Being social and sticking to your goal-oriented nutrition plan can sometimes be SO HARD.
Everyone who is trying to improve their health and fitness will at some point encounter a lot of the same road blocks and challenges, so I wanted to share a couple of my favorite ways I help myself, and my clients, to have fun while continuing to pursue a fit and healthy lifestyle.
Most times, getting together with friends isn’t necessarily centered around the healthiest foods and habits… Quite the contrary, actually!
Food and drink is at the heart of most cultures, and we celebrate by sharing delicious meals and beverages - not all of which are designed to keep you on the nutritional straight and narrow.
But staying healthy and fit does not have to mean foregoing good times with friends and family!
So what to do when you know you’ll be faced with challenging circumstances?
Here are some techniques I like to use to enjoy my time with friends while still making progress:
#1. SKIP THE ALCOHOL. Or if you just adore it, limit your intake to ONLY one. This is a foolproof way to cut calories and watch your waistline. Alcohol is a textbook example of the phrase “empty calories,” because it contains no nutritional value - it only contains calories with no added benefits beyond the buzz. A small serving of booze isn’t the end of the world, but one can so easily lead to another… Especially if your poison of choice is mixed with sugary additives, it can drive the calorie count through the roof!
Getting tipsy can also dull your senses and keep your from realizing when you’re actually satisfied or even full, and can cause you to eat way more than you might ordinarily intend to. Instead, go for a sparkling water with lime or a calorie free soda - if you’re worried about peer pressure (which I hope you’re not) ask for it in a rocks glass and nobody at the bar will even be able to tell the difference!
#2. SHARE. If you have your heart set on tasting something, whether it be an appetizer, entree, or dessert, and it isn’t something you feel great about eating the entire portion of, order it for the table - most likely, everyone you’re with will be stoked to have a bite or two!
Or you can split an indulgent entree with a friend and you’re automatically limited to a half portion without having to resist the other half - it sure makes portion control a lot easier when someone eats the rest before you can get to it!
Here’s one way I try to hold onto some balance at a restaurant: I order a healthier main course for myself plus a desired dish to share, and whenever the treat I picked for the table arrives I serve out a small amount for myself and pass it on… I try to take small bites and savor the taste - there’s usually the same amount of flavor in a small bite as a big one, right? This way I get to share a fun dish and get my treat fix without undoing my entire day!
#3. BRING SOMETHING. In the case of a potluck or dinner party, offer to contribute and bring a dish that fits YOUR goals - you can count on there being at least one choice that works for you, so you can fill up on that and be less tempted by other offerings.
If you choose a healthy dish, prepare it with love and add lots of flavor, chances are people won’t even think about the fact that it’s healthy and they’ll be excited to try what you brought - shock them with how you’ve managed to make healthy food delicious, and you’ll be improving your friends’ lives in the process! Worst case scenario, if nobody else is into such a healthy treat, you get to take home your leftovers - nice!
Yeah, I’m that person that brings salad to Thanksgiving… But you know what? I make a damn good salad and there are never any leftovers, so there!
#4. EAT BEFORE YOU EAT. This might sound counterintuitive, but I promise it’s not… Eat something before you leave the house. Trust me.
This may be the oldest trick in the book, but it works! If you eat a healthy snack or meal of your choosing before you leave, you won’t show up to a gathering ravenous and likely to lose control… Take the edge off of your hunger before you face temptation - with less room in your stomach and less desire to overeat, you’ll arrive ahead of the game!
These are some of my favorite techniques that have worked well for me and my clients, and I hope they can be helpful for you too! I like them because with a little practice, they become pretty easy to implement and can keep you enjoying your life while still on your path to reaching your health and fitness goals!
What do you do to keep the balance in your life? How do you stay healthy while still enjoying gatherings with friends and family?
Please feel free to comment, upvote, or resteem if you’d like! :)