Chemical formula for love

Let's face it, sometimes there's nothing better at the end of a long day than a glass of wine. But sipping much more than that can wreak havoc with your shape, and not just by adding hundreds of calories to your diet. Alcohol temporarily keeps your body from burning fat.

 The reason is that your body can't store calories from alcohol for later, the way it does with food calories. So when you drink, your metabolic system must stop what it's doing (like, say, burning off calories from your last meal) to get rid of the booze.

Drinking presses 'pause' on your metabolism, shoves away the other calories, and says, 'Break me down first!'"  The result is that whatever you recently ate gets stored as fat.

What's worse: "Research has uncovered that alcohol especially decreases fat burn in the belly, "That's why you never hear about 'beer hips,' you hear about a 'beer belly.'"
What else beyond basic exercise and calorie-counting can keep happy hour from turning into a hefty hour?

 Always eat when you drink

Most cocktails are loaded with simple carbohydrates, so during a night of drinking, people end up with soaring blood sugar, followed by a 'crash' that leaves them ravenous. You can help counteract that effect by nibbling foods that provide long-lasting energy.

Know that some drinks make you hungrier than others

When it comes to waist-friendly cocktails, the simpler the drink, the better. Not only do the sweet-and-fancy ones tend to have more calories, but the added sugar can make you even hungrier: Your blood sugar skyrockets higher than it does on beer, wine, or a shot of something, making the plummet (and the resulting cravings) worse.   Even simple mixed drinks like rum-and-Cokes and screwdrivers pack extra calories because of the sugary soda and juice. So if you're going to drink, have something straight up and simple like wine or beer.  Vodka, gin, or bourbon with club soda and a twist are pretty good bets, too.

Stick to a drink or two, tops

When you down three or four drinks in one night, your body has many hundreds of alcohol calories to process before it can continue to break down food calories or stored fat. Plus, all those drinks throw your blood sugar even more out of whack so you're hungry as heck and because you're tipsy, your prefrontal cortex is misfiring and you now have zero compunction about ordering the fried mozzarella sticks with a side of ranch (and keeping them all for yourself). The extra calories alone are enough to pile on the pounds; have four drinks every Saturday night and you'll be up about 10 pounds in a year.

Beware that gnawing, starving feeling the next day

The morning after poses a new diet challenge. As if a hangover weren't punishment enough, you're fighting cravings for large amounts of cheesy, greasy fast food. Part of the problem is that you're dehydrated (don't forget, alcohol is a diuretic), and that can make you feel even hungrier. To avoid that: When you're out, drink a big glass of water for every drink you have. Then, before going to bed, have some more, along with a snack that is high in fiber and protein such as high-fiber cereal or oatmeal.  foods rich in fiber stay in the stomach longer, so you'll be less prone to hunger in the morning." With any luck, you'll also be less likely to overdo it in the a.m., ensuring your figure won't have to pay the price for a night out.