If you're reading this, it's probably because you want to lose weight but are reluctant to sacrifice your social life and want to figure out a way that you can have it all.
Or maybe you were out last night and are looking for some comforting words because you feel like you have taken two steps back with your plan/programme/weightloss journey. If that's you, I hope you had a great night, were able to let loose and massively enjoyed yourself. And I hope you are not tooooo hungover 👀
Anyone who knows me, knows that I love a good time.
Let's be real, a night of drinking usually means:
🥪 A big feed beforehand for “soakage”
🍻 Copious amounts of alcohol - beer, cider, vodka, whiskey, cocktails or whatever you are feeling on the night
🍔 A takeaway after the pub/club
🥖 A greasy fry or a chicken fillet roll the morning after
📺 Couch and Netflix for the day cause your too hungover to move
🍕 A dirty takeaway for dinner because you couldn’t even think of getting up and cooking something
Not that I let it stop me, but because of that I used to actually fear having a drink at the weekend. It would mean writing off my entire weekend.
I KNEW that I would be setting myself back with my goal to lose weight too so I would be resentful and hate on myself.
I’ve been there, too many times to count if I’m honest, and finally learned that drinking is usually not the problem when it comes to weightloss - it’s your habits *around* drinking that are the issue.
You can have a few drinks, go out AND lose wight, you just need to look at and be mindful of those habits.
Here are 6 of my top tips for enjoying a night of drinking (without the guilt, shame and hate for yourself afterwards):
1. 💦 Fluids, and lots of them. Beforehand, during and the day after. My personal favs are ice cold water, Lucozade Sport and VitHit.
2.🚶🏻♀️ Get out for a walk as soon as you wake up. Don’t lie there or sit around and think about how hungover you are. Just get out and move your body. Not only will your body thank you for it, but you will feel like you have achieved something straight off the bat!
3. 🫗 Consider your options when deciding on what to drink for the night. Choose low-cal beer/cider or drinks that are lower in calories. For example, swap a vodka and coke, for a vodka soda and lime.
4. 📊 Track how much you drink, track it all. It’s ok to go over your allowance once in a while. If you have decided to drink, there is no point in beating yourself up about it. Own it. It’s helpful to be aware of how much you’re consuming, rather than blindly necking as much as you can before you’re off your chops, so that you can control it and know when to stop.
5. 🚫 Stay away from the takeaways after the pub or nightclub. It is so unnecessary. Just get yourself home safely, have a pint of water and get a good nights sleep. (Your bank account will benefit from this one too😅)
6. 🥧 Prep a good dinner the day before, for the day after. I love Shepards pie or lasagne. It keeps well in the fridge and is grrrrrreat comfort food. All you will need to do is pop it in the oven and voila! Minimal energy required. If you must order a takeaway, choose something that will nourish your body, something that you will enjoy and and something that will feel good after eating.
Finally, go easy with yourself and give yourself a break. It's good to socialise and let your proverbial hair down every now and again - you deserve it!
Is there any tips that you would add to this list? Let me know in the comment section 👇
Follow me on IG (@_shaunaclarke) for more real talk tips on things like movement, mindset, health, fitness and wellness!
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