Dieting is a mental game as much as it is a physical game. Your stomach tells you it wants food by “feeling“ hungry. Your brain tells you it’s hungry by making you think non-stop about that large pizza you could be ordering right now.
So you made it through the sugar, carb and booze-filled holiday season, but no matter the time of year, you’ll always be faced with the dilemma of staying in and practicing Zen-like restraint, or going out with friends and risk blowing your past week of strict dieting – all for a few drinks at the bar. You want to let loose and have a good time, but you’re afraid that will completely derail your diet train.
Not so. You can be smart about it. Sometimes you need a little sanity break from all the chicken breasts and MuscleON. Here are some quick survival tips:
- Moderation: When you’re out and the party leads you to the bar, try to reduce the calorie intake by choosing mixed drinks over beer. It will give you the control over what goes in your glass as pure spirits are lower in calories. Pair them with a diet soda or low-calorie drink mix for a lower-calorie buzz.
- Move: Keep moving at the party and you’ll work that off before the night’s over. If you’re not one for dancing, at least try to stand as much as possible – you’re naturally going to want to walk around.
- If you must: Drink beer, then look online to see which beer has the best taste-to-calorie ratio.
- If It Tastes Too Good, It’s Probably Not Good For You: Just avoid the high-fat drinks like cream liqueurs or sugary, girly drinks. Of course, the thought of sipping on an appletini never crossed your mind anyway, did it? I thought not.