There is nothing wrong with an occasional splurge but over-indulging weekend after weekend may take a toll on your diet. You might think that extra margarita or serving of cake is harmless, but overtime those extra calories can add to your waistline. Take a look at the scenarios below, which include weekend extras above and beyond your “normal” intake along with some healthy swaps.
Friday Happy Hour:
Instead Try:
2 8-ounce vodka tonic 1 8-ounce diet tonic
2 handfuls party mix ½ order shrimp cocktail
Extra calories: 552 210 calories
Saturday Shopping with Friends: Instead Try:
1 Mrs. Field’s chocolate chip cookie 1 Mrs. Field’s Nibbler
12-ounce iced mocha 12 ounce non-fat latte
Extra Calories: 377 153 calories
Sunday Baseball Game: Instead Try:
2 beers 1 light beers
Chips and dip Veggies and hummus
Extra Calories: 503 181 calories
Weekend Tally: 1432 (above your normal intake or calorie needs to maintain weight, this can lead to a ½ pound weight gain per week!)
If you weekends look similar to above, plan healthy, lower-calorie meals to balance out the extras and try to make healthy swaps when you can. This will help keep within your calorie budget and keep your weight and health in check!
Another option is to plan a small “treat” into your daily routine instead of splurging on the weekend. Being too strict on the weekdays usually leads to overdoing it on the weekends, resulting in feeling guilty and starting the whole cycle again. So, plan a 100-200 calorie “treat” into your day and stick with your healthy eating goals on the weekends!
For Information on Healthy Eating:
Please note: The information in this article is not to be followed as
medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with your physician
or primary health practitioner for information regarding your own personal
health and necessary treatments.
