You've worked hard all week to stick with your healthy diet and keep up with your weight-loss goals, but the weekend can mean diet sabotage for even the most committed dieter. When your weekend schedule is full of family events, entertaining guests, heading out to a sporting event or simply filling up your day with errands, you can easily fall into the habit of eating on the run and reaching for unhealthy foods.
The best way to get through your weekend without sabotaging your diet is to have a plan; if you can organize your meals and prepare your daily menu ahead of time, you are less likely to fall back on whatever food might be available on any given day. Here are some other simple ways to enjoy your weekend without sabotaging your diet:
Keep up with your exercise routine. Don't let the weekend's activities stop you from staying active and keeping up with your workouts. Even the most hectic schedule can be managed when you stick with your exercise routine; regular exercise will keep your metabolism running at peak efficiency and may even keep you motivated to stay on track with your weight-loss goals.
Enjoy healthy meals with family and friends. When you're in charge of cooking dinner or preparing lunch for friends and family members, make an effort to serve healthy and satisfying meals. You can include colorful salads, healthy soups and other diet-friendly foods on the menu so that everyone can enjoy some healthier dishes, and you can stick with your diet.Pack for the road. If you know you'll be running errands all day or will need to be out of the house for most of the day, plan ahead and pack some healthy snacks and mini-meals to take along with you. Trail mix, 100-calorie snack packs, fresh fruit and bottled water are all great options to keep hunger at bay. This will make it easier for you to stick with your healthy diet and nutrition program and resist the temptation of fast-food restaurants and other unhealthy food on your travels.
Focus on the event, not the food. Special occasions, celebration dinners and other events often leave you with very few food choices. Load up on healthy foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables whenever possible, and try to eat your "real" meal before you attend the event so you can focus on the people and atmosphere rather than what's on the dinner table.
Maintain your food diary. Don't make weekends your "diet-free" days where you end up eating whatever you can find at the next event or at home. Stick with your diet plan by keeping your food journal or food log by your side so you're still tracking what you eat -- and adding up the calories at the end of the day.
Weekend events and activities can make you vulnerable to diet sabotage, but you can take control by making some conscious decisions about your food choices and making an effort to prepare healthy foods. Don't let your week of hard work go to waste with a weekend of overeating; just follow these simple guidelines so you can stick with your healthy nutrition program and look forward to weight-loss success!