Everybody’s working for the weekend! It’s a reality, not just an old Loverboy tune, it is the truth. Even when the weekend is full of activities, it’s often the only time when we can kick back, relax, and take a deep breath. The challenge is that it might also be a time when you find yourself stumbling when it comes to good-for-you eating habits.
Don’t let weekends compromise your healthy weekday fitness and nutrition habits! We all know how it goes. You make good food choices, avoid temptations, and work out every morning only to find that on Friday or Saturday night, your willpower goes out the window. Somehow you begin noshing on chicken fingers and guzzling beer then hitting snooze instead of heading out to the gym for your workout class the next morning. Sound familiar?
Remember, taking charge of your weight and health isn’t about going on diets. Rather, it’s about making lasting lifestyle changes that produce lasting success. Using these weekend eating tips will help you stay on track so that you don’t undo all of that awesome work you’ve done during the week.
The weekend sure can pose a challenge to our health and weight-loss goals. Why? Well, during the week, we tend to plan ahead and follow a schedule. We get up, eat breakfast, head to work, eat planned snacks during our breaks, enjoy lunch at the same scheduled time each day, and find ways to squeeze in a little exercise. Many of us even pack a whole day’s worth of food and do pretty well at making healthy decisions day to day.
During the weekend, it might seem that all bets are off. Without a set schedule (and more opportunities for temptation) one weekend can easily undo a whole week of healthy habits.
But weekends don’t have to be this way. In fact, weekends are a great time to practice healthy behaviors because you usually have more time to do so.
So, how do you change your unhealthy weekend habits? A good start would be to begin incorporating these healthy weekend tips so you can stay healthy-and on track!
As you incorporate these tips for weekend eating into your routine, remember to be kind to yourself. Lasting change takes time, and there are bound to be hiccups along the way. Keep your eye on long-term success by taking one step at a time.
1. Get yourself into a mindset of consistency.
It’s easy to slip into the state of mind that tells you the weekend is time to indulge. Stay on track by committing to eating the same healthy foods and portion sizes as during the week.
2. Sneak in a longer workout.
Boost calorie burn by adding 10 or 15 minutes to the weekend exercise routine. We have great classes over the weekend. Come out for our Equipment Circuit, Step & Sculpt or Spin on Sundays before Yoga!
3. Eat before events.
Enjoy a filling snack to curb appetizer grazing at parties. Give yourself lasting energy by choosing high-protein snacks that include foods such as water-packed tuna or low-fat dairy.
4. Order smart when you do eat out.
Eat lean cuts of meat, and ask for dressings or sauces on the side so you get some control over excess fat and calories. Drink more water. Avoid soda (regular and diet) entirely, and if you’re drinking alcohol consume one full glass of water between each serving of beer or wine. Stay away from mixed drinks, which are high in added sugar.
5. Plan the menu & prep for the following week.
Taking time to plan healthy recipes for the upcoming week will make you more aware of what you are (or aren’t) putting into your body over the weekend.