Fitness Friday: Fit tips for a healthy weekend

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Everybody’s working for the weekend! We all know how it goes. Monday through Thursday you make good food choices, avoid temptations, and work out every morning only to find that on Friday and Saturday night, your willpower goes out the window and you’re staying up later than you should while eating more and exercising less. So, how do you change your unhealthy weekend habits? Wink News Fitness Expert Mike Drumm joins us in the studio with his weekend fit tips you can start TODAY to help you stay healthy and on track over the weekend!

It’s a Lifestyle Choice

Break the on-again, off-again diet mentality and view the weekend as time for you, not a time to rebel or “cheat” on your diet and exercise plan. Remember that being at a healthy weight is about a healthy lifestyle, not just a diet and exercise plan that you can maintain Monday through Friday. Revisit your goals and recommit to making healthy and realistic choices every day that set you up for success in the long term.

EAT The Same

Eat like it’s a weekday. When you think about it, it doesn’t really make much sense to eat differently on the weekend than you do during the week. Especially if your food choices during the week keep you fueled and energized. It can be easy to skip meals on the weekend and then make up for it later by overindulging at dinner. So, make a point to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, don’t skip meals. Pack snacks for when you’re on the go, and follow a schedule just like you would during the week. Your body will thank you! During the weekend it might seem that all bets are off. Without a set schedule (and more opportunities for temptation) one weekend can easily undo a whole week of healthy habits.

Extend Your Workout

Weekends are the perfect time to squeeze in a longer workout. Go to the gym with a friend and try a new exercise class. Mixing exercise with socializing means you can spend quality time with friends and family without having to give up your fitness routine. Use the weekend to go for a longer run at a beautiful park nearby, or a walk on the beach, or a bike ride. Because most of us work indoors during the daylight hours, the weekend provides a nice opportunity to get outside, see the sun and connect with nature. Heading outside can boost your body’s production of vitamin D, plus studies show that people are happier when they spend time out in nature. So, get out there and enjoy the great outdoors!

Eat or Exercise Before

The weekends are usually a time for going out to eat with family and friends. Eating a healthy snack or sneaking in some exercise before a big restaurant meal will help keep you on the right track. You won’t order too much at the restaurant because you are starving, and your healthy lifestyle will be top of mind. Plus the added exercise will help your body burn extra calories!

SLEEP

You have to stick to your usual sleep schedule. Are you someone who has a firm bedtime during the week only to stay up late and sleep in on the weekends? Changing your sleep patterns could throw off your schedule (hard to eat breakfast when you get up at noon!), and could also interfere with weight loss. Just think of all those times you stayed up later than usual, got hungry and ended up eating something unhealthy! Late night after the party snacks can be hazardous to your waist and to your kitchen!

Schedule your Relaxation Time

Most of us are busy during the week and even our weekends seem to become non-stop errands, chores, work and travel. Don’t have a “Lazy Sunday” but be sure to schedule some downtime for at least an hour or two. Whether that’s reading a book by the pool, seeing a movie with a friend, or maybe just taking a 30-minute nap. Do something every weekend that recharges you. You’ll not only feel better, but also relieve stress, which may also help you drop a few pounds.

ALCOHOL

Practice moderation when it comes to alcohol, too. Just because you were “good” during the week doesn’t mean that it’s OK to make up for that with one night of all-out binge drinking.

PLAN next Week’s Meals

What better way to stay healthy on the weekend than by using your extra time to continue to set yourself up for success? Take Sunday afternoon or evening to plan your meals, hit the grocery store, and do some bulk cooking for the week ahead. That way, when your busy week gets even busier, you’ll already be ahead of the game and able to stay on track! After an amazing weekend, if you did indulge it is very important to get back to your regular eating and exercise schedule on Monday. To make up for the extra calories consumed during your weekend, I suggest eating a high protein, low carbohydrate dinner.

CONCLUSION

If you do fall off the wagon, you get to start Fresh on Monday!