Maintain your Healthy Eating Habits Over Your Next Long Weekend: 3 Tips that will keep you from Faltering This Labor Day

Maybe, like me, you over did it this past Memorial Day Weekend with your choice of food and beverage consumption.  Perhaps you responded with one too many "Yes, pleases!" According to University of Georgia research, people can gain up to 7 pounds on vacation.  Typically the gains persist because we get ourselves on a path of unhealthy eating that often continues for weeks after.  But you know what?  What's done is done. 

I used to dwell on my over indulgences and found that it wasn't productive. It's tough to move forward and get back on track when I focus on "messing up".  So, don't beat yourself up.  Recognize what transpired and make a decision to get back on track; the RIGHT track!
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With the Labor Day weekend just around the corner, I encourage you to be intentional about following these 3 tips before your next long weekend:

1. Take a break from drinking. Consider enjoying a libation every other day instead of daily and limit yourself to two drinks in a session. Oh, according to British researchers you're better off drinking from a straight glass instead of a curved one! Yep, you'll drink 60 percent slower!! Who knew?!?

2. Select one day to eat BIG. Over-indulging for an entire week is tough to undo. Load up on one day, but don't binge on leftovers each day thereafter. That's when the real damage is done- when you're overeating for days at a time.

3. Jump on the scale and exercise more. Both are critical during vacation, and even better if you do them daily. University of North Carolina research suggests that tracking daily weight promotes weight loss and the adoption of weight-savvy behaviors.

As for exercise, walk or bike instead of taking a car or asking your friends and family for piggy-back rides!!! If your day excursion destination is walk-able or bike-able put on your good walking shoes and get to it!  Or strap on that bike helmet and get to peddling!! Play in the pool! Chances are you'll be heading somewhat warm. Get in the water! If you can swim, get some strokes in. If you're not a swimmer yet, start taking lessons at some point.  Until then, just move in the water! 

Sending you encouragement from The Sun Flower State!
​Allison
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