If a glass of wine is your go-to after work, giving up alcohol can often be a hard part of your health journey. Luckily, there are a number of ways to work it into your eating plan and make progress at the same. We’ll drink to that!
1 Eat up
Eating before you drink can help slow the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream. Go for lean proteins and healthy fats, and save your carbs for the drinks you’re about to have. Remember that if you start drinking on an empty stomach, you’ll not only feel the effects of alcohol sooner, you’ll be more likely to throw caution to the wind and order that large plate of chips.
2 Alternate with water
It’s a strategy you hear about time and again, but that’s because it works. As soon as you arrive at the bar or braai, make your first drink a big glass of water– that way you won’t be tempted to down your first glass and refill it almost instantly. Then for every alcoholic drink you have, pace yourself with a glass of water in between.
3 Say no to cocktails
Who doesn’t love an ice-cold daiquiri, margarita, or piña colada after a long day? The trouble is that these sweet nothings have a whole lot of kilojoules – sometimes as many as 1 500 or 2 000 per glass! If you absolutely must have a cocktail, stick to just one, and move on to something less sinful afterwards.
4 Don’t lose count
Typically, more than four drinks for women and five drinks for men in one night is considered
Keep this in mind when you’re out on the town, and try and stick to the guidelines as closely as possible.
5 Stay sober(ish)
Worried that your love for a glass of the good stuff is doing more harm than good? Why not try and embrace sobriety for a few weeks, and then choose an evening to go out with your friends guilt-free? You’ll be able to make significant progress while on the wagon, and you’ll enjoy your night out that much more.
Looking for more advice for healthy living? Here’s the real deal about losing weight (and keeping it off) and 10 detox tips to make you feel brand new.
