lisah I am glade the article helped you. Just remember it depends on how much you drink, and how your body works.

As for the dinner, I really think that grilling dont hurt you that much. Because its better than frying or things with alot  of sauces. My husband lovesss to grill! Heck I love him to grill!!! lol I have tried the frys as well, they are good. We have tried about everything on them. We have let them thaw just a little where they are damp then put them in a zip lock bag and put some shake in bake on them, add alot of different spices, then shake them up. and grill them. We also have cut French frys up (not frozen) and mix up a cup or 2 depending on how much frys, of Lipton soup mix, or onion soup mix, we are going to try the garlic soup mix, just add a little water and shake them up. Then spray the foil put the coated frys out, and spray them again. Something different. the kids have even put them in the oven. But! they put them on foil, then place foil on top, not sealing them tight.. because then they dont get mushy, they said like the schools.. lol

Another good thing is try grilling fish on the grill, Lord is it good!!! Donnie always makes enough for me to have during the week. I dont like bake fish much, but its better on the grill, and even the battered fish is better, without the frying.

And have you ever tried grilled corn on the cob???? wondefull!!!! let me know cause I can tell you a great way to do it. Its better really for you than boiling it. And really you then dont need so much butter, cause of the such sweet taste.

And I know what you mean about sour cream, I swear I can just eat it alone. I may be strange... but I love sour cream with hot sauce. I looked it up the other day, and really not that much calo, and fat. I just have to watch how much of the hot sauce I get.

Keep up the good work!!!

Becky

I live in Ohio, and I grill outside all year around!  It only takes a few seconds to go outside & turn the meat.  If it's raining, we open the doors in the garage and pull the grill in there.

I did not realize how many calories were in margaritas!  It shows on the alli calories that a margarita cocktail is 170, so that's what I've been calculating.  How many are in a margarita from a mexican restaurant, on an average?  Anyone know?

Becky

It's funny you should mention corn.  We have the same meal every Sunday and you think after a while we would get tired of it, but we don't.

 NY Strip steak

I have a baked sweet potato, he has a regular baked potato

Corn on the cob, fom the grill

Margarita

To do the corn, I pull back the husk, remove the silk and pull the husk back up before putting on the grill.  My husband takes about 3 tablespoons of butter and cuts into pieces that he inside the husk on his piece of corn.  I just use the spray butter.

momof5kids:

Here are some things I found about alcoholic drinks on our diets. I have included some sights as well. Hope it all helps everyone. I drink a glass of white zinger dale at nite to help me relax, due to my fibromyalgia. I try to stay away from the ones that cost less than $8 cause the cheaper they are the more sugar they have.

 

The first sight shows that a margarita mix has 540 calories and 40 carbs. This is a sight you can get sugar free mix. Or where to find it maybe near you. Most larger liq stores will order it if you request it. To the one that have these family times with a cook out and drinks, hon don’t give these times up! It’s a way for you to unwind and relax. Taking stress away is a big part into loosing weight. Find a way to cut the calories out of your drink like this sight, and always count them as part of your intake for the day. As for the steak, just eat a little less, each time. Drink something else beside your mix drink while eating, alcoholic drinks tend to make you eat more. Eat only ½ of bake potato. Try using some ranch dressing on it instead of sour cream, I know I loveeee sour cream, but try the dressing, from time to time. But family times are needed to get threw this goal we are working for, they shouldn’t be forgotten, just cut back, and relax.

 

The 2^nd  and 3^rd sight is talking about how the body burns alcohol first before anything else. And then its stored as fat. That is where the term “beer belly” comes in. The fat from alcohol and sugar is the hardest thing to burn. So don’t over do it when you drink. Alcohol also can slow down your metabolic rate. But it also depends on how much you drink.

The 4^th sight is a study, that was done on women mostly, that on the other hand alcohol consume speed up their metabolic rate. The way I look at it, is depends on how much, what kind, and how your body is made up in the first place. Also all of this above depends on what time of day you drink it. Like I said don’t drink it while you are eating or before you eat. I have notice I eat more at those times. I also try to not drink in the after noon, when snack time is at its peek. If I do, I have to work hard on banding myself from the snacks, and the kids love warning me to stay away from them.. lol

 

The last sight is a good sight giving how much calories and carbos in things of alcohol.

Hope this all helps everyone and stick with it. We all can beat this weight…

Becky East Texas

 

Zilch Sugar Free Margarita Mixers for Low Carb Lifestyles and Low Calorie Diet

 

Why alcohol calories are more important than you think...

Bodybuilding.com - Mauro Di Pasquale - Alcohol And The Metabolic Diet.

Alcohol, Calories, and Weight

Alcoholic Drinks - Weight Loss

Becky,

Thank you for posting this.  The link "Why alcohol calories......." is now added to my favorites.

Hopefully as motivation.  I think if you told me I had to do without any one food I could.  But a serious cutback on the wine seems almost not possible.

BTW, one of the links mentioned how "moderate" drinking is different in Europe.  I am first generation here;  brought up in a European style home and have lived across the pond as well.  Just as your link pointed out- 4-5 glasses of wine a day seemed moderate there.

Lisah, is it you who lived in Germany?  What did you find there in terms of quantity of drinking?

I wonder what that diet book about French women says?

 

 

Yes, that is how i do my grill corn, but we add different seasons.. garlic, season salt(low in sodium kind) hot seasons, onion, sometimes we put one or all.. lol heck we mixed our melted butter and seasons, and a little hot sauce on it, and spread it on it, then cooked it. I close the husk back up and wire it closed to cook it, then it keeps the moister in.. danggg now i am hungry for corn.. lol

alinka, your welcome on the links. I am like you I cant cut out my wine, cause it has really helped me sleep a littleeeee better at times, with my so many aces and pains I deal with everyday.... I have notice though this week, I didn't loose. I think because one of my meds are messed up, and I have to now increase my water a day. :/ my family will be out shopping for me a portable potty for me now.. lol I already drink ALOT.. BUT now even more. So I feel kinda blowed. So I think its from the water/meds/mix up. Lets hope so. It was kinda depressing. But not giving up. I just hope all this was not from my wine, cause I did have a little more than usually on Thurs. And I had lost before that, but I gained it back. At lease I have not gained the 10 I lost last week. But did cheat and went to the Mexican place to eat also. So that might have done it.

I think Lisah visit Germany, not sure. But I have my oldest son over in Germany for the pass 3 years. He said that the wine there is stronger, but heck who is he to know.. lol he drinks German beer. He really had to start working out more, cause the first year he was over there, that beer was finding hiding places on him. And he almost didn't pass inspection. lol He is going to try to bring me some wine from there home. He is just not sure if he can. He gets to come home in Sept. :) for a month then being sent somewhere else. But your right, over there he said the average a day is more like 8 glasses. I think because he said some German friends he has made has been drinking from the time they were younger. So their body's are more use to it.

well, best sign in, and see what it says about me not doing everything this week. :/

Becky east Texas

lynblossom:

How many are in a margarita from a mexican restaurant, on an average?  Anyone know?

I've seen articles online that have stated restaurant/bar margaritas have anywhere from 550-800 cals per drink!    YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm having trouble getting enough calories in my food so my Miller Lite is helping me there!

mrparlin:

  Oh - one thing, alcohol helps your body retain water, so don't be surprised if the scale doesn't budge after a might on the town. 

 This post was informative but the last part was particularly insightful.

I have enjoyed nice weight loss on the program for 6 weeks, losing 25 lbs. but in the last 2 weeks had kind of plateaued and have been "roaming" between 206-210.

I had put it off to changing my workouts (I have recently added rowing to my cardio, resulting in minor muscle weight gain).

However, the last few weeks I have also been drinking a bit more (always including it in my calorie logs, of course). But if alcohol consumption is causing my body to retain more water that may explain why the "slowdown" in weight loss. I'm going to try to go dry (as far as liquor goes) for the next 5 nights until my next check in and see how it goes.

Thanks for the good info.

Jim

 I had mentioned a fairly low calorie Margarita Mix before but had not gone into details. It seems many here are not inclined to do the full route (mixing their own), so more details.

Stirring Margarita Mix is very strong and comes in several flavors, the regular Lime, of course, but also a strawberry and other fruits though I don't remember them all. They say mix 1:1 mix to liquor but I find the drinks overly sweet if I do that, so for the Lime I do 2:1 with twice as much liquor as mix.

I bought Stirrings mixers at Cost Plus World Markets, along with a hand crank ice crusher. The Ice crusher allows me to pour a margarita glass full of ice, then use a much smaller amount of mix/liquor ... I think it's 3 oz. liquor to 1.5 oz. of mix.

Certainly not calorie free, but a lot less than most commercial mixes.

If I want the richness, I can add a shot of Contrineau myself.

For the Lime Margarita mix, Stirrings comes in at 70 calories for 3 oz. of mix. One of the reasons Stirrings mixes are so much lower in calories is they don't use any processed corn syrups. Pure cane sugar, pure juices, pure flavorings ... that's it.

For each Margarita, made "my way" (3 oz. tequila, 1.5 oz. mix)  the calorie total is 228 calories.

This has SIGNIFICANTLY more liquor than any premade mix you will find on the market. If I used the same mix to make it the way "commercial" mixes make it, (3oz. of mix to 1 oz. of tequila) the calorie count would be 134 calories per tequila.

I have tried the Strawberry Margarita mix and with it I have to go 1:1 because the strawberry flavor (natural, from pureed fruit) is not as intense as the lime, and tends to get overrun by the tequila.

If you wish to add an ounce of Grand Marnier, Contrineau or Triple Sec, don't forget to add the 103 calories that goes with it ;)

Hopefully this is useful information for the Margarita lovers out there.


Jim

550-800 calories per margarita!  Yikes is right!  So, last night, I switched to sangria.  20 calories per oz.  I really did like it, and it was a nice change.  No margaritas for me until I get my weight down where I want it, and then only once a month or so.

Becky/Ohio

 

Thanks Susan!  Hungrygirl.com is a good site!  It has lots of low cal alternatives to everything. 

 Personally, I have found that sometimes it is easier to cut back all over and truly enjoy one wonderful thing the original authentic way than it is to try to enjoy a substitute.  That's part of what makes me nervous about Alli.  If I want to enjoy a special meal, will it work to skip Alli for that meal?  or will I still suffer "treatment" side effects?

Thanks!

 Heidi

backtoslender:

Lisah-I agree with the other posts...don't give up something you love!  You can have alcohol on this lifestyle change diet!  If you go to www.hungrygirl.com and type in margarita in the search area, you will find three low-cal recipes for margaritas!

Hope this helps!

Cheers!

Susan

lynblossom:

550-800 calories per margarita!  Yikes is right!  So, last night, I switched to sangria.  20 calories per oz.  I really did like it, and it was a nice change. 

Only 20 cals per oz?  That's pretty great!  Sangria is a little too sweet for me......I'm sticking to vodka & diet tonic for now.....It's about 65 cals per oz. 

I do love margaritas, though...............