Tips needed I EAT when I drink alcohol!

I workout every day, and eat healthy. Im struggeling to lose, but my main problem is that I am a binge eater/compulsive overeater.

I am in a program, and and working torwards changing things, and so far I've done well. My problem, though, is that when I drink alcohol, I love to eat afterwards. Part of my eating plan is no unplanned eating.

I am 23 and going out once a week or so isn't excessive to me. I would like to be able to partake in hanging out and drinking alcohol with friends (within reason, of course) once a week or so.

My concern is the habit of eating when im a little tipsy. Any one else have this problem? If so, what are some tips that you have used/use in order to break this annoying habit?

Thu. Nov 15, 12:57am

Why don't you just not drink? lol. I mean seriously. Why don't you just drink club soda or a virgin drink? I don't know..I mean I'm of drinking age now, but I'm not interested in drinking...so that's why that's my answer.

Thursday, November 15, 2007, 1:43 AM

Thanks. BUT...

I'm trying to get advice about changing this behavior. I COULD not drink, but that's not really the problem. The point is I want to be able to socialize and have drinks, like I normally would (NOT in excess) without eating alot.

Thursday, November 15, 2007, 2:26 AM

Can you chew gum, pop halls cough drops or bring your own food (carrots)? Or don't go out socalizing unless you've already eaten dinner so you are full.

Crunch ice. promise to only have one bite of whatever?? Problem is you probably lose your will power when drinking - that's a tough one.

Thursday, November 15, 2007, 2:35 AM

Enlist your friend's help. Really - nobody wants to eat crap when they drink and then feel awful about it the next day.

I had the same problem. This year (I'm 41) I finally decided NOT to drink more than one drink at any event. (This is a woman who used to have 5 long island iced teas in a night at your age, and I was 5'5, 120 pounds, so that's a lot of alcohol in a small body)

But I had my fun and my reasons for pulling back were related to things like age, fear of diabetes as it runs in the famliy, being a mom to elemntary school girls (I don't think alcohol is 'evil', ,but I want the girls to see mom drinking it responsibly - plus that mild headache sluggish feeling id' get if I had more than one drink made it hard to be really "on" the next day which is not acceptable to me when I have kids)

So I'm not saying don't drink, but get help from those who are there. Also, vodka-ts are lower cal than mixed or beer - and maybe won't trigger more cravings.

Maybe you could spend a month of going out and only having one and retraining your body to eat different foods while out, so that when you up the intake agan, you naturally gravitate towards the healthier stuff.

But for me, over indulging led to a desire for greasy salty foods - my favorite hangover foods in college were a strawberry milkshake and sausage pizza.

(Apsara)

Thursday, November 15, 2007, 7:11 AM

OP- I ahve the same problem. I have found that if I keep healthy food aound the house, I eat better. I will not spend money on late night food- that helps. then when I get home I eat oatmeal or a sweet potato- something filling but still pretty healthy. Also I drink a lot of alcohol. do yo uhave a roommate? They can be your biggest allie when it comes to this.

Thursday, November 15, 2007, 10:24 AM

Do you have something to eat before you go out drinking?

I too like to eat when I have had a drink, but I find that urge usually only occurs if I have a real heavy session and haven't eaten properly beforehand. If I know in advance that I'm going to be drinking a lot (and with certain of my friends it's a fore-gone conclusion ;-) ) then I will make sure that I have a meal before I go out that is quite full of carbohydrates, which seems to "soak up" the alcohol and so I am neither too "merry" nor too hungry by the end of the night.

Alternatively, have something to eat during your night out but have it reasonably early in the evening so that you can make good choices, rather than eating at the end of the night when all you want to do is stuff your face full of fast fatty foods (not a criticism of you, I've been there myself!)

Hope this helps!

Thursday, November 15, 2007, 10:56 AM

If you can't drink without getting tipsy, and you can't refrain from eating when you're tipsy, then 1:43am is right. Making a different drink choice IS changing your behavior AND still allowing you to socialize. So I guess what you really want to do is drink your ass off and not give in to the munchies. Yeah, good luck with that.

Thursday, November 15, 2007, 12:01 PM

I agree with the posters that suggested a healthy snack after drinking. I had this problem in college too and the scale showed it! I started just going STRAIGHT to bed when I got home, no matter what. Then I would fall right to sleep and there was not a chance for me to snack.
But if you must try oatmeal or fruit, healthy choices won't totally derail your diet!

Thursday, November 15, 2007, 12:11 PM

You dont need food.

Dont eat beforehand. Then after a couple of drinks, you will be sick/pass out; losing any previous food inside of you. You then will also not want to eat after, just sleep and be sick lots more.
Or, you could just make yourself sick after eating? The first choice is better though. It is far better to not be able to remember the event.

This is a very good way of losing weight. Ive lost 2 stone and now weight just under 6 stone. I know i still have a way to go, but i feel like im accoplishing something, however small.

Good luck.

x x x

Sunday, April 26, 2009, 6:10 PM

6:10pm - your comment worries me.. this is not a pro-ana/mia website and I really don't think you should be encouraging other people to binge, purge or do other damaging behaviour! Get some help for yourself while you're at it!

Sunday, April 26, 2009, 9:58 PM

I KNOW THIS ONE!

Yes. NOT a ProAna sight....

I eat a lot the day after drinking, it eases the hangover. I know you may not want to take my advice as it may interfere with your buzz, but the reason we eat more after drinking is that our body feels like it's lacking something and we compensate with food. What it's really lacking is water. Alternate a glass of beer with a glass of water and it really will help.

If that isn't the answer then it's the fact that alcohol is lowering your inhibitions in your personal struggle against binge drinking. If that's truly the case, then alcohol is the problem and you should lay off until you get your eating in check.

I think everyone here can identify with overeating, and I really wish you the best. I really think if you keep up with the water while drinking, you won't be physically wanting food and then it's just a matter of being strong!

You can do it.

Sunday, April 26, 2009, 11:00 PM

***Sorry I didn't mean binge drinking I meant binge eating.

Sunday, April 26, 2009, 11:01 PM

As a serial drinker who probably has more problems losing weight from all the alcohol I consume vs food.....take a spoonful of oil eg olive before you go out drinking. When you get home, drink loads - and I mean nothing less than a litre - of water. Don't mix your alcohol either - no sugary drinks (eg sweet mixers) because they'll spike your gastric juices and make you want to eat. Take water/soda with liquours and alternate with water where possible.

If you've had alot to drink (and you shouldn't be if you're on a weight loss programme...) take a slice of cheese or eat a cup of yoghurt. Again, have lots of water before bed and it should keep the Hangover Monster at bay.

And tell yourself if you do eat, its just going to go to your arse. Mind over matter!

Monday, April 27, 2009, 2:19 PM

a tip from another PT member

I read on another post and have tried successfully this past year-- if out drinking and carousing- only eat vegetables with your drinks. Its like a detox...

Also, alternating with water is a very smart move for anyone interested in protecting their tissues.

Monday, April 27, 2009, 9:56 PM

This could be the worst thread I've ever seen. First of all, yes, the drinking is a problem if after a "few" you are "tipsy" enough that you can't control your behavior...which you obviously can't if you are eating too much afterwards. Second, the calories you are consuming in the alcohol alone are a diet buster especially if you are going out a couple of times a week AND drinking enough to get tipsy. Third, you said you are a binge eater/compulsive overeater who is on a program, I assume, with the goal of overcoming this problem...so...WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU CONTINUE TO PUT YOURSELF IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU GOING TO BINGE/OVEREAT???!!!! I'm pretty sure that avoiding triggers should be (or is) a part of your recovery program. You have a personality that is prone to addiction...I'd stop now with the alcohol as I've witnessed plenty of alcoholism in close family members-who are all dead, and it is not pretty. Stick with diet sodas and other non alcoholic drinks and get a hold of your life once and for all.

Some of you other posters should be kicked off this site for your completely assinine and/or obnoxious comments/suggestion.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 6:43 PM

Have you though about what triggers it? is there always food sitting at the table when you drink, or are you in a restuarant where you can easily order food? I do the same thing and I am trying so hard to stop. I have even given into the fact that I must eat, so I am trying to keep low calorie foods around for when I get the muchies. It has kinda been working. I made home made dried fruit without sugar to snack on, and I also boght some pitta chips instead of potatoe chips.This way at least if I snack I am not throwing away the whole day with high calorie foods. I don't intend on giving up my drink anytime soon!

Friday, May 1, 2009, 10:13 AM

If you want to keep drinking - and I don't think there is ANYTHING wrong with enjoying cocktails out with friends! - I think you should try several of the suggestions and see what helps you. There have been a lot of really good suggestions from some PP's. But the behavior won't change overnight so don't beat yourself up about it.

I think the best advice so far was go right to bed - I used to eat before bed too while drinking and now I just go to bed. It works for me. I also think that eating something with a balance of protien, carbs and veggies before you go out would help you stay full.

If you find that you just can't control your binge eating when you've had a few drinks then I would steer clear of the drinks until you have a better handle on the eating.
Good luck!

rachspen

Friday, May 1, 2009, 1:32 PM

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