DRINKING TOO MUCH

d food, and how much goes on ras you could live without. s will help you work out what e luxuries you can afford to ep and what you really need to back on. Cut up your credit cards so you n no longer use them. Pay the monthly minimum on all ur bills – at least. Make sure you oritise paying more on the hest-interest credit card. Once u’ve paid it off, move on to the xt worst. Make good habits automatic. nking has never been easier. eck to see if your bank has a eful mobile app. Then start to e online banking to set up direct bits to ensure your bills are ways paid automatically. When bts are cleared, transfer atever you can afford into a vings account each month. WHY IT’S UNHEALTHY Drinking over the recommended 14 units of alcohol a week on a regular basis puts you at risk of liver damage, several cancers including mouth and breast, high blood pressure, depression and memory loss. Strategies for breaking it ■■ Don’t try to go dry. If you want to reduce your intake over the long term because you tend to drink alcohol every day, it may not actually be the best idea to immediately go teetotal for January. Instead, try to have alcohol every other day or have a drink once every three days. ■■ Stick to healthy limits. That’s no more than a 175ml glass of wine or one pint of lager per day, ideally with at least two alcohol-free days per week. ■■ Reserve alcohol for meals. You’re much more likely to sip your drink slowly as an accompaniment to food. ■■ Don’t drink to get drunk. If you’re regularly drinking to escape, you need to find healthier ways to reduce stress, such as exercise, reading or taking up a new hobby. ■■ Can’t stop? Take the first step and admit you have a problem. Talk with your doctor and contact a support group like AA, or call Drinkline on 0300 123 1110 for confidential advice. ■■ Remind yourself what hunger feels like. Ignore the clock and wait until your body is actually craving food before eating. ■■ Stop eating before you’re completely full. It takes the brain 20 minutes to register we’ve had enough food, so by eating slowly and stopping early you may find you don’t need as much. ■■ Don’t eat for comfort. Eating because you’re stressed, bored, angry or sad leads to unhealthy food associations. ■■ Stop mindless munching. Ban snacks and meals in front of the TV and computer as doing so will encourage you to eat without thinking.