Can you successfully drink alcohol while on a diet?

“Put that drink down girl, you are on a diet!”, is what some people say to themselves. People always wonder can you be on a diet and consume alcohol at the same time. The answer is yes, BUT you have to drink responsibly. There are a few ways that you can be on a diet while consuming.

1. HAVE ONLY ONE TO TWO DRINKS

One thing about dieting is watching calorie intake. Some do not realize that a lot of mixed drinks contain high calories in them. Monitoring what you drink and how much calories it contains is important if you want to be successful in dieting. It is very okay to have one glass of wine once in a while throughout the day but that is about it. Do not splurge at the bar and purchase 6 drinks. Monitor your intake and limit yourself to about one to two drinks.

2. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER

Our bodies need to consume a large amount of water on a daily basis to stay hydrated. With consuming alcohol, dehydration becomes very prevalent. Do not continue to consume more alcohol thinking that it will quench your thirst because this is a common misconception. Water is the cure for dehydration and will definitely contribute to lowering that horrible hangover you might have in the morning.

3. EAT, EAT, EAT

Make sure that before, during, and after drinking you eat food. Before drinking, try to eat a balanced meal that consists of protein or fiber. Everyone knows that you set yourself up for failure drinking on an empty stomach! During, try to nibble on little foods. DO NOT “pig out”  or eat fatty foods like little appetizer meals you find on bar menus while drinking. This is not good for your stomach or diet because you are now adding on more fat that your body has to try to break down. After drinking, try to make sure the food you eat contains some sort of fiber that will get you through the night so you can wake up less hungry and hungover.

Meashel Monique (@meashelmonique)