Did you know April has a national beer day? I was very surprised that there is a holiday to celebrate this cold drink. But then it got me thinking….alcohol is part of socializing. Typically, when people think about losing weight or achieve health they feel alcohol must be eliminated. Yes, eliminating alcohol is an easy way to reduce calories but in your life is socializing and alcohol typically in the same environment? If you hope to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle, socializing is a must! Socializing with friends and family is a great stress releaser so it can never be omitted. Instead, let’s ReTHINK the Way You DRINK!
To Drink in a Responsible & Healthy Way:
1) Log it. Utilizing a food and beverage tracker is a great way to hold you accountable in maintaining a lower caloric amount. The key is to log prior to going to the social gathering so you know exactly how many beverages you will limit yourself to.
2) Measure. A true serving size of wine is only 4oz. However, in a restaurant bar tenders typically pour 6 or 10oz. So be sure you accurately know how much you are consuming. One benefit (and I don’t find many) of beer is that it is proportioned to 1 single serving in a regular can or bottle which keeps it easy to measure.
3) Drink water before, between, and after. Alcohol dehydrates the body so water is essential. Drink water all throughout the day and take a bottle (or several) with you to a social gathering. Be sure then to drink even more as soon as you return home.
4) Sip and space. Instead of guzzling a drink, take small sips. You will enjoy the taste longer and spend more time with your friends instead of in the bathroom! In addition, drink a non-alcoholic beverage, like water, between every alcoholic one to space out the amount consumed.
5) Focus on your long term goal. It is hard to focus on the long term dream in the present moment, so wear something that will remind you of what you want to achieve in the next month or even year. For me, I wear an anchor daily to remind myself of inspiring and empowering others through my own actions.
6) Keep your environment safe. Home should be a safe environment. If drinking has occupied your time too much lately be sure your home doesn’t contain any alcohol that would trigger an urge to drink. We deal with so much pressure of non-healthy behaviors in other environments; try to keep them out of the places you spend the majority of your time.
7) Use your voice to say “no.” Do what is right for you and don’t be concerned with what others think, feel, or even say. It may be tough to say “no” in the moment but most likely no one will even remember tomorrow. The faster you can say “no” the less likely you will hesitate.
What other ideas come to mind you can do to ReTHINK the Way You Drink? Be sure to comment with them below.