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

PHOTO 5/9

Fight Food With Food The Boozy Problem: More than one of us has awoken after a night of too many cocktails to find mysterious fast food remains and empty ice cream tubs littering our kitchens. According to Cooper, dehydration is to blame for this, too. "Excessive alcohol leaves some people craving more calories because they mistake thirst for hunger," she says.

Another cause of the reviled drunk-binge is the same thing that makes you call all your exes and flash the bartender: lowered inhibitions. "When you're intoxicated, you're more likely to indulge in foods that you wouldn't eat if you were sober," says Baumberg. Before you know it, you're Ubering through the Taco Bell drive-through, telling yourself, "Welp, diet starts tomorrow."

The Boozy Solution: It's important to eat a full, balanced meal before or along with your alcohol to keep your blood sugar in check, says Miller. Skipping meals to "make room" for the calories in your booze will ultimately end up backfiring.

In fact, fatty foods do the best job of slowing down alcohol absorption and staving off binges. "This doesn't mean that you should be stuffing your face with a burger and fries," Baumberg clarifies. "Look for healthy fats like salmon, avocados and nuts." With your stomach already full, you'll be less likely to gorge on unhealthy food or more drinks.

If you do get snacky throughout the night, try ordering the veggie plate. Water-laden fruits and vegetables like berries, melons, cucumbers and celery can hydrate you just as much as your glass of Pellegrino.

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