DRINKING is so commonplace in our society that it is the one thing many struggle with as they try to lose weight.
They can cut out junk food and sodas, but when it comes to saying no to the party juice, it becomes a bit of a battle.

We know that drinking too much alcohol is detrimental to your health and your waistline, and many dietitians and personal trainers would suggest cutting it out of completely while doing any weight-loss programme.

This doesn’t mean you have to start condemning your social life to sitting at home. There is a way for you to drink socially but still maintain or lose weight.

It must be noted that drinking alcohol is not the only factor that makes your waistline expand, but every extra sip and bite counts.

What exactly is drinking in moderation?
According to Moderation Management and numerous healthy drinking resources, this means having no more than two drinks a day for a male.

For a lot of social drinkers, this is almost impossible to maintain for every occasion. That being said, there is a way to keep alcohol in your life while at the same time maintaining a healthy weight.

Calories and alcohol
Alcohol is essentially empty calories as it provides nothing nutritional that the body needs in order to function properly. It is estimated that alcohol slows down a person’s ability to burn fat by up to 36%.

While protein and carbohydrates are about four calories per gram, one gram of fat is worth nine and alcohol about seven.

This demonstrates how you’re getting your calories from alcohol as opposed to getting them from nutritious and filling meals.
Alcohol also increases the appetite. You know the feeling: You’re at a restaurant with friends, the booze is flowing and everyone’s having a great time.
You don’t remember a time in your life when food tasted that good. Your judgment is cloudy, to say the least, and suddenly you’re inhaling everything in sight regardless of whatever diet “plan” you’re supposed to be on.

This can pack in an extra 1,000 calories during dinner, not taking into account the calories from all the alcohol.
Let’s not forget how you feel the day after a night of drinking either:
You’re still dehydrated, hungry and much more likely to continue indulging. The chances that you will want to work out when you feel this way are slim, adding another con to the list.
To drink without gaining weight, you’ll have to drink in moderation

Drinking in moderation
If you still want to party, promise yourself that alongside better eating habits, you will never drink more then two days a week -- no matter what.

On the days you do drink, eat as clean as you possibly can -- no junk, no fried food and no excess sugar.
This reduces the guilt you might have had about the calories in alcohol. It takes some discipline to drink without gaining weight because, as previously mentioned, the tipsier you get, the more you want to indulge in fattening foods.

However, if you follow these guidelines, it’s almost impossible to sneak in extra calories.

It is rare that you will find a guy with a “beer belly” who, besides chugging the brews, eats perfectly healthy and works out five days a week. It’s not drinking alcohol alone that makes your waistline expand, but every extra sip and bite counts.
Remember that it’s not about getting ridiculously hammered for two days out of the week as long as you ate salads along the way. Use your judgment.

Once you are aware of how many drinks you’re having, you can decide how you’re going to distribute the calories.

The two-day rule also applies if you do not want to lose weight but simply want to maintain and/or avoid gaining.

Believe that you are allowed to be healthy, eat well and enjoy drinks socially.
There are many social drinkers out there who maintain healthy, lean physiques. For the most part, they eat moderately as well.

They know that drinking can be a fun addition to life, but it’s not something they abuse or use to excess.

Tips on drinking with moderation

Stay away from fruity juices. Have vodka with diet soda or lime instead of cranberry juice or orange juice.

Pick light beers over regular when you can.

Try waiting an hour after you get to an event before drinking.

Eat a healthy and filling meal before heading out for a night on the town.

If you get home and you feel like ravaging whatever is in your fridge, drink two mug-fulls of water, then have a snack.

Internet sources