Happy Independence Day weekend everyone! There are picnics and parties galore. Some people may just take this weekend and indulge in every temptation and completely go off the rails on their diet. If you are like me, you will really struggle to stay away from all of the yummy treats. It ain’t easy. I know.
If you want to give yourself a fighting chance, you need to prepare. Here are 5 tips to surviving the holiday weekend without completely blowing your hard work:
- Get your workout in
Before the day gets away from you, push play. When you start your day with a little sweat session, it is so much easier to continue on your heathy path for the day. Pick something you love and get it done before you are off and running around. If you have to wake up 30 minutes earlier, do it. You will NOT regret it.
2. Stay hydrated
Not with beer. I know it’s tempting, but don’t skip your water. Try to switch off every now and then with water if you plan on drinking a lot of alcohol. You will stay hydrated and help keep that hangover at bay the following morning. Not only that, but a lot of people mistake thirst for hunger. Keeping up with your water intake will help you stay away from the extra snacks. A good rule of thumb is to drink half of your body weight in ounces in water every day. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, you should be drinking 75 ounces of water every day.
3. Take a healthy snack
You cannot control what other people are going to have at their parties. I am sure there will be all of the picnic favorites – hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, pies, cookies, chips, etc. If you know that your hosts are likely to offer lots of these high calorie foods, plan to bring a tray of veggies or a fruit platter. You can try these fruit kabobs for a festive treat!
4. Plan ahead
You know you are going to the party. It has probably been on the plans for at least a week, right? Set yourself up for success by planning ahead. Eat a healthy breakfast, have a snack on the way, take your Shakeology to drink while you are at the party. Build the main course in as your cheat meal if you do want to have all of the goodies. That means you should be on your game all week up until the party, so this one cheat meal will not derail your progress.
5. Stay away from the food table
If the food isn’t in your general proximity, you won’t be tempted to just pick. I know if I stand around the food table, it is just bite after bite. I want to try this and that. I can’t control myself. The best way to control it is to fill your plate with lots of veggies and fruit and lean protein if at all possible and then GET AWAY. Steer clear of the empty carbs – buns, chips, sweets. If you have to, stand with your back to the table. Out of sight, out of mind.
If you can stick with these 5 tips, you can certainly come out of this holiday weekend on top. It is time to get out there and enjoy the weekend with your friends and family! Hey, you never know. Maybe you can influence someone else to hop on the healthy train!
Happy 4th of July everyone!
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