Now, you might think that we at Vision think alcohol is the devil's water - but that's not true… we do know how to have fun… Really! But hopefully you've read all about how alcohol impacts your results in the previous article. If you're still struggling to find the courage to tell your mates you're trying to kick the tins, below are 4 easy hacks to help you reduce your alcohol intake, without feeling like you're sacrificing anything!
1. Lower alcohol content:
As addressed in the previous article, alcohol contains almost twice the calories as carbs and protein, with a total of 7 calories per gram (70 calories per standard drink), so it's the alcohol content of the drink that's going to tally up those calories. This means that it's better to go for the drinks with a lower alcohol content rather than a lower carb content - and if anyone gives you grief for drinking light beers or wine, just show them this article… you'll be the life of the party!
2. Water between drinks:
Another effective way to reduce your alcohol intake is to simply - Reduce Your Alcohol Intake… and if you just can't seem to do that, this tip is for you. Try drinking a glass of water in-between alcoholic beverages. This can keep you feeling more satisfied, reducing that irresistible thirst for another frosty or bubbly one. Give it a go!
3. Low or no sugar mixers:
A really easy way to pack on extra calories is to drink alcohol that's mixed with super sugary, syrupy drinks like Coke or Pepsi. Luckily though, it's just as easy to reduce those calories. When you replace those sugars with low or no sugar mixers, such as diet Coke, Coke Zero or soda water, you can reduce each drink's calorie count from 225 per drink down to 70!
4. Drink bottles not pints:
This is a good hack for 2 reasons. Generally, when people drink out of bottles, they drink slower, meaning they don't feel the need for another one quite as soon as if they were drinking from the tap, which then results in fewer drinks over the night. The other reason is that bottles are often coloured green or brown, and are much harder to see through than a pint glass, which means you're less likely to get asked if you want another round, and you can pace yourself over the night to reduce the total drink tally.
So, if you're not seeing the results you'd like to even though you're hitting your exercise targets and your food diary is going well (and we know you are all doing that, right?), try these simple hacks to reduce your alcohol intake each week, and watch those scales go your way!
*Disclaimer: Individual results vary based on agreed goals. Click here for details.
