Diet

8 Genius Ways to Lose Weight Without Giving Up Booze

Thanks to these diet and fitness tricks, you can have your happy hour and a tiny waist too

by Amanda Montell | COMMENT

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So, you've decided to go on a diet. Welcome to the club. An estimated 45 million Americans are trying to lose weight right now, as you read this. Though the weight-loss industry is constantly booming, I think we can all agree that dieting isn't exactly fun. Reason No. 1? Whether you've decided to get old school and join Weight Watchers or get new school with raw food, the first thing to go when you start any diet is, of course, the most fun: booze.

Alcohol is categorically forbidden from most diet plans -- and understandably so. There are countless ways that drinking can put the kibosh on your weight loss efforts. According to registered dietitian Christen Cooper, alcohol serves up the sort of hidden calories, dehydration and junk food binges that can derail even the most strong-willed dieters.

That said, giving up giggle juice altogether can seriously cramp one's style. Nobody's looking to get wasted here. But going cold turkey? We're too attached to our weekly happy hours and vino-accompanied dinners .

Luckily we did some major #realtalk with a few trustworthy dieticians and fitness experts to find out some unexpected hacks for drinking on a diet. If you're looking to shed some LBs without surrendering your social life, you're among friends. Just follow these eight pro tips.

SEE NEXT PAGE: Sweat Off Your Hangover

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