Where do our goals disappear to on the weekend?

So, you have been "good" all week. You got sweaty, ate healthy and now Friday is here and you want to let loose. Happy hour is calling you and before you know it you'll be a few drinks deep feeling invincible. All of a sudden nachos appear on the table and you think " I deserve it". Sound familiar?

Well, if your will power is made of steel-good for you. But will power is over rated and after a few drinks I personally have no control over my healthy decisions anymore.

Alcohol is a diet buster. The average drink has about 120 empty calories, not to mention is full of sugar, stimulates your appetite and reduces your willpower to food. The damage done in one sitting can completely derail the hard work you put in during the week if you are not careful.

 

Sound like no fun?

Well, I guess you have to consider what you want more. Go ahead and play Russian Roulette with some drinks after work or do something else and stay on track- the choice is yours.

 

 

A night of drinking can easily add 1000+ calories to your daily intake and that raging hangover is not going to get you to the gym to burn it off the next day. The sugar in the alcohol will be deposited as fat on your body and your body will not start burning the calories from the food you consume until it's done processing the booze in your liver. So if you are trying to make changes, this is one of the easiest things you can cut out. If not, then moderation is key- the trick is defining moderation.

 

If you need to keep up with the status quo then go with a plan:

Order a water between drinks

Order a single in a tall glass

 Set a limit and stay within it

 

Or, entertain at home! This is a great way to socialize and relax with friends while allowing you to control your ingredients and your own pours.

 

Our culture justifies excessive drinking with celebrations and our over indulgence is completely out of control. I don't know about you but I hate waking up with remorse, memory loss, feeling like crap, bloated and exhausted from drinking several too many. It just isn't worth it, alcohol is a gateway drug to everything I hate. Enough is enough. Aside from the long term risks of binge drinking such as high blood pressure, stroke, brain damage, it is a fast track to obesity or weight gain.

 

So, when making your weekend plans- don't forget your goals and get out of the self sabotaging cycle!

 

It will feel great once you stop having to "start over" every Monday.

 

Weekend Survival guide

 

1. Plan activities with friends or family, something active that allows you to socialize

 and keep it moving!

 

2. Hit the gym Friday afternoon. The adrenalin rush from a good workout will help keep you in check and likely keep you from hitting the bar too early instead!

 

3. Set some weekend specific goals that are different from your weekday goals but are realistic like limiting yourself to 2 glasses of wine with dinner or 2 beers after work.

 

4. Set Monday as your progress day. Your more likely to resist temptation if you have to face the scale or take measurements Monday morning.

 

5. Don't save all your splurging for the weekend. If you are going crazy then you are probably too restrictive in your week day diets. Try some of my healthy baking to have during the week or allow some little treats so you don't feel like loosing control all at once.

 

6. Enlist some friends for support-it will be easier if your friends know what your goals are and are either joining you or supporting you.

 

 

 

It's going to be a gorgeous weekend- get outside and enjoy it!