Picture it: You’re walking down the beach when a cold drink in hand and the sun in the face. The waves are gently rolling in, the sun is beaming down, and you feel at peace. Suddenly, a beer bottle catches your eye. Before you know it, you’re downing that pint, and before you know it, you’re feeling a bit sick. Now, imagine that scene with the beach filled with obese people. That’s not a happy thought, is it?
The good news is that it’s quite possible to lose weight and still drink beer. The bad news is that it takes a bit of work, and planning. So, before you start taking up smoking or drinking or both, make sure that you’re prepared to lose some weight. Otherwise, you could find yourself in a bit of a pickle. Here are some handy tips to help you out:
Eat Healthily
Before you begin your weight loss journey, it’s important to make sure that your nutrition is on track. You should be eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to maintain healthy blood sugar levels, prevent cravings, and stay satiated. These foods enhance the flavors of your favorite brew and prevent unwanted side effects. For optimum results, incorporate these foods into your diet as soon as possible and keep at it consistently. If you do this, you decrease the chance of habituation and addiction to drinking. You’ll find that eating the right food makes a world of difference, and not just when it comes to losing weight. It’s well known that dieting causes a decrease in mental acuity. However, a healthy diet can help reverse this effect and restore your brain’s original “smart” functionality.*
Reduce Your Stress Levels
Do you ever wake up in the morning and barely have the energy to make it through the day? Does your couch feel less comfortable than your bed? If so, you’re likely experiencing a great deal of stress, and it’s wreaking havoc on your body. While you can’t control the amount of stress in your life, you can control how you respond to it. One way is by exercising, eating healthy foods, and getting plenty of sleep. Another way is by joining a support group or talking to a professional. The stress relief that these options provide can help you establish healthier lifestyle habits and allow you to drink alcohol without the worry of ruining your health. Additionally, many people find that a nice long walk on the beach can help them relax and clear their minds. So, be sure to keep your stress levels in check and take care of your body in the process. Your mind and your body truly deserve some good health, and a healthy diet and active lifestyle are the perfect pair for accomplishing this goal.
Drink Plenty Of Water
Did you know that your body needs plenty of hydration to function at its best? You probably drink enough water each day, but hydration is essential for: maintaining a healthy weight, eliminating bloating, and inhibiting the body’s craving for foods with high fructose corn syrup and other refined sugars. So, be sure to drink at least eight glasses of water each day. This will help you stay at a healthy weight and prevent dehydration and associated health problems. Additionally, water can help to dilute the effects of any alcohol that you consume. So, by drinking adequate amounts of water, you can enjoy yourself while still keeping your health in mind. If you’re anything like me, you’ll love the freedom of being able to drink what you want without having to worry about how it affects your waistline. Thanks to water for offering this luxury!
Consume Plenty Of Vegetables
When you eat plenty of vegetables, you increase the goodness of your diet. This happens because vegetables provide the body with fiber, antioxidants, and other nutrients that are necessary for maintaining good health. When you consume these nutrients, they become part of your body instead of just passing through it. So, it’s best to eat plenty of vegetables as part of a healthy diet rather than as a temporary diet fad. Now, you might be wondering exactly what kind of vegetables you should be eating. For that matter, here are some general recommendations:* The more colorful the vegetable, the more nutrients it contains. So, it’s best to eat the rainbow. As for the type of vegetable, organic is always preferred as it reduces the pesticides and other chemicals that are harmful to the environment. But, as you lose weight, you might not want to be eating as much organic food as you used to, especially since there aren’t that many options when it comes to low-nutrition foods. At that point, you might want to go for what’s called “free-range” chickens, which are allowed to roam the outdoors and are consequently fed a diet richer in nutrients. If you really want to take it easy, you could try foraging for food in the wilderness–something that is slowly becoming a lost art.
Be Careful With The Booze
Now, this is quite a sensitive matter, especially since many people enjoy a drink now and then. But, moderation is the key here, as well as any other vice you might have. It’s well known that excessive alcohol consumption leads to weight gain, and it’s also been shown to be responsible for increased odds of heart disease, liver damage, and a whole host of other health problems. So, if you enjoy a drink, please make sure that it’s accompanied by a meal. And make sure to eat something light afterwards, as eating too much can cause serious damage. Also, try to limit yourself to a drink or two per day; more than this and you’re likely to experience some serious side effects. Now, you might be wondering what these are. Well, aside from the obvious excess weight gain and poor health outcomes, you might also experience a heightened desire to eat. This is often referred to as the “beer belly” effect, and it’s completely natural. So, while it might be tempting to reach for that drink every night, resist this temptation and try to limit yourself to just a drink or two per day, if even this is too much, then it’s best to avoid it completely. It’s really not worth risking your health for a beer or two, and this definitely goes for men, as well as women. This is a lose-lose situation when you’re not prepared for it. One thing is for sure: you’ll never be “ready” if you start now, but you can certainly prepare for it.
As you’ve likely guessed, losing weight and still being able to drink beer is easier said than done. But it’s not impossible, and it certainly isn’t an uncommon occurrence. People who are really dedicated to achieving this seemingly impossible goal keep their health in mind at all times and make sure to incorporate a lot of the advice laid out here. This is the key to staying at a healthy weight and being able to drink what you want without fear of consequence. So, good luck out there, and may your day be filled with joy and beer.