3 Tips for Keeping Alcohol in Check

Many members of our medical weight loss centers visit us after a weekend of alcohol-induced bingeing wondering how they can undo the damage and not do the same thing when the next Friday rolls around. It’s a common issue that holds many individuals back from seeing results from easy weight loss programs.

Alcohol contains empty calories and diminishes willpower, causing many to indulge in fattening foods after a night of cocktails. While it’s best to avoid alcohol altogether, we understand that it’s not the most realistic choice for many. Instead of giving up on diets and easy weight loss programs altogether, here are a few tips for keeping alcohol and the effects it has on your waistline in check.

1. Don’t drink on an empty stomach. This is essential for so many reasons. When we drink on an empty stomach, alcohol is absorbed fast; you’ll feel the effects quickly and may get too tipsy by the end of the night. Instead, eat some lean protein before a night out on the town—it digests slower than other foods and will keep you from getting too drunk. Plus, your stomach will stay fuller longer and you will be less apt to binge on the empty calories on most bars menus.

2. Skinny your drink order. Instead of ordering a drink made with sugary mixers that contribute to an awful hangover, opt for non-sweetened, low-calorie mixers and low carb drinks. If you prefer beer, make sure to choose a low carb option, as a regular beer can pack around 10 grams.

3. Alternate water. At our medical medical weight loss centers, we promote proper hydration because it helps flush out the toxins in our body. It’s even more important to drink enough water when you’re consuming alcohol, to prevent hydration and keep flushing the toxins. Order a glass of water with lemon with every alcoholic drink. This will slow down your rising blood alcohol level and fill you up as well—you may end up drinking less than half of what you would consume when you’re not drinking water.

image: myhealthguide.com