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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Sweat Off Your Hangover The Boozy Problem: When you wake up with a deadly hangover, you're more than willing to postpone that crack-of-dawn Crossfit class you'd planned. Not a great start to any dieter's day. According to celebrity fitness trainer and author of "This Is Why You're Sick and Tired" Jackie Warner, we have alcohol's draining effect on our muscles and hormones to thank.

Warner says that a long night of drinking robs your body of a chemical called Human Growth Hormone (HGH), which plays an integral role in building and repairing muscle. HGH usually gets to work while you snooze, but the wonky sleep patterns caused by drinking bring that process to a screeching halt.

In addition, that fourth or fifth cocktail also throws off your body's water balance, inhibiting your muscles from producing ATP, or muscle energy, adds Warner. The result? You are rendered completely incapable of lifting anything.

The Boozy Solution: The best thing you can do for your hangover and your weight loss plan is cardio. You're too energy-depleted for weight training. However, Lori Kenyon Farley, certified nutritional consultant and co-founder of Project Juice, says that raising your heart rate gets your metabolism moving, which is not only good for your waistline, but helps your body process the alcohol faster.

"Sweating may also increase your thirst, which leads to more water consumption," says Farley. This will ultimately combat dehydration -- a major reason for your hangover. Try taking a brisk walk outside or, if you're up for it, a spin class. You'll cure your hangover and get in a workout all at once.

SEE NEXT PAGE: Hack the Fat-Burning Process

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