Happy Thursday! For anyone new here: this is The Skinny, where we serve up curated, need-to-know lifestyle news designed to entertain and save you time, which is everyone’s most valuable resource.

• Digesting the Skinny’s curated news = 5 minutes + more time spent on meaningful activities.

• Mindless social media scrolling = hours you’ll never get back.

What we’re covering in this week’s snackable news: 

• The flowing booze and beer (including NA) economy at sporting events (and, more Honey Deuce news)

• Quick shopping list for your much-needed new work tote

• 6 tips from a holistic nutritionist on how to actually lose weight

• The love-it-or-hate-it fall color, and how to wear it

💡Did you know: all The Skinny editions are searchable online—which means you can easily find topics/recipes/tips/food & drink discoveries that we have written about in the past. So instead of frustrating, time-wasting moments like: “Where the @#&*! did I read about those bedtime recipes? I need a good night’s sleep tonight,” you can bookmark this link for easy reference.

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Game - Set - Sip

The economics of booze & sporting events

The Skinny: A theme is emerging here: so far this year, we dove into the Derby and its iconic Mint Julep, European national drinks in honor of the EUFA Championship, and the U.S. Open Honey Deuce was featured in the Skinny Mini last week.

As for the latter, a follow-up because our readers (and the media) can’t get enough of the Honey Deuce, we’re serving up the ultimate cocktail match for this year’s U.S. Open: The Aperol Spritz vs. the Honey Deuce. Which U.S. Open drink will be this year’s champion? Please weigh in!

*Media reports are conflicting; some say 450K

Despite our love of the Aperol Spritz, we’re leaning toward the Honey Deuce thanks to the in-stand drama involving a fan who got next-level friendzoned. This hilarious clip went viral during Tiafoe’s winning match against Kovacevic and, as the U.S. Open X account notes, “This is cinema.”  

That’s right; there’s big bucks in booze and bevvies at sporting events. 

Worth noting that, at $23 each, the Honey Deuce reportedly brought in nearly $10M in 2023 during the course of the U.S. Open. 

And for a three-minute sporting event, the Derby, approximately 120,000 Mint Juleps were sold at $23 a pop. Impressive – for a one-two day affair, that’s more than a quarter of the amount of Honey Deuces sold over a full two weeks.

According to Webstaurant Store, fans drink an estimated 14.6 million beers (about 1.2 million gallons) annually at MLB stadiums (and here are the stadiums with the cheapest, and the most expensive, beers and hot dogs). 

Moving on to the NFL (with a similar list of most and least expensive stadium brews), football fans are more hard-core beer drinkers than their baseball counterparts: they drink 17,920,000 beers annually, for a total estimated revenue from beer sales of $170.6M.

NA beers are also stepping up to the plate: Corona Cero is focused on market expansion and, as part of that strategy, is the global beer sponsor of the Olympic Games. And the leader in number of NA sports sponsorships, unsurprisingly, is Athletic Brewing Co, with a total of 60 including the Seattle Mariners, the Miami Dolphins and Formula 1.

On the clock

Time for a work tote upgrade

The Skinny: Feels like everyone is almost “back to school” or “back to work” or simply not “eating nachos in our bathing suits.” First up: where is our computer and all this paperwork supposed to go since the primary carry-all for months has been a beach bag? After cleaning the chips, sand and empties out of our Sea Bags and L.L. Bean Boat and Totes, it’s clear that a new actual work bag is in order. Here, a quick mini round-up of some faves:

• Obsession is this Rebecca Minkoff Megan Tote (on sale for $164), but because choices matter, there is also a nylon version on sale for $99. They both hold EVERYTHING and feature a back slip pocket for your roller bag  

• Travel friendly Kipling medium tote ($109) 

• Finally, a best seller for $32; this is an everyday workhorse we love that gets us throughto morning yoga, work, mid-day errands, happy hour, staying too long at happy hour and almost missing our flight, andto going out again wherever we land 

• Men’s options also abound, including this fantastic Cotopaxi convertible tote/backpack or this day pack design from Colorado-based Topo Designs (also, 20% off rn)

Ask a celebrity holistic nutritionist

Really, how the eff do you lose weight?

The Skinny: To answer this once and for all, we spoke to Holistic Nutritionist Derek Johnson, of Derek Johnson Nutrition, who has worked with Chris Pratt, Katherine Schwarzenegger, Michelle Williams, Craig T. Nelson, James Franco, Vincent D’Onofrio, Chris O’Donnell, Reese Witherspoon, and also – yes, regular people. His wisdom, below. 

So, do you “cut calories” or not? 

“Cutting calories is the way to be miserable, not the way to lose weight. Beyond the hassle of calorie counting, long-term calorie restriction can bring on serious health issues, particularly with your thyroid, hormones, and insulin. Leptin, a hormone produced by fat cells, is a key player in this process. The more body fat you have, the more leptin you produce. This sounds like it would help you lose weight, but it actually does the opposite—high leptin levels can trick your body into storing fat rather than burning it, and make you feel hungry all the time.

Even if you see initial success with calorie restriction, the weight often comes back (and then some) when you return to normal eating. The truth is, your body is more complex than a simple bank account where you can ‘deposit’ exercise and ‘withdraw’ calories. And while that might work if you’re under 30, it’s not a sustainable long-term strategy.”

What’s the best plan for your body if weight loss is your goal?

“It depends. As I mentioned earlier, your body is unique, and a one-size-fits-all approach won’t lead to lasting success. What worked for me in my 20s, 30s, 40’s and now 50 (feeling great) has changed dramatically. That’s where I come in—to help you find the best path to true weight loss success. My benchmark for success? When someone can lose the weight and keep it off for over a year.”

Here are Derek’s seven proven guidelines to help you on your weight loss journey.

• Low-calorie, low-fat diets are ineffective and make you miserable. Focus on healthy fats like avocado, olive oil, pasture-raised eggs, dark chocolate (real cocoa)  

• Intermittent fasting (aka time-restricted eating): It works, but be careful not to overdo it

• Prioritize your evening fast: The most important fast is 2-3 hours before bed

• Eat real, recognizable foods: Think grass-fed beef, organic vegetables, and wild-caught fish

• Exercise regularly and prioritize quality sleep

• Practice gratitude and positivity: Make time for prayer, meditation, and relaxed breathing—they’re essential!

• Correct mouth breathing: Especially important if it happens while you sleep

Final word from Derek: consider taking the Leantide supplement that supports optimal weight management and reduced cravings. Enter promo code LEANME for 15% off until August 31st, 2024. 

If you’re not where you want to be, hiring an expert helps: Derek takes private clients to personally guide you through the process.

Says Johnson, “I’m here to encourage, educate, and help you achieve your results faster than you would alone. I am here to help.”   

Book a session with Derek

Fall fashion  

Dressing in shades of…

The Skinny: Every couple of seasons, brown becomes the new black, and we’re never sure how we feel about it. From Pantone’s website outlining this season’s fall runway color trends, we have “Raw Umber” which, like poop, is a “grounded brown emotionally connected to the earth.”

There’s also Buckthorn Brown, that’s described as “sturdy and golden” but looks rather loose and putrid. But that’s just us — we know there are brown/tan lovers out there and indulging in a brown accent piece like a jacket, boots or (if you’re really indulging) something like the LOEWE’s foldable Puzzle Tote in Warm Desert is certainly something to consider. For the best colors that go with various brown shades, Instyle has all the fit inspo, which includes a couple color combos that are making us reconsider as we type this (blue + brown, purple + brown). 

Ohm, there’s more

This week’s newsfeed

• With a month left of summer, there’s still time to invest in an inflatable pool bar (we thought this was AI-generated, but (they do exist). Per commenters: Is this the best idea ever for an “adult playground” or a hazardous/dirty “ankle pool?” Discuss.

• Sharing a series we’ve been enjoying on “Hotels that Rival Nearby National Parks,” with this edition focused on North America.

• Is eating a chunk of this, which is probably in your fridge, better than a protein bar? According to Men’s Journal, it’s also particularly suitable for athletes and here is why.

• The cost of aging well: For a mere $20K, Canyon Ranch has a new “longevity retreat” on offer. An affordable option: social sports, consistent activity, and healthy eating per the tips above!

• You can thank LORAfied for this: a tour of Trader Joe’s secret beauty dupes. Quality beauty at a fraction of the price (we have tried the sunscreen, it’s legit!).

• Clock’s ticking, but you only have until August 31 to grab these limited edition NYC prints at 20% off (use code SKINNY20).

*If you purchase something linked in The Skinny, we may get an affiliate commission—but at no additional cost to you.