How to Enjoy the weekend without Sacrificing your Health

     We've all been there.  We stay on point all week with our diet and exercise.  Then Friday hits and a friend invites you out for dinner and drinks after work.  Saturday morning rolls around and you sleep in and don't really feel like exercising yet.  You head out to go shopping or run errands and next thing you know you're grabbing Panera Bread or Sbarro pizza for lunch.  You get home, maybe squeeze in a workout, but then, Crap, it's almost dinner time and you have nothing ready to cook.  Guess we'll go out to eat, maybe catch a movie and eat some popcorn/Twizzlers.  Everyone knows that we go out to lunch after church on Sundays. Lord help us if there's a bake sale going on.  Then it's grocery shopping time.  Oh no, my football game is on, I must sit down and watch it.  Well, shoot, it's dinner time again..  guess I'll just throw a pizza in the oven.    Any of this sound familiar??  Please tell me I'm not alone?!
     The key to avoiding all these diet sabotages is to PLAN.  I'm going to provide some hopefully helpful solutions for some of these weekend flubs!

1. When going to a party or picnic- make the event about the people not the food! ...When I first heard this, it was an eye opener. Duh! Focus on your friends and family and enjoying their company. Talk and be genuinely interested in people.

2. Pre-plan. For restaurant dining, look at the menu before you go. Find a healthy option and order first. Be an example to your friends. Be careful with salads- light on cheese and dressing on the side. No croutons.. Don't be afraid to ask your server for something your way. Ask for butter and sour cream on the side. Steamed veggies are best. Look for grilled options or lean cuts of steak. Some restaurants are now providing calorie counts and nutrition facts right on the menu! Pay attention to them.

3. Stay away from the bread/chips & salsa/chips and dip or really any appetizers... They will fill you up with no little to no actual nutritional value. It's tough to resist! If others are ordering an appetizer, order a side salad so at least you have something to munch on to hopefully resist the calorie bombs!

4. When going to a party or picnic at a friend's or family's house, ask if they would like you to bring something. I always ask if I can bring some fruit or veggies. If they tell me they already have some, I know I will have at least one healthy option when I get there. Lol! You can also just show up with one of your favorite healthy party foods. No host will ever complain over extra food.

5. Pre-eat! Have a shake before you leave for the party, or an actual meal. Then you can focus on the company once you get there.

6. On the weekends, exercise first thing in the morning and make it a good one! I'm talking full on sweatfest! It's really easy to get busy and then skip your workout when you get home.

6. Lastly, Save your yellows and/or pencil in a cheat meal or drinks. Plan for your indulgence so that you don't throw in the towel after an unplanned splurge. We all like to beat ourselves up after indulging. It's silly and does more harm than the actual treat. Enjoy your cheat meal and MOVE ON! One meal is not going to undo a week's worth of hard work. Repeated indulgences will.