> Skip to content

Article  •  18 August 2016

 

Survival guide to drinking beer

Adam MacDougall’s simple tips for healthier living.

Adam MacDougall’s 10 Minute Man promise: get fit, be healthy and live a happy life in just 10 minutes a day. As a dual-premiership and former state and national representative rugby league player, he knows what it takes to succeed. And as an MBA graduate with certification in the fields of strength and conditioning, psychology, nutrition and exercise, he’s qualified to help you map out a pathway to a happier, healthier life.

As MacDougall puts it, no matter how busy, how unfit, how old – or how lazy! – you are, you can’t go wrong when you simply do what works. And the good news is, you don’t even need to give up the beers. Straight from the pages of The 10-Minute Man, here’s MacDougall’s Survival Guide to Drinking Beer:

Beer, and alcohol in general, often gets blamed for us being overweight, but it’s really only the straw that breaks the camel’s back. It’s all the other things we do before and after we have that beer that do the real damage. The fact is that most of us sit on our arses too much, don’t exercise enough and eat crap food, yet everyone points the finger at beer, like it’s the devil. Well, it’s not. In most cases, alcohol just reinforces a lot of our already established bad habits, such as overeating greasy, crappy food (kebab shop, after the pub) and not moving enough (because you’re so hung-over the next day). It’s easy to blame someone or something, so poor old beer usually cops it, but really, having a few beers or a glass of wine is no problem if you eat well and keep active in your daily life...

5 Smart Ways to Have Your Beer and Drink It Too:

1. Start out well hydrated
If in doubt, have a glass of water before you crack that tinnie.

2. Drink a low-carb beer
There are some good ones on the market now. If spirits are more your thing, use diet soft drinks or water instead of sugary mixers.

3. Fill up on protein and fibre
Eat before you drink so you don’t overeat later when your willpower – your insulin sensitivity – is low.

4. Keep up the H2O
Aim to drink one glass of water for every alcoholic beverage so you don’t get dehydrated and mistake thirst for hunger.

5. Avoid sugary, salty snacks
Not only do they make you thirsty but they play havoc with your blood sugar levels.

 

Feature Title

The 10-Minute Man
From the author of The Man Plan, Adam MacDougall’s The 10-Minute Man is a no-BS, DIY guide to eating, working out and living smarter for everyday Aussie blokes – and all in just 10 minutes a day!
Read more

More features

See all
Recipe
Chicken supreme pizza

Make healthy pizza like a pro, with Adam MacDougall’s 10 Minute Man.

Article
Books to keep older kids busy this Easter

Easter is just around the corner, and more and more parents are opting to gift books instead of chocolate.

Article
How well do you know Formula 1?

Author and motorsport journalist Andrew van Leeuwen shares some surprising facts (and fictions) about the sport.

Article
What we'll be reading on the long weekend . . .

A long weekend means bonus reading time! Here's what the PRH team recommend picking up this easter break.

Article
Win a trip for two to Waiheke Island

Win big with the brand-new novel from the International No 1 Bestselling phenomenon and author Marian Keyes

Article
Real Readers Review: The Space Between

Find out what readers really think of Lauren Keenan's historical fiction debut The Space Between

Article
Where to start with: Māori Made Easy

Keen to start your language learning journey but don't know where to begin? Scotty Morrison's bestselling series is the resource you need!

Article
Look inside Blank Spaces

Sneak a peek into the unofficial Taylor Swift fan journal.

Article
Our Favourite Literary Relationships

From trad-romance to machine love, here's a rundown of some of our favourite romances, relationships and couplings in literature.

Article
Real Readers Review: The Book of Doors

What do fans really think of The Book of Doors?

Article
Ali Abdaal’s best tips for goal-setting in 2024

We caught up with productivity expert Ali Abdaal to get his best advice for smashing our 2024 goals, overcoming challenges and enjoying each step of the process.

Article
What you should read in February and why

Thrills, romance, fantasy and a novel collaboratively written by a collection of literary legends; check out our top reads for February!

Looking for more articles?

See all articles