When trying to stay healthy, lose weight, get in better shape, or do whatever it is you might be trying to do, the weekends can be a challenge. For those that are super strict during the weekend, routine and good habits often fall by the wayside when Friday night hits. For me, this has definitely been true. During the week I’ll eat healthy salads, get to all my workouts, avoid drinking and desserts but by Friday, all bets are off. While it’s important to let yourself indulge occasionally, indulgence Friday-Sunday isn’t going to do you any favors. If you’re looking to make significant changes with weight, a weekend full of treats will set you back, not allowing you to see any progress despite working hard Monday-Friday.
While some of my weekends continue to be a sh*t show, I’ve learned ways to improve my weekends so they are a good balance of health, relation with a side of indulgence.
1. Cook for your friends: Instead of going out every meal, invite friends over and cook up a healthy meal. If you can’t handle the whole menu, make it a pot luck and encourage your friends to contribute healthy dishes. You’ll save money and calories and will be able to connect with your friends better than at a noisy restaurant or bar.
2. Make it a movie or game night: One night of the weekend, invite your besties over for a low key movie or game night. By staying in to hang out with friends, you’ll be more likely to get to bed at a reasonable hour and be able to wake up refreshed and ready for a workout. Maybe it’s a sign of my age but some of the most fun weekends have included a game night with a group of friends, not out drinking at a bar.
3. Schedule your workouts: Just like you would during the week, put your workout on your calendar and stick to it. For me, I find it easiest to wake up and immediately go to the gym, before the day really begins. If I get to a 10am class, I’m home and ready for whatever the day has in store by 11:30. If I save my workout for the afternoon and a Bloody Mary filled brunch comes up, you know that workout isn’t going to happen. Get up, get it over with and go on with your day.
4. Stick to your sleep schedule: As tempting as it is to sleep until noon on the weekends, it’s going to mess up the week ahead. Try to wake up at a reasonable hour, continuing your sleep trend from the weekdays, it will make for an easier Sunday night.
5. Use Sunday night wisely: And speaking of Sunday night, take advantage of the free time you have to make a plan for the week ahead. That might include grocery shopping, meal planning, scheduling out your workouts and laying around, catching up on TV. Having a stressful or busy Sunday night may get your week off to a rough start.
