It's finally here, Memorial Day Weekend ... the unofficial start of summer.
It's easily one of the best times of the year, but I know you've also been working hard to make sure you look great at the pool all season long ... and Memorial Day weekend can certainly lead to you falling back into some bad habits.
I've been there myself, but what if I said you can enjoy all the food & drinks this weekend ... and still continue to make progress with your fitness goals?
Well, you can ... and today I'm going to give you 4 tips to help you do so.
Tip #1) Get Some Movement In
If you know you're going to be celebrating a little later in the day, get up early ... and get a workout in. Doesn't need to be anything specific, just do what you like to do. Lift some weights, do some cardio, get a walk in ... anything to get the body moving. I like to call this "clearing some calories" and making room for the extra food & drinks I'll be having later. This can be a huge help in keeping you on track with your fitness goals.
If you want to take this a step further, especially for a holiday like Memorial Day ... do a workout that really pushes yourself.
Remember that the true meaning of Memorial Day is to honor those who have served & lost their lives protecting our country. By pushing yourself & suffering just a bit ... you can help pay your respects to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our everyday rights.
Tip #2) Be Mindful of Your Diet Before Your Celebration
You're going to be eating & drinking a little more than usual, and that's ok ... if you plan for it. Something you can do, is make your meals leading up to your event a little smaller. Center them around protein and limit your carbs & fats just a bit ... since you'll most likely be eating more of those during your weekend celebrations.
Another key point here ... make sure you're hydrated! Drinking enough water is huge for controlling your appetite, and if you go into your Memorial Day celebration hydrated ... you'll have a much easier time not overeating.
Tip #3) If You're Drinking ... Stick with Lower Calorie Options
It's ok to have a few drinks, but you can make smarter choices that will minimize the damage to your fitness progress. Try going with clear liquors if possible, or lighter beers ... since they'll be much lower in calories. Also, if you're making a mixed drink ... try using diet sodas or lower sugar drinks to help keep the calories down.
Tip #4) Use Proper Supplementation
There's products that can be used to help you minimize the damage during holiday weekends & special events. Glucose disposal agents (also known as GDAs) can help your body use extra carbs for energy ... rather than storing them as fat. Green powders, digestive enzymes, and probiotics can also help you break down the extra food you're eating ... and prevent fat storage as well. These products can make a big difference in these situations.
One final bonus tip ... don't go crazy Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday. That can put a big dent in your progress, and make it much harder to get back into a routine once the holiday weekend is over.
You can have a good time all weekend, that's totally ok ... just be mindful of your actions & try to limit the extra indulging to just 1 or 2 days.
And, above all else ... enjoy yourself.
If you stick with these tips, you'll stay on track with your fitness goals ... and still have a great holiday weekend.
Don't forget, if you need help with a plan to get through the holiday weekend, or help with anything health & fitness related ... that's why we're here. We'll be open all weekend long, and ready to help you with whatever goals you may have. Just stop into your local supplement superstores location ... and we'll get you taken care of.
*This post was written by Andrew Lynn, who has a B.S. in Nutrition & Dietetics. He's also a N.A.S.M. Certified Personal Trainer and N.A.S.M. Certified Fitness Nutrition Specialist.
