Sunday was the 4th of July and there were picnics and cook-outs to celebrate our nations inception and the declaration of our independence. As you may be celebrating your independence from 5, 10, 15 or more lbs. it may seem like these gatherings are intentionally designed to derail you in your quest to eat healthy. So what can you do when Monday morning (or in this case Tuesday because of the long weekend) rolls around and you feel you've over indulged?
First...don't panic! One errant weekend doesn't undo all of your hard work. Being aware of some important facts and being determined to change your lifestyle, not just your appearance can give you all the tools you need to deal with the situation and have you feeling refreshed and recharged and ready for a renewed commitment to eating for a healthy life.
Second - There is nothing wrong with indulging every now and then! We all want to enjoy life and what it has to offer. While I have made the decision that I am using food as fuel for my body let's face it....some fuel tastes REALLY GOOD! The trick is to sample rather than devour and to drink water as you eat. Have a bite of ANYTHING, two if it's really good! This will satisfy your curiosity, and in most cases is enough to quell any craving that might have seized you. The water will help your body to keep your digestive system active. Unless your diet requires special considerations don't even bother with the labels on these days.
Third - Don't sweat the scale for at least a week! Your scale may show a sudden increase in weight of 2-3lbs. Relax! Those "overnight" pounds are likely due to an increase in your Sodium causing you to retain water. When we snack on chips, and soda, enjoy a hot dog or some potato salad from the local deli we are at the mercy of the packagers. Often the "Low-Fat" versions of these foods have additional sodium sort of making up for the missing fat in the flavor department.
