The Boozy Problem: It's not just the calories in booze we have to worry about -- the very act of drinking slows down your body's fat-burning process.

"Your body treats alcohol like a toxin," explains board-certified weight loss physician and founder of bistroMD Dr. Caroline Cederquist, MD. And our liver is responsible for getting rid of it.

That means when we drink, our liver gets busy processing the toxin, so our body postpones other important functions -- like burning fat, explains Ethel Baumberg, co-founder of Flyaroo Fitness. The faster you drink, the more overwhelmed your liver gets, and the further its fat-burning responsibilities get pushed down on the to-do list.

The Boozy Solution: "Your liver can process approximately one drink per hour," explains Baumberg. So, to stay in sync with your fat-burning processes, wear a cute watch and keep your pace to one drink per hour. Sound a little slow? Check out this sweet hack for how to put the brakes on your drinking pace.

The Boozy Problem: It's easy to overdo it at happy hour, especially considering what we know about our overworked livers. One round turns into two turns into five, and before you know it, you've totally lost track and your diet goes out the window.

The Boozy Solution: "Ice your drinks," Cooper advises. "Most drinks, especially red wine, are served warmer than they were intended to be imbibed." Icing your drink adds hydration, coolness and enlarges the volume of your drink without upping the calorie content, she explains, meaning it will take longer to finish. "As for ice cubes in red wine, some people turn up their noses, but I do it anyway," she says. "I learned this on my honeymoon in Provence -- even the French chill their reds in the summer."

More of a cocktail gal? Another tip for slowing down your pace is to ditch the sugar. "Sugary drinks [like margaritas and daiquiris] are easier to down, and those can be a problem when you're on a roll," says Baumberg.

"Skip the mixers altogether," recommends corporate dietitian at Medifast, Alexandra Miller, RDN, LDN. Order a spirit or flavored liquor on the rocks -- one that you enjoy sipping. Not only will it curb your pace, you'll earn cred for being badass enough to drink straight liquor.

The Boozy Problem: As most of us know, alcohol dehydrates our bodies like crazy. And dehydration can wreck your weight loss plan in a number of ways. First, it's the leading cause of killer hangovers, which are the leading cause of lazing in bed all day eating fries and doughnuts. (Or is that just me?)

The Boozy Solution: Across the board our experts recommend matching a glass of water for every alcoholic beverage. "This will help you pace yourself and keep count of how much you're drinking, while staying more hydrated," says Cederquist.

Go an extra step and make it a glass of sparkling water with lime. "It still looks like an alcoholic drink, but will allow you to hydrate and limit the amount you are really drinking," says Cederquist.

Flavored sparkling water also makes the perfect zero-calorie mixer.

The Boozy Problem: More than one of us has awoken after a night of too many cocktails to find mysterious fast food remains and empty ice cream tubs littering our kitchens. According to Cooper, dehydration is to blame for this, too. "Excessive alcohol leaves some people craving more calories because they mistake thirst for hunger," she says.

Another cause of the reviled drunk-binge is the same thing that makes you call all your exes and flash the bartender: lowered inhibitions. "When you're intoxicated, you're more likely to indulge in foods that you wouldn't eat if you were sober," says Baumberg. Before you know it, you're Ubering through the Taco Bell drive-through, telling yourself, "Welp, diet starts tomorrow."

The Boozy Solution: It's important to eat a full, balanced meal before or along with your alcohol to keep your blood sugar in check, says Miller. Skipping meals to "make room" for the calories in your booze will ultimately end up backfiring.

In fact, fatty foods do the best job of slowing down alcohol absorption and staving off binges. "This doesn't mean that you should be stuffing your face with a burger and fries," Baumberg clarifies. "Look for healthy fats like salmon, avocados and nuts." With your stomach already full, you'll be less likely to gorge on unhealthy food or more drinks.

If you do get snacky throughout the night, try ordering the veggie plate. Water-laden fruits and vegetables like berries, melons, cucumbers and celery can hydrate you just as much as your glass of Pellegrino.

The Boozy Problem: You'd be horrified if you looked up the calorie counts of some cocktails. You might think there's no harm in enjoying a single margarita with dinner, but blended beverages made with sugary pre-made mix can pack up to 700 calories in a single drink.

Similarly, kicking back with a few beers or half a bottle of wine with friends seems innocent enough, but depending on the color, sugar and alcohol content, you could easily tack on an extra thousand calories to your day, thanks to booze alone.

The Boozy Solution: "Sip smart!" advises Cederquist. Try replacing sugary soda or juice with sparkling water or unsweetened iced tea as a mixer to avoid those hidden calories. Better yet, find a simple, low-calorie recipe you love, and stick to it whenever you drink. For example, consider making a wine spritzer or light mojito your signature drink. Courtesy of Cederquist, here are a few recipes to experiment with to find your go-to:

Light Wine Spritzer
1/4 cup wine
3/4 cup seltzer water

Vodka Soda
1 part vodka
2 parts soda water
Add fresh squeezed lime, lemon, grapefruit or orange for more flavor

Light Mojito
2 ounces white rum
Juice of half a lime
Mint leaves
4 ounces soda water
Drop of liquid Stevia