Hello Ladies!

I'm actually in my early 30s, but I figured your group may be best suited for my question. During my college years and for most of my 20s, I never really did the bar-hopping-college-drinking-and-socalizing thing. Now that I'm older and feel emotionally better about myself, I do socialize a lot more. Most of those social events are happy hours.

My question is how do you balance of weight loss with drinking? I recently moved to a new city and don't know anyone. I've been attending a lot of socialize events through Yelp and Meetup. Most of those events are focused around drinking (i.e. happy hours during the weeknights after work and/or wine vinyard trips on the weekend). I know that no one is stopping me from ordering a glass of water, but I feel out of place and "odd" for being the only one who doesn't have a glass of beer or wine in her hand. I end up having 2 to 3 glasses tops per even social event.

Any tips on balancing weight loss while attending happy hours is greatly appreciated!

That's a tough one to get around! I always feel awkward drinking non-alcoholic drinks in bars, but I just keep telling myself that no one *actually* cares what I'm drinking (except for maybe the bartender who knows I'm not going to get sloshed and start dropping a lot of money!)

I used to think it was a lame suggestion (but that's because when I get in the drinking zone I get tunnel vision, which is why I rarely drink anymore), but getting a non-alcoholic drink between glasses of wine/beer is helpful. What about a club soda with a lime? It looks like a cocktail Or just a diet soda sans booze (I'm a liquor drinker more than anything else so that fix is easy enough for me).

Also- don't show up hungry. That helps.

I agree that is isn't fun being the "odd" one out. Why not try diet soda with a bit of vodka or maybe dry white wine. But try to stay away from the cocktails, those are loaded with soda.

If you order a diet soda, no one knows that you don't have mixers added in. Same thing for a club soda with lime or lemon. If you have to drink, wine spritzers are better because it's cut with club soda.

I know how you feel-- it just doesn't feel right to have a diet soda in a bar when everyone else has alcohol, but this is all in your head. A drink or two doesn't do much toward a "buzz," or anything, so you just need to give yourself a few tries without alcohol to get used to how it feels. After a while, it will feel a lot less weird to you.

Also-- no one cares what you choose to drink, and if you choose an above suggestion, no one will know unless you tell them.

I'm not a big drinker so maybe it's a bit different for me but when I go to parties I normally just nurse a glass of wine/beer the entire time. Last time I went I drank half a beer and that was more than enough for me. I do ask for water in between sometimes too because I get drunk pretty easily.

What about also trying meet-ups that involve exercise? Like a running group or something? Also, maybe try meeting your friends for coffee/tea? That's a favorite of mine because it doesn't involve food but we still get to go out.

I don't drink at all...not because of the calories, but because I don't like the taste. My friends at first thought this was "weird" but they're used to it now. I still have a lot of fun even if I'm not the only one drinking...being the only sober one is hilarious.

It also means they always have a designated driver! I guess that's why they don't mind!

The key is to drink slowly. For me personally, if I drink too much, my appetite becomes out of control for the next day- plus, I've spent all those extra calories on alcohol. I personally need to limit myself to two, three drinks tops.

So 1) drink slowly and 2) know a few different drinks with low calorie content. A lot of light beers will work and the occasional diet soda with a shot won't hurt.

Also, when you don't want to take in any more alcohol, go to the bar and order a plain diet soda or a water. They serve these in drink cups most of the time, so most people won't even notice you've switched.

I have never really liked most alcoholic drinks but I don't drink at all any more for my weight loss efforts. When I go out with people I just don't drink, or only drink water. People really don't care - and if they hassle you about it, it's because they're feeling insecure.

its all about the vodka girly! haha Vodka and cranberry is my fav orrr even better vodka and club soda !

Order a club soda with lime. 0 calories, but it usually comes in a tumbler and looks like you're drinking, if you are worried about feeling leftout

I understand how it can be scary to try something new - but really, social + drinking are NOT intertwined.

I've never drank alcohol because I just don't like the taste. And sure - people will try and get a drink in me because "it's more fun". But mostly people let me be. And I just drink something else and have just as much fun. Though I admit, I never make it through till the next morning when I am the only one sober, because around 3am people around me are so wasted they just are no fun anymore. Or too much fun.. lol.

Anyhow - people never pay as much attention to what you do or don't do as you think yourself. We all notice that pimple on our nose or the odd things we do that nobody else will ever see, because people are inherently focussed on their own 'thing'.

Really do what -you- want to do, and don't use "socializing" as an excuse to not do what you think would be best for you

I'm actually remarkably horrible at balancing social life and weight loss. I could lose significant amounts of weight if left to my own devices. But that's not realistic is it?

I don't even drink (except for a glass of wine or two at very special events), but as a new professional -- it seems like the only time to be able to see anyone is over food. Even when I stress to them that I'm trying to eat healthy, they'll suggest one of these new salad places that have 32g of fat in a serving of their dressing. Thirty two. I'd rather have a burger for half of that and call it a day.

It's frustrating.

When I go out with my friends, I order my favorite drinks, and call it my "bad day". I know that's probably not the best way to do it, but I need my days off, and I don't feel as bad about alcohol as I do about bad foods (i.e. pizza etc).

I'll try and eat protein and fiber-rich on that day, when I know there's a thing in the evening, and then work out the next day.

I've tried diets where I would literally starve myself and didn't go out or meet friends for dinner, and ended up being both unhappy and having gained back the weight I'd lost.

I think as long as you don't end up having an entire bottle of schnaps, it's okay to have a drink once in a while!

After all - isn't dieting all about trying to make it work for your entire life and not just a "six months then I'm done"-thing?

vodka-water-lime! it's your friend. low in cals and the water helps you not get hungover.

also, as others have said, drink slowly. i'm a slow drinker.... i can't chug even if i try. i take tiny baby sips and i can have one drink while everyone else has 3. it definitely helps.

and finally, maybe if you tried to not go out everyday, or limit it to one night a week or something, you could have a bit more and not feel so bad?

I just don't drink. I enjoy drinking just as much as the next person, but the way I feel the next day isn't worth it to me.

I feel dehydrated and hung over the next day - so I don't end up at the gym. I have no idea how many calories are in those girlie drinks that I love so much and when I get tipsy - I keep those drinks coming without thought to how many I am having. I *always* end up with some weight gain the next day from the alcohol. I just don't like it. Not to mention that I am not a graceful drunk (oxymoron?) and usually regret saying or doing something.

I offer to DD and drink lots of water. That way, I'm able to go out with my friends, enjoy being social AND be well hydrated for a trip to the gym in the morning!