[sotypical]

Diet coke is my drink! I very very rarely drink. I went out the other day and decided to have a drink (it turned into two) that is a total of 3 drinks for me since I started this at the beginning of Feburary. And that is a lot of drinks for me!

It is full of empty calories. I had two screwdrivers when I was out, I figured I might as well get the benifit from orange juice if I was going to drink. When I came home and put it in my fitday I was like 400 calories for two SMALL drinks? What a waste! I have never been a drinker so not drinking is no problem for me.

I know how hard it is for young people to not drink. A lot of my friends dont even ask me out anymore becasue, I don't want to go the bar. I am only 20 (almost 21) and have been dealing with this for years. Why is it so hard for people to accept that I do not drink or do not want to drink.

I have just as much fun when I don't drink, given that I might not do something totally stupid and crazy, but I still have fun. I really wish kids today would realize that you don't need to drink to have a good time. It is so hard to see all the people I graduated with drinking their faces off - they are killing themselves.

Anyway, enuf! If you really have to have a drink just try and limit it to one or two. Or don't make it an every weekend thing, I think it should be a treat, like once a month. Other wise, I say cut it out - its not needed. IMO

[Alaynna]

Every tuesday I go out with my friends for a margarita night...and I drink 2 margaritas....I never gain weight because I balance the rest of my day and leave most of my calories for the drinks....I also drink 2 margaritas over the weekend usually...and I haven't gained any weight...i guess it depends on your portion and how much you ate before you go out...

[LLV]

Originally Posted by Alaynna

Every tuesday I go out with my friends for a margarita night...and I drink 2 margaritas....I never gain weight because I balance the rest of my day and leave most of my calories for the drinks....

Yes, that's the key. Alcohol calories count too.

That's where many people make their mistake - they eat their alotted daily calories and then drink on top of that.

Calories are calories, regardless of where they come from and they all count.

[Sunnigummi]

Why is it so hard for people to accept that I do not drink or do not want to drink.

I'm 24 and I still deal with this crap. I stopped drinking in August '05 and by stopped drinking I mean I stopped having my 3 girly (margarita) drinks per year. I wasn't a big drinker before or as a friend puts it - a drinker at all, but I still get looks when I want to go out to a bar but I don't want to drink. One of my friends would ask me to hang out with her friends but she would always cancel at the last minute because she knew I didn't like to drink and thought I would feel left out I guess. Anyway, I don't think you need to drink to have a good time. I've never really liked the bitter taste of alcohol but like everyone else has said do what's best for you - they've given excellent ideas about how to disguise your "drink" I suggest you go along with it and test alcohol's effect on your weight when you're in maintenance and you're less likely to get depressed about a gain if it happens.

[Beach Patrol]

Alcohol is total & completely empty calories. But if you really feel like imbibing, light beer or wine is the least calories per serving. Drink no more than 2 per day.

I gave up frozen margaritas and mudslides (VERY HARD to do when lying on the beach all summer!) and only allow myself a couple of light beers on Sunday afternoon. I lost three pounds just by doing that.

[idest]

I love good wine... so I simply factor the calories into my total for the day. I don't drink every night, but probably have a glass or two of wine with dinner three or four nights a week. If I know I'm going to have a special evening, I "bank" enough calories during the day to cover it.

In August my sweetheart and I will be touring Northern California wine country (Napa/Sonoma) and I plan to get up early everyday and do run/walk intervals to offset what I know will be a killer week for calories (we also have reservations for dinner at some very good restaurants). Being a foodie who counts calories isn't easy, but it can be done...