If you’re like most young adults, drinking is a definite element involved in your social life. And while there are a lot of fun aspects to drinking, there are a lot of bad things that come with it as well. You know: hangovers, mistakes, liver damage, and…(drum roll)…munchies from HELL.

For some reason, no matter how healthy I eat through out the day, everything is out the window once I’m drunk. I congratulate myself for being soooo healthy most of the time and yet I tell myself (and my friends with me) this whenever I’m wasted:

“I’m HUNGRY! I want PIZZA! Or…wings! Oh wait…a BACON CHEESEBURGER!”

This is certainly an innocent enough habit to pick up if you don’t drink regularly. However, as my college years went on, my nights of partying have become more frequent. And while I haven’t gained any weight, I’m lucky I didn’t!

Battling the urge to binge while drunk takes more self discipline than you likely can tap into while under the influence. BUT, it can be done.

Here’s how:

1. First of all, make sure you regulate your intake of water throughout the night. The more water you drink, the less drunk you’ll get. The less drunk you get, the fewer bad choices you make. Also, if you can dilute your alcohol with water, there won’t be a liquor war going down in your belly that can only be combatted with greasy food.

2. Make a pact with your girlfriends. Tell them you already feel like sh*t when you wake up from a long night of drinking and with the realization that you devoured a tub of lard doesn’t carry you any more smoothly down the hallway of morning after regrets. Promise each other that next time, you’ll help each other stop the madness.

3. Don’t keep the crap around. Sure, you’ll stumble into a fast food place while you’re drink here and there. However, if you make sure your own place is clear of the crap, that will cut down on all of the drunk feasting that takes place during those nights when you can’t find anything open or you’re drinking at home.

So buckle down and smudge out those munchies from hell! (and save your figure while you’re at it!)