The WEEEKENDER

Wanna stay on track with your normal fitness or healthy eating routine? It's always easier for me to do that during the routined week days, but it's the unexpected weekends that get me every time! Those summer bar aqua foods call my name, baking a yummy dessert Sunday afternoon seems to always be a must and eating out either Friday or Saturday night is almost always a fun way for our family to enjoy the weekend together. NONE of these things are bad, but combining them together, and repeating it EVERY weekend may decrease your energy, confidence and focus (on your health/fitness goals) come Monday morning. Here's 5 hints I like to do that help me stay on my pathway to happiness,

1. Eat out AND enjoy it! Don't keep yourself from enjoying life just because you're on a healthy journey, remember you are also on a HAPPINESS journey, and if eating out with your family makes you happy, then go for it! You can choose lean meats (chicken or fish) for a main dish, choose a side salad with dressing on the side to start your meal so you begin to fill up on veggies, order water with lemon to refresh yourself during the meal (try and drink two+ glasses and see how you feel) and skip the brownie/cake dessert and head out to a local frozen yogurt place instead (a lot less calories and still a tasty treat!!) More on eating out to come :)

2. Plan an outdoor activity for Saturday morning- the beach, the lake, hit the bike trails, go walking with a friend, etc The more you get moving the more energy you will have to stay focused and eat healthy the rest of the weekend! Remember an object in motion STAYS in motion!!! 

3. Bring SNACKS!! Snacking throughout the day can be a great way to keep you happy and feeling great! Choose an apple, a cheese stick, a granola bar, some wheat thins, some light popcorn, some cut up fruit or veggies. Eating every two hours wards off those hunger pains, keeps your blood sugar stable so you don't crash and crave sugar and keeps your metabolism going strong! 

4. Get your hubby/roommate/friend on board to help keep you motivated! Doing this alone can be rewarding for some, and if that's you, more power to you, but if you need a buddy to keep you motivated and consistent, don't hesitate to find that companionship!

5. Don't forget to nourish your mind. Sometimes we focus so much on our bodies (toning our abs, bulking up our arms and legs) we forget the importance of quickening and enhancing our cognitive capabilities. MIND OVER MATTER can really help us accomplish our health goals. I suggest to play some brain games (can find in the App Store or in store- like brain teasers and such), working on memorizing something (pick a longer quote, or a short article or if your spiritual maybe some scriptural passage), or have an intellectual discussion with someone (pick a deep topic and see where it takes you guys). Working your brain can keep you more focused, stronger and overall more well! 

You guys we can do this! There are so many more tips/hints I have to share, just like I'm sure you have to share :) so please don't hesitate to share! I would love to hear (or read) what you guys have to say!! What are some of your weekenders?!! (You know hints that get you through the two day weekend on track!!)  

ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND!!! Ohh and if you can get LOTS of sleep (sleep does wonders for both the body and the brain!!)