Blame It on the Alcohol
You’re willing to work harder in the gym, do more cardio, but can’t sacrifice your weekend drinking? You’re ready to give up bread, but not that extra glass of wine? It’s hard to get the results you crave when alcohol is part of your weekly diet.
The calories add up. Even more, drinking makes you crave junk food, causes you to eat late at night, and tends to throw your sleep schedule off. All these factors and others will mess up your progress and derail your fitness goals.
So, what can you do about it?!
First, you have to find your ‘why’. Why do you want to lose weight, get fit, feel better, have more clarity and energy? These questions sound simple to answer, but you may surprise yourself when you take the time to answer them.
Once you know why you want to cut down your alcohol intake, then it’s time to put the plan in motion. In this article, we’ll share a few tips that can help you kick your alcohol intake to the curb.
4 tips to reduce your alcohol consumption
It’s not always easy cutting back on the things you enjoy. But, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. With these simple tips, you’ll be on your way to shedding pounds and seeing more consistent results in your health and physical appearance.
1. Find a balance that works for you
Drinking every night isn’t ideal when you’re trying to achieve a certain look or feel in your body. Deciding on a day and a number of drinks to have is more strategic.
When you plan it out, it’s easier to stick to. Maybe you pick one day a week to have a few beers, or one weekend night to savor a glass of wine. Creating balance in drinking and everything else in life is essential.
2. Develop a new drinking ritual
On the days you decide not to drink, create a new fun ritual to take its place. Whether it’s playing cards with your friends, shooting hoops, cheering for the 49ers, making “me time” with a cup of tea and a good book.
Or if you’re creative, use that time to draw, paint, color, write, dance, sing. Whatever it is, make it something you’ll enjoy because it will keep your mind off the glass of wine, or glass of beer.
3. Don’t keep alcohol in your house
Stopping a routine or a habit is hard to break if the thing you’re trying to avoid is inside your house. Beer in the fridge, wine on your rack, alcohol bottles in the cabinet, this can tempt you and make it hard to stick to your goals.
On the days you want to drink, run to the store to get what you want. That way there’s no temptation on the days you’re not drinking.
4. Write down all the benefits of not drinking
Make it your choice to reduce or stop drinking alcohol. Don’t view this change as a punishment or restriction. That’s not fair to you.
When you have your reasons written down, you’ll see all the ways you can benefit. And you’ll have more encouragement and motivation to go after your health and wellness goals.