So you kept to your eating plan the whole week, only to make it to the weekend to fall back into the spiral of unhealthy eating. We’ve all been there – sticking to a diet can be tough. This is especially true on weekends when you’re either bored at home or tempted by goodies when going out. As I know I’m not alone in this struggle, below I’ve compiled a list of 6 tips to help you stick to your diet over the weekend and stay healthy – hopefully they’ll be useful to you!
Plan Ahead
Failing to plan is planning to fail. If you know you are someone who gets tempted by those cookies in the pantry or the ice cream in the freezer, then simply make sure there is nothing in the house to tempt you. Make sure your fridge is stacked with healthy options, so that you can’t reach for those forbidden items when you feel the cravings coming on.
When Going Out
If you have plans to go out over the weekends, then try to eat before going out – this will decrease the chances of you grabbing something unhealthy later. If you have plans to go to a restaurant, look at the menu beforehand and decide on a healthy option in advance – this will make you less tempted to order something that isn’t part of your eating plan.
Drink lots of Water
Whether you’re at home or out and about, always make sure to keep a trusty bottle of water with you to help you drink enough water throughout the day. If you drink lots of soda, regular or diet, try to limit the amount of soda you drink by replacing some of it with water. I’m somewhat addicted to diet Pepsi and what I’ve found works great for me is to set a rule for myself that I’m only allowed a glass of Pepsi for every 500ml water that I drink. Needless to say, this rule has also lead me to cut down on the amount of Pepsi I consume each day.
Eat the Healthy Food First
When you’re at a family dinner or event where you are presented with multiple (and possibly free) yummy food options, don’t just dive straight in and fill your plate with the first thing you see. Instead, take your time to look at all of the available options and identify the healthier items. Make sure to fill up your plate with the healthy foods first, so there is less space on your plate for the higher calorie foods. Eating the healthier items first also means you’ll feel fuller by the time you want to sample some of the unhealthier options, making you less likely to go overboard and eat too much of it.
Meal Prep for the Week Ahead
Preparing your meals for the week ahead is a great way to make you feel more motivated over the weekend and also helps you stay on track during the week. I recommend looking for healthy recipes that will keep your diet fun and interesting so that you don’t get bored by eating the same food everyday.
Go Outside
If you’re someone who tends to reach for the fridge out of boredom over the weekends, make sure you plan a fun activity outside to feel the sunshine and connect with nature. Something like an early morning hike can be a great way to start your day off right while also providing you with some exercise – make it fun by inviting friends along.
These are just some of many useful tips to help you stick to your diet over weekends. Let me know if any of these work for you or if you have any other tips! I would love to hear from you!