7 Tips to Have a Healthier Weekend
Weekends: the time when you usually fall out of your healthy habits.
I don't know about you, but during the work week I'm pretty good at sticking with healthy habits. I meal prep, get my workouts in, and generally avoid eating out or drinking alcohol on the weeknights.
But Friday night through Sunday, something changes. Weekends mean eating out, having cocktails and skipping the gym or workout class. And when you start to stray from healthy habits, it can be a downward spiral.
I've lost 25lbs and kept it off, without giving up my social life. Here are my top tips on how to have a healthier weekend.
1. Get cocktails OR french toast (not both, sweetie). There’s nothing wrong with indulging in a little something extra on a lazy weekend morning. The key here isn’t to deprive yourself but rather to make smart choices so you treat yourself without going completely overboard. If you’d love a mimosa or Bloody Mary, have it — but then skip the carb-heavy breakfast in favor of egg whites with veggies. It's one, or the other (my vote will always be for the booze).
2. Eat before you brunch. No, you didn't read that wrong. If you are strolling into brunch at noon or 1, have a hearty serving of protein before that so you don't overeat. Try some fruit with a half-cup of Greek until you get to brunchin'.
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3. Make sure you break a sweat at least one weekend day. I make a rule for myself to workout on Saturday or Sunday. It could be a run, workout class or part of my regular workout calendar. Even if it's a hungover workout, get moving for at least 30 minutes. You'll feel super accomplished and have more energy for the rest of the day.
4. Eat healthy foods first. Weekends tend to be packed with special events like weddings, dinners with girlfriends, date nights and cocktail parties.... which means you’ll likely be presented with an array of tasty (and not-so-healthy) foods. Go in with a plan to front-load with healthier items first (think veggies, fruit, non-fried proteins) so that you start to get full. That way there will be less room for the higher calorie treats.
5. Order vodka and soda (or vodka water) instead of a vodka tonic. You already know that alcoholic drinks can be filled with empty calories, especially if you like fruity mixed cocktails. Step 1: Step away from the frozen drinks and mixed drinks with fruit. A vodka tonic isn’t a terrible choice, BUT tonic water isn’t the same thing as seltzer. Seltzer is just plain water with some bubbles added, so it’s zero calories. Tonic water contains corn syrup — along with about 120 calories per 12-ounce bottle. My personal favorite is vodka with water and lemon wedges.
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6. Go into the weekend with a plan.
Planning in advance is going to help your success rate. Take a look at your plans and make decisions on when to indulge and when you'll get a workout in. Going out to dinner with the girls on Saturday night? If you know you'll have a few cocktails, get your workout in on Saturday morning and have a healthy breakfast and lunch. Watching a football game with friends on Sunday afternoon? Skip the chips and dip and indulge in beer instead. Knowing your schedule and planning can make for a healthier weekend.
7. Prep for a healthy work week.
I always ended my weekend indulges with a meal prep session on Sunday. It's so easy for those unhealthy habits to slip back to the work week if you don't have a plan in place...which can then undo a lot of hard work in a little time. Set aside some time over the weekend to prep healthy lunches and dinners for the week ahead - you'll be thankful on Monday morning when it's one less thing to think about!
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