How to Lose Weight During Happy Hour

Cut calories when you belly up to the bar.

ByABC News
February 6, 2014, 4:24 PM
In this stock photo, friends are pictured at a nightclub taking a self-portrait.
In this stock photo, friends are pictured at a nightclub taking a self-portrait.
Getty Images

Feb. 6, 2014— -- intro: If you like drinking alcohol, the easiest way to lose significant weight is to stop drinking it. Period. Beer, wine, Jello shots, they all pack on pounds and often come around with a sidekick named Nachos Grande. But, look, we know you might be partying with a choco-tini in the coming weeks. So be prepared for happy hour with these useful tips for reducing the alcohol and bar food calories while still enjoying the celebration with your friends. (That margarita could be hiding more than a good time. 6 Toxic Maragarita Secrets!)

quicklist: 1category: How to Lose Weight During Happy Hourtitle: Never go hungryurl: text: Have an apple with a slather of natural peanut butter before you head out for a drink. You'll be far less likely to reach for the fried mozzarella sticks or pigs in blankets if you've already had something filling.

quicklist: 2category: How to Lose Weight During Happy Hourtitle: Send a gifturl: text: Donate the basket of chips to the guys at the far end of the bar. If snacks are right in front of your nose, you'll automatically reach for them. And the salty stuff will make you drink faster and more. Duh! That's why the bartender put it there!

quicklist: 3category: How to Lose Weight During Happy Hourtitle: Look aroundurl: text: To avoid reaching into the bowl of beer nuts, just observe for a few minutes the characters who are reaching their grubby paws into the same bowl. Now consider that they have done so after using the toilet. (It's okay, they've washed their hands, right? Right…?) Not so hungry for those nuts anymore, are you?

quicklist: 4category: How to Lose Weight During Happy Hourtitle: Order a chaserurl: text: After every beer or cocktail, order a large glass of ice water. It will fill up your belly, calorie-free, and you'll automatically consume half the number of drinks—or fewer—than you would without the agua advantage. Plus it will help you stay hydrated.

quicklist: 5category: How to Lose Weight During Happy Hourtitle: Stay off the bar stoolurl: text: Play a game of pool. Standing burns 1.7 times more calories than sitting. And if you play pool or darts instead of sitting close to the bar, you'll slow down your rate of drinking, you'll be active, and you'll refill less frequently than if you were right next to the bartender.

quicklist: 6category: How to Lose Weight During Happy Hourtitle: Avoid drinks that come with tiny umbrellasurl: text: Tropical rum drinks and cocktails like margaritas and mojitos pack a caloric wallop thanks to the heavy-duty sugar infusion from the sweet mixers. A piña colada, for example, contains about 392 calories, versus around 145 for a beer or 95 for a vodka tonic (80 proof) made with diet tonic.

quicklist: 6category: How to Lose Weight During Happy Hourtitle: Choose drinks that come with vegetablesurl: text: Order a Bloody Mary, extra spicy, with double celery and a carrot stick. A 10-ouncer in a highball glass sports about 125 calories, but with it you're getting lycopene and fiber from the tomato juice and low-cal vegetables to munch on. Plus, the spice will cause you to sip more slowly and slightly increase your metabolism.

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