8 Helpful Tips For A Healthy Weekend

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The weekend is almost upon us. Weekends are a time to enjoy with friends and family. And that generally means eating and drinking. Just keeping it real, here. A few cocktails, maybe dinner, brunch, or a few appetizers always make for a great time. Weekends, however, can be challenging, filled with drinks, friends, family meals and overwhelming temptation. If you are trying to stay on a healthy track, weekends are the bane of your existence. But before you pack it all in and reach for the extra large pepperoni pizza, here are few simple steps I follow to stay on track and keep it healthy on the weekends.

Practice Moderation

You may be under the impression that to be healthy, you must avoid all fat, carbs and alcohol. That's not true at all. In fact, when you jump into a fad diet and cut out everything a once, you are much more likely to give up and go back to your old habits. Changes need to be small and balanced. It's okay to enjoy a glass of wine and a bowl of pasta, just don't make it a daily habit..

Curb Your Cravings

There are plenty of excellent ways to curb your cravings and avoid binging. One way of doing this is to satisfy your craving with a small amount of whatever it is you crave. Again, a small amount will usually appease you enough to not want anymore. Another way is to take a dietary supplement to help curb your appetite. You can learn more and take these to tell your body you don't need as much food. Taking a dietary supplement often means you'll eat less, and in turn feel less bloated and lethargic.

Avoid Sugar Spikes

The primary cause of gaining weight is eating the wrong foods at the wrong time. If you eat something which contains a large amount of sugar, you will feel great for the first hour, but as your body works to bring your blood sugar down you will start to feel hungry and crave more junk food much quicker. Instead, swap out the sugary cereal for a bowl of fruit and yogurt. You'll still get the sweetness you want, but it'll be in natural sugars from the fruit rather than added refined sugars.

Pack Snacks

I am known for carrying small snacks with me everywhere. If you plan on spending a lot of time out and about, pack snacks with you to keep your energy levels up throughout the day. This way you won't get to 6 pm and be so starving that you order an extra large pizza all for yourself. I like to pack almonds, dried fruits, trail mix, and protein bars to keep me satisfied between meals.

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Portion Sizes

Controlling portions isn't necessarily a problem when you make dinner at home, but when you eat out, it can be a killer. One way to help you with portion sizes is to buy smaller portions. Opting for an appetizer rather than an entree is always a good idea. Not only are the portions significantly smaller, the price is too. Hunger is sometimes about what you can see, and if you have a small pile of food on a massive plate, psychologically you may think you are eating less than you are. If eating at home, serve your meals on smaller plates and fill them to the brim, that way your brain will believe that it's full quicker.

Get Moving

Exercise not only boosts your metabolism but it also distracts your body from feeling hungry. Try to get a workout in over the weekend to keep your heart happy and your body working at its best. When you find an activity that you love, exercise becomes less of a chore and more fun.

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Home-cooked Food

Swap the take out for home-cooked meals. You can find plenty of easy recipes online to make for your family, without all the fat and grease. Making food from scratch means you can control what ingredients you feed yourself and your family.

Stay Hydrated

Water is the most vital to survival. But most of us don't drink enough of it. Try to drink regularly throughout the day to keep your body running smoothly and prevent headaches. Also if you start to feel hungry, drink some water and wait 10 minutes. If you are still hungry after that, eat, if not then you were just in need of hydration.

Make sure also to check out Healthy Eating Hacks That Work.