good question and I'm glad that I'm not the only "party girl" out there!
I just found this site and saw your post. I too am on WW, actually I reached my goal just before Christmas and managed to make it to Lifetime status. I love to party, but it will kill you on WW. I just saved all my flex points for Friday and/or Saturday. Thats 35 points or to me, plenty of beer to have a good time. I didn't feel like I missed out at all. Once you reach your goal, you can have more, but you may find like I did that it's not worth it. I'd rather eat my points. If you're like me, you'll love all your new clothes - well worth giving up the drinking for a while!!!! Good luck, Kim
Drinking and Dieting
