Cut Back On Booze

Why you haven't done it

Because alcohol is the social lubricant that greases the good times.

In your twenties, you probably have the metabolism to burn off whatever you drink. Besides, what are you going to do with your mates if you can't drink with them? Even more importantly, how are you going to pick up?

Why do it now

Consuming over four drinks a night over a long period of time is about as healthy as having a wife that slips arsenic into your tea over the course of your marriage.

Long-term health problems include cirrhosis of the liver, alcohol-related brain damage, heart disease and depression. It also contributes less to your diet than Peter Costello does to "Question Time" these days.

"Alcohol contributes almost as many kilojoules to your diet as fat (fat = 39kJ per gram, alcohol = 29kJ per gram), however, it doesn't contribute any nutrients," says Sharon Natoli, Director of Food and Nutrition Australia. "Also, as there's no storage spot for alcohol, your body has to burn it up. While it's doing this, it stores fat."

How to go about it

Alternating alcoholic drinks with water is a trick that weight-conscious women have been employing for years.

Instead of meeting at the pub with friends, start dining out or find new hobbies to do together.

Finally, consider this advice from nutritionist Matt O'Neill: "Once you're exercising regularly and eating right, you'll find you won't feel like drinking as much. It's like a side effect of getting fit, rather than tackling the grog monster head on."