Friday night drinks, lunches, BBQs, social functions and family commitments, yes, the summer party season is almost upon us. If you want to stay on track, these tips are absolutely essential.
As the party season approaches, our calendars fill up with social events, drinks, lunches and parties. And our to-do lists get longer and longer. As a result, we can tend towards neglecting tasks that seem optional, like prioritising our health and fitness.
Don’t say sayonara to that svelte new figure this party season, read up on our top tips for maintaining your weight and keeping your health goals top of mind. Yes, party season is a time of indulgence, but that doesn’t necessarily mean eating until you fall into a food coma and totally trashing your exercise routine. You can indulge, without undoing all your good work. Let’s dive into the tips!
1. Eat the healthy stuff first
Summer salads and fresh veggies are delish. And if you fill up on those first, there will be less room for the not-so-healthy other bits. Next fill up on protein and (healthy) carbohydrates. Then finish with a bite of dessert.
2. Try a taste
There’s usually a stack of dishes at any social function, dinner party or family get-together and we often feel obliged to have some of everything to satisfy the hopeful amateur chefs around the table. Our advice is to taste everything, but don’t fill up on everything. Have a bit of everything on your plate and if you really do love a dish, just have a little more of your absolute faves.
3. Don’t over-do it on snacks
Nibbles like bread with olive oil, pretzels, nuts and chocolate will be at every function. But just because they’re there, doesn’t mean you have to eat them. Try to remember your nutrition lessons – bang for calorie buck counts big time during the party season, so save your tummy for delicious, more nourishing mains! You’ll be surprised how quickly a handful of snacks can turn into a Christmas binge. If you are going to indulge on a few fave bites, portion them out into small ramekins to avoid overindulging.
4. Calorie dump
Now this is one of our MasterFaster Fave Tricks. Because a) it works, b) it’s a little sneaky and c) it makes a HUGE difference. Calorie dumping is a way to get rid of foods that you know you will just eat because they’re there. This delightful concept involves giving high-calorie foods away to people who aren’t worried about their weight, e.g. the single blokes next door who have highly physical jobs or bring them to gatherings to share. You don’t need four boxes of shortbread in the pantry or those leftover cheese fries. Seriously – you don’t.
5. Drink smart!
Celebrations often feature fancy drinks, and fancy drinks are usually alcoholic. If you plan on drinking and being merry, be sure you stick to the guidelines of one standard drink of alcohol per day. Try to also have at least two alcohol-free days a week. Not only does too much alcohol wreak havoc on your health, but it can also curb your weight loss efforts too. If you do decide to indulge in a few wee drinkies, opt for wine or clear spirits with soda water and let everyone else indulge in those creamy cocktails and fancy punches – they’re loaded with calories.
6. Get your exercise in early
Got dinner plans or drinks after work, and have no time to exercise? Commit to waking up just that little bit earlier and get it done! Now remember a little exercise is better than nothing – a simple walk with the dog before breakfast or a light jog around the neighbourhood is absolutely fine! You don’t have to exhaust yourself in the gym to keep your weight in check during the Christmas period. So go ahead, set your alarm, and sweat out those toxins! You’ll notice the gains in your health and the losses on the scales, big time. And you’ll feel so much better enjoying a night out with friends if you’ve smashed your step goal for the day already.
7. Turn exercise into a social event
Exercise and socialising aren’t mutually exclusive. Fitness doesn’t have to be boring, and it doesn’t have to be hard. And socialising doesn’t have to involve loads of eating and drinking. Meet a friend for a walk rather than for a drink and nibbles, plan to go to a Pilates class with your sister or incorporate some active activities into your weekend lunches. (Yes, shopping counts!) All it takes is a little planning and you can enjoy the best of both worlds. And the more you get your social circle involved in your healthy lifestyle, the more likely you are to succeed (and keep it up too.)
And that’s how it’s done MasterFasters. How do you keep active and healthy over the summer party season? Got any tips we should know? Please share them in the comments!