Night outs a Nightmare

[Errol_Flynn]

Does anyone else find it hard to reconcile consistent weight loss with the ahem, weekly celebrations?

I'm 21 and still at uni. All my friends are around my age and also still at uni. Inevitably as is the lifestyle at this point in life we go out a lot. Last week we went three nights out of seven, and the week before it four out of seven.

Every time we go out we drink a not insignificant quantity of beer and often finish the night with a trip to the closest fast food outlet.

Obviously neither beer nor fast food is the ticket to weight loss, but have rather the opposite effect. Worse still the last thing I want to do after a night out drinking is get up in the morning and cycle.


So how can I reconcile my student lifestyle with weight loss? Has anyone successfully negotiated such a quagmire?

I can avoid the fast food (although self discipline in this regard can get pretty weak after a few beverages), but the I'm loathe to be sober bob around all my rowdy, inebriated mates till 5am just to avoid calories. Furthermore even if did do this I imagine I'd still be too tired to summon the will to exercise.

Lastly on a related matter staying out so late screws up my sleep cycle. I like getting up early (roughly 6am) to get the daily exercise out of the way, but that's not possible when I didn't get to bed till 5am. Worse my sleep cycle is so rooted that I can't manage to get up at 6 in the next day or so either, mostly because I can't get to sleep till 12 or 1.

Any advice on the matter, especially from those who've dealt with such problems would be greatly appreciated.

Unfortunately for me all my friends are naturally thin (bastards! ), blessed with fast metabolisms (for now! ) so this is not an issue for them.


Sorry for the essay!

 

[shawnnam]

I am also a college student but I decided that I was done with drinking, honestly, I didn't want to work out, I was gaining weight because of all of the calories, and I was torturing myself by sitting around a bunch of people with chicken wings, burgers, fries, pizza, etc. But, I realized I want to lose weight more than I want to get shit face and ruin everything I have worked for.

I go to the bar with my friends sometimes and the bartender gives me free diet cokes since I am not drinking, and I drink water too.

Since it sounds like you are not ready to give that life style up how about you cut it down to 1 day a week instead?

 

[KaraCooks]

Honestly the truth is that you have to decide which is more important to you - partying and drinking or being healthy and slim.

Being in college doesn't HAVE to mean drinking and partying and staying up until 5 a.m. every single night either. Limiting your partying to once a month or for special occasions or end of semester celebrations is another option.

No one *has* to go out, get drunk, eat junk, stay up. If you do, you're making a choice to. So it's up to you to choose what's more important to you.

 

[summer123]

Unfortunetly part of growing up is realising there are consiquences to almost every action you take! And that too much alcohol stops you making the best choices...

 

[Errol_Flynn]

Honestly the truth is that you have to decide which is more important to you - partying and drinking or being healthy and slim.

Being in college doesn't HAVE to mean drinking and partying and staying up until 5 a.m. every single night either. Limiting your partying to once a month or for special occasions or end of semester celebrations is another option.

No one *has* to go out, get drunk, eat junk, stay up. If you do, you're making a choice to. So it's up to you to choose what's more important to you.

It's true that no one *has* to go out, but these situations are the only opportunity I have to see my friends, certainly all at once. We are tight knit group of 5 guys and all juggle part time jobs, full time degrees and girlfriends. Not going would mean not seeing them, at least not as often as I do now.

To be honest I don't really care for dark night clubs and the like and I much prefer it when we go to pubs and quiet bars (which we do but much less frequently), I would happily give up going to these places if it weren't for the fact that that is where I see my friends.

As an example one friend (part of the 5) does a double degree on a scholarship and works nights and so literally has no spare time to come out. That's fine we're all still close friends with him, there is no peer pressure to come out or anything like that, and completely understand that he can't come out regularly. But the fact remains that because he doesn't come out I haven't seen him in a month.

 

[Flumes]

Can't you drink diet pop and eat a healthy salad after your nites out?

Hanging out with friends isnt fattening. It's the beer and junk food that is the problem.

Either you make the best of it, or face the worst of it.

 

[KaraCooks]

*shaking my head*

We are tight knit group of 5 guys and all juggle part time jobs, full time degrees and girlfriends. Not going would mean not seeing them, at least not as often as I do now.

Right. And you're the only people in the world who have this problem right? None of the rest of us juggle jobs and school or jobs and family or jobs and school and family and 2nd jobs and kids and ....

Right?

Again. It's your choice. You choose to drink and eat fattening food or you choose not to. It's really that simple. I have friends who I only see when we go out together, just like you, because we're all juggling our lives. But I choose when to drink, when to eat fattening food, and when not to. And right now for me being healthy and losing weight is more important. So either I decline the invitations or I limit myself to one drink and then switch to Diet Coke. My choice.

 

[Errol_Flynn]

*shaking my head*

Right. And you're the only people in the world who have this problem right? None of the rest of us juggle jobs and school or jobs and family or jobs and school and family and 2nd jobs and kids and ....

Right?

There's no need to be so caustic, I am telling you I am unwilling to give up this aspect of my lifestyle.

On a normal day I eat good sized portions of healthy, nutritious food, rarely succumb to temptation and exercise for up to an hour. But of an evening when I go out with friends the calories inherent in alcohol are unavoidable. So I am asking for advice on ways to mitigate these extra calories and ways to reduce the impact of sleep loss on my routine and sleep cycle.

Yes Flumes I would gladly tuck into a salad rather than standard fast food if only there were somewhere I could get one at 5am, McDonald's has healthy menu options here, but only until 10pm. After that it's burgers as far as the eye can see. Do you generally find a healthy option? Whereabouts?

 

[Iain1974]

It seems that if you're unwilling to make changes there's little point in complaining about the effects of your lifestyle.

 

[Errol_Flynn]

It seems that if you're unwilling to make changes there's little point in complaining about the effects of your lifestyle.

Ok. Apparently I need to clarify, I am not complaining. I am sorry for the confusion.

I have changed my lifestyle, I never used to exercise at all. I used to eat whatever I felt like, whenever I felt like it in whatever quantities I liked.

For the most part I no longer do that. I exercise to a moderate intensity daily and watch what I put in my mouth.

I am losing weight, I have lost 3 kilograms since I started (halfway through March) and I intend to stick at it. However this aspect of my life (going out with friends) I am unwilling to give up. Bearing in mind that I am losing weight regardless of these night time activities, what I am asking for are tips to mitigate the quantity of calories I take in when out for the evening, and ways to better adjust my sleeping cycle as quickly as possible to maintain my routine.


I am NOT coming here and saying "Hey, I'm fat. Tell me how to be thin without changing anything about my life." I have lost 20kg before and kept it off for a year and a half, I know what it takes and what is necessary.

 

[Flumes]

Dude....Kara's not being caustic. She's being facetious.
Her point is we have all been where you are at one point or another.
And we made the best of it.

If you lost 3 kg's doing what you are doing since March....party on dude!

If you want to lose more than that, the simple changes that you made are not adequate.....and you need to change your lifestyle. Its simple.

You can't suck and blow at the same time.

 

[KaraCooks]

If you want to lose more than that, the simple changes that you made are not adequate.....and you need to change your lifestyle. Its simple.

Yup.

I am telling you I am unwilling to give up this aspect of my lifestyle.
[...]
I am asking for are tips to mitigate the quantity of calories I take in when out for the evening

Tip #1 - don't take in so many calories.

Honestly, that's it. That's the only tip. You have to decide which is more important to you - the calories you eat out, or the weight loss. There is no way to "mitigate" thousands of alcohol and junk food calories. It would be different if you were saying that you wanted to figure out a way to be able to continue to have a glass of wine with dinner every night or you really can't live w/out cheesecake once a week or whatever. Those calories can be "mitigated".

Going out drinking and partying and eating bar food and junk 3, 4, 5 times a week? You can't "mitigate" that. If you're unwilling to give up that aspect of your lifestyle, then you're not going to be able to lose much more weight.

But of an evening when I go out with friends the calories inherent in alcohol are unavoidable.

Of course they're avoidable. Are you telling me that your friends hold a gun to your head and force you to drink alcohol, rather than a Diet Coke, a club soda, or even just a glass of water?

Of course they're not. Drinking alcohol and eating junk - that's a choice you're making.

You can't suck and blow at the same time.

*snicker* That made me crack up, but it's so true!!!

 

[Jeanette401]

Do you know in advance if you're going to go out that night?

If you do, then probably the first thing to do would be to eat primarily lean protein & low calorie veggies during the day. In fact, even if you don't know you can be very minimalist in your breakfast & lunch choices. Then if you don't go out, have a nice healthy meal for dinner. If you do, you'll still have 'spare' calories for the alcohol, although it still would be a good idea to cut back. Make every other drink a diet soda or ice tea, drink light beer, etc. If you're eating with the minimalist philosophy during the day a cheese burger & fries isn't going to kill you. Just don't eat 5 of them. Wings are probably better as long as you don't go overboard with dipping.

 

[Flumes]

Do you know in advance if you're going to go out that night?

If you do, then probably the first thing to do would be to eat primarily lean protein & low calorie veggies during the day. In fact, even if you don't know you can be very minimalist in your breakfast & lunch choices. Then if you don't go out, have a nice healthy meal for dinner. If you do, you'll still have 'spare' calories for the alcohol, although it still would be a good idea to cut back. Make every other drink a diet soda or ice tea, drink light beer, etc. If you're eating with the minimalist philosophy during the day a cheese burger & fries isn't going to kill you. Just don't eat 5 of them. Wings are probably better as long as you don't go overboard with dipping.

I don't think wings are any better. Deep fried, coated then sauced....probably the worst part of the chicken to eat as far as fat content. I would guess 120-150 calories per wing. I used to eat 2 lbs of them no problem...plus fries w/gravy and beers. I'm sure it'd be close to 5000 calories if not more by the end of the nite.

 

[Jeanette401]

Hmm, good point. I'm thinking of the wings I tend to get which aren't battered, lol. I'm not even sure they're fried because my favorite are from an Italian place which sauces them with a pesto buffalo sauce which is quite nummy.

So maybe the hamburgers and fries are the safer option!

 

[newg]

I'm in the same situation as you mate, I'm currently on one of my college phases before I go away to sea in August. I've just had to give up the drinking. I still go out, but I drink water/diet coke.

I do occasionally make a night of it and drink (once amonth max), but even then I stick to spirits and diet mixers (rum+diet coke usually) and avoid the takeaway at the end of the night.

It's actually not that bad considering you're hitting clubs, I find it much harder in pubs, but in a club you don't need to be drunk to dance like a loon, because nobody cares!

Plus you'll be amazed at how much of a dent you DONT put in your wallet. If I'm lucky my mates might let me buy ONE round all night, usually they won't accept because they know I'm on the water/diet coke.

You said your mates are all understanding of the guy who cant come out much, I'm sure they'll be equally understanding of you not drinking after they warm to the idea.

 

[Flumes]

Usually, deep fried foods, (like fries) are not healthy. Burger isn't that bad. Its better the leaner it is, and even better if its broiled. Better yet, if its made of
bison or beefalo.

Generally speaking, places that serve burgers at 5:00 am aren't looking after your health's best interest.

My two favourite fast foods...burgers and wings. lol You guys are killing me!!!

 

[summer123]

Hate to be the one to remind you but there are no easy ways out on this one, as the others have said, you simply need to consume less.

If going out means you eat more or consume more then you need to cut back on going out.

If your not willing to cut back on going out (and maybe make the effort to see the friends you otherwise never see in day time or other nights of the week or arrange an evening in...) then maybe this time around weight loss just isn't supposed to happen. Maybe you can have better luck when your 70 and don't want to go out several nights a week every single week!

Think about what your asking here, what is your question exactly because I am a bit confused!

 

[Kayshiz]

Every calorie that you consume from alcohol is a calorie that is not providing you essential nutrients to be healthy. Period.

Now, do you want to just lose weight or do you want to be healthy?

Because you will NEVER be truly healthy drinking and eating fast food 4 nights a week. That is to the excess. But I don't think you want to be healthy, I don't think you said that once actually, so your not really getting the answer you want.

I know plenty of skinny guys that live on alcohol. They don't drink cocktails or beer. Mostly shots. They eat very few solid foods. Most of it is junk, but they don't eat a lot during the day, pretty much just when they were drinking/drunk. They have active jobs and it ends up balancing out. They are kind of "skinny fat" though. Not to hot naked.

If you drink a bottle or two of water before you go to bed and take some b12 when you get up it will make the mornings easier.

I know lots of guys with the same diet that are fat too. They play lots of video games and have jobs where they don't need to move around to much.

So there is your answer. Eat less. Way less. Get a job where you run your ass off all day and you'll be fine.

(and your obviously gonna piss people off saying that you don't want to change your lifestyle on a diet forum, don't act surprised abut it...)

 

[Errol_Flynn]

Ok now we're getting somewhere.
#1, Kara. Alternating between alcohol and water.
I already do this. I Generally drink between 3-4 alcoholic drinks an evening and intersperse each one with a glass of water to make sure I stay pretty sober. I hadn't thought of this as a way to reduce my caloric intake, if I sit on my water a little longer I could probably reduce the number of beers I drink by at least one a night. That's 340- 450 less calories a week, and over a month that's 1800 less calories which equates to half a pound of body fat

Do you see where I'm coming from now? Little things like this to reduce the total calories I am taking in to help boost my general weight loss efforts.

#2, Jeanette401, Flumes Changing end of evening snacks.
While wings might be a better option than burger meals (although I've no idea where I'd get wings here (Aus), be easier finding a souvlaki ) I think I'd feel better and take in less calories if I could get something akin to a Caesar salad as Flumes suggested. Trouble is there's not much in the way of that open at 3-5am, anyone have any similar options that are realistic attainable at that hour?

If I could find such an alternative the difference could be as much as 500 calories less an evening.

#3,Kayshiz Water and B12 before bed
Interesting idea I'll give it a go, see if it works although over here our vitamin B12 is called Vegemite toast.

Cheers for the ideas, anyone got any suggestions on how to fix a battered sleeping cycle? If I go to bed at 5am obviously all the water and vitamins in the world aren't going to help me get up at 6, and usually when I do I get up as late as 11am or even 12pm! This means both that I'm not tired enough to go to sleep at 10pm (to get up for 6am the next day) and that often I don't have enough time to exercise before the other necessities of the day take over (work, class, etc)

I was thinking about instead of sleeping till 11 or 12 I set my alarm for around 9 or 10, meaning that I get up with only 5-6 hours sleep meaning that I'm tired enough to go to bed at 10pm that night. Thoughts?