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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Schedule Smart The Boozy Problem: Making the allowance for alcohol while you're on a weight loss plan can be a slippery slope. You tell yourself you'll be able to drink in moderation or that you can stick to the recommended serving sizes. For women, that adds up to five "standard" alcoholic drinks per week. A standard drink equals 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of liquor.

But being on a diet takes work, and even sticking to recommended limits can set you off course; so, just as you've put yourself on a strict workout regimen, you need to schedule your drinking, as well.

The Boozy Solution: "You really set yourself on a path for success or failure by how you start your day or your week," says Farley. "If you start your week with cocktails on a Monday night, you are much more likely to drink more during the week than if you save your drinking for the weekend or special occasions." Similarly, if you have a mimosa with brunch, there's a higher chance you'll keep drinking over the course of the day than if you hold off until dinner.

Instead, try making Friday and Saturday evenings between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. your designated drinking times (or whatever makes sense for your work schedule). You'll be more likely to stick to such a definite plan.

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