Staying on Track: Your Guide to Having a Social Life Without Sacrificing Your Fitness Journey
How to Maintain Your Health Goals and Still Enjoy Happy Hour With Your Friends
You’re on a fitness journey, and suddenly, everyone wants to go out, have drinks, and do “all the things.” If you’re anything like me, when these social events come up, all nutrition goes out the window. At that point, I’ve already guilted myself for having too much fun, but then gave myself a little grace because I’ll just “start fresh on Monday.” Having a life while on a health and fitness journey really can be tough to balance, but not impossible to do.
So, what's the secret to success? Just a little more weekend consistency.
Think about it. During the week, you have all your meals prepped and ready to go, but when the weekend hits, you have nothing. You might be thinking that it’s just two days… But the reality is that those two days make up a little over a quarter of your entire week. So, if you fall off track every weekend because of your social calendar, your weight loss journey, and any progress you’ve made, will be impacted in the long run.
Let me be clear though—I’m not saying you can’t go out and have a good time with your friends or family. You just have to do a little more planning with your weekends to make sure you stay on track with your fitness goals. So if you’re a “weekend warrior,” let’s dive into these good habits that allow you to be the social butterfly you truly are while reaching your weight loss goals.
Let Your Social Circle Know About Your Fitness Journey
If you’re someone who wants to keep your weight loss goals private, that’s fine. But it was helpful for me to let friends and family know that I was on a health and fitness journey. Why? Because it made them more mindful of where I was in my life, mentally and physically.
If there was a family dinner or event, they made sure to have healthier options for me. If friends invited me to brunch or out for drinks, they at least made sure to choose places that had healthier menu options. My circle even made adjustments when they wanted to hang out. Yes, we’d still go out to eat, but we’d also do activities that doubled as exercise too, like walking in the park or going swimming. There’s nothing wrong with letting your social circle know about your lifestyle change. In fact, you just might inspire your inner circle to start their own fitness journeys.
Plan Your ENTIRE Week (Not Just the Weekdays)
This is the part where everyone goes wrong (myself included). If you can plan for five days out of the week, what’s two more days? The helpful part of planning the entire week is that you can plan for those “bad” meals too. If you know you’re going to a Happy Hour on Thursday, plan for it. Stick to your “no-questions-asked” meals Monday through Wednesday so you can enjoy your Happy Hour on Thursday. When Friday comes, you can get back to your regularly scheduled program.
Don’t Show Up Hungry
In most cases, when we know we’re going out for a meal, we try to “save” our appetites by eating less throughout the day. But this can actually do more harm than good. Sure, eating less during the day means fewer calories; however, depriving yourself like that can leave you so hungry that you end up overeating. A good rule of thumb to prevent that from happening is to eat a little something before you go. You can even drink a protein shake; that way you’re not going into the meal starving.
Rotate Your Alcoholic Drinks With Water
There’s nothing wrong with a good old cocktail from time to time. The only thing about alcoholic beverages is that they can throw off your progress in more ways than one. First, any form of alcohol can dehydrate your body. Second, alcohol lowers your inhibitions, causing you to choose foods you would normally avoid. With that, drink water between alcoholic drinks.
Drinking water between booze not only helps prevent hangovers, but it also helps you feel fuller, reducing the risk of overeating. This is beneficial because, in many cases, when we think we’re hungry, we’re actually thirsty. Studies have shown poor hydration is linked to individuals with a higher body mass index (BMI). So, before you “turn up” with a dry Martini, don’t forget to “turn up” a glass of water after! I promise, your body will thank you in the morning!
Remember, It’s a Cheat Meal, Not an Entire Day of Cheating
I’ll be honest—I’m guilty of this. Going overboard at a social event doesn’t mean you’ve ruined all the progress you’ve made on your weight loss journey, so don’t get discouraged if you do. But also, don’t adopt the mindset of “Well, I’ve already messed up. I might as well just waste the day away too.” Again, this is what leads to that awful “Start Fresh Monday” cycle. You’re on your weight loss journey for the long haul, and that means you’re allowed to still enjoy life and the foods you love. Acknowledge that you enjoyed the meal, it was worth it, and get back on track. Don’t beat yourself up for having a good time.
As you can see, it is possible to have a booming social life while on a health and fitness journey. Depending on your lifestyle, it may mean making adjustments to your daily routine and taking a few additional moments to properly plan your week. But it’s all worth it at the end of the day when you’re seeing the results you want while still doing the things you enjoy with the people you love.
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