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YahooDrinking is very common, especially in a corporate atmosphere. So, there is no need for me to avoid the fact that many of you probably drink often, and way too much. This is one reason a lot of Americans are overweight and tired.
I'm not here to lecture, but what I want to do is give you 5 steps to get out from under the boozin cruizin and towards a healthier, and more energetic lifestyle.
I get asked quite often how to handle social events where there is a lot of booze, which is one of the very clever ways to get lots of people together in one place.
Calories add up fast when we look at just the alcohol, usually 150/shot. If we add a mixer or a soda your looking at another 150, totaling around 300 in each mixed drink. Compare that to 150 calories in a regular beer (110 in a lite), and around 150 in a glass of wine.
On top of that we often make the worst food choices when we have been drinking, so many of the bar goers are looking at 5000 calories in one night our (7-10 drinks then add in 2000 calories from poor food choices on the trip home).
Don't act like it doesn't happen, we can walk into any decent sized city and see it most nights of the week, especially Friday and Saturday. And don't forget the mornings where the streets look like there was an all night free buffet, with half eaten pizza, partial sausages and vomit. You wouldn't even walk your dog in that kind of atmosphere.
Booze and fast food are one of the largest stumbling blocks to fitness success. A lot of people stay on track all week then blow it in a 6 hour binge. It is literally killing a lot of Americans who have been living like this for 20-30 years.
Take it one step at a time and you will master the art of "behaving" at boozefests.
Don't throw out the eating plan just because it's a "party."
Make sure you eat before you go. Drink a protein shake and a snack with plenty of fiber (apples or almonds) before you head to the event (unless, of course, it is a dinner). If it is dinner, just order what you would at a regular meal, protein and vegetables, and skip the dessert.
Pretend to drink if needed.
If someone orders the group a shot, pretend to drink it, and pass it off on someone else. Throwing in over your shoulder might not work as well as it did in Youngblood, but it might.
Seriously, hardcore drinking must be avoided. One binge drinking spell is really rough on your body, and besides, as long as your not blitzed you probably won't make any questionable life choices; if you need further explanation on that just watch Family Guy.
Don't add a mixer to your drinks.
Use Diet Jack, not Jack and regular Coke. This is a start, not ideal if you're pounding down 10 each night out, but hey, let's be realistic; working on booze volume takes time.
Get less drunk, which means drinking less.
There are several reasons to drink less.
- Fewer calories, again each drink averages 150 calories.
- You won't be embarrassed by something you said to a boss or colleague.
- You won't oversleep.
- You will be able to get up, grab a workout, and get to work feeling great so you can actually be productive.
I know, this is the hardest part. If you have been out of control, make sure you get professional help, and this article isn't quite enough for you. But if you are just someone who is sick of low quality sleep, and too many calories, there are some ways to fake the system.
Besides willpower, is there a way you drink less?
- Get drinks in tall glasses, not short ones.
- Don't drink from a straw.
- Drinking beer from a bottle will slow you down and fill you up
- Alternate between booze and a glass of water.
- Sip it. Limit yourself to one drink per hour.
- Do something other than drinking.
You can spend more time talking to people and learning from them than drinking. Even when you talk more and drink less half the time you can drastically reduce calories and increase experience.
Don't drink.
The last step. Not everyone will make it here and it could take some years to get here, but this should be the ultimate goal. Respectfully decline offers to drink. Order a coffee, tea or water instead. You might get razzed a few times in the beginning, but as long as you're not a jerk, most people won't care.
And face it, we all should learn how to be social without needing social lubricant.
