You know that feeling when you are at different social gatherings or BBQs and you want to eat everything in sight? Maybe you are the person who eats everything in sight and then immediately feels guilty, overly full, or sick to your stomach. Or maybe all of the above! That was totally me; I was that person! Enter all the guilt and all the stomach pains. Over time, I learned that moderation was going to be my B.F.F.
You know that saying, “You can’t have your cake and eat it too?” Today, I am here to show you how to totally have the cake AND eat it too! Here are my top tips when it comes to attending any social gathering. Since we are currently in the prime months of summer in Michigan, of course, BBQs are on my mind. However, these same tips can be applied to any party, social celebration, or holiday!
Move Your Body
Before any social event, I always make it a priority to move my body. Not only does it help me to feel better when I am eating all the goodies (I will share how I do this later), but 99.99% of the time, I know that I will not want to move my body after the social gathering. Getting exercise in before I head out is the perfect way to get those positive vibes flowing for the day and leaves me feeling less guilty because I already got my sweat on! Keep in mind exercise is not one size fits all. Move your body in a way that feels great for you! Maybe moving your body includes a nice walk outside, a bike ride, hitting the pavement for a run, heading to an exercise class, or working out at home. Your body, your movement – just make sure you move!
Stay Hydrated
Drink your water friends! An excellent rule of thumb for how much water you should consume in a day is half your body weight in ounces. For example: if you weigh 200 pounds, aim for 100 ounces of water. Now, if you are saying, “What? Yeah right Kel, this seems impossible!” Start small. My motto is, “The small steps stick!”
Staying hydrated by drinking water not only will flush out the toxins in your body every time you use the bathroom, but it helps with headaches and fatigue, aids in digestion, and so much more. If you don’t like drinking plain water, switch it up! Add in some fresh fruit like watermelon, berries, lemons, or limes. Add in cucumbers for a refreshing drink on a hot summer day.
Moderation is Your New Bestie
If you attend social gatherings and want to eat everything in sight – girl, I get it, that is me all the way. I eat what I want with moderation. Let me share my one spoonful rule: eat the foods you want, but limit the amount to ONE spoonful – and no, not one of those heaping serving spoons. This rule is how I practice moderation.
With the one spoonful rule, you can have those desired foods (for me, it’s the potato salad, macaroni and cheese, baked beans, cupcakes, and cookies). I follow my one spoonful rule, filling one plate, eating from one plate, leading with veggies first, then enjoying all the other delicious foods!
Control the Controllable
I know there is someone out there who is thinking, “What if I have no control or I want to stay on track with my nutrition, then what do I do?” This has been me at times as well, so I completely understand. Cheers to you for sticking to your plan because we all know it is NOT easy. Let’s also clap it up for the women who realize that self-control is not their strongest suit.
You already nailed the first part, which is becoming aware. Now, we must control the controllable, and you can do that by eating before the social gathering. This way you are not tempted to indulge. When I would eat prior to a social gathering, I would make sure my meal was nutrient dense, filled with protein, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates to keep my energy level high and keeping me fuller for longer.
The bottom line is summer is about having fun and enjoying these social gatherings without feeling the pressure to cave in, eat everything in sight or, on the flip side, feel pressure when you are trying to stick to your specific plan.
Have that cake if you want to, just not three slices. Move your body! Drink that water! Remember, moderation can be your bestie! But, also know that if you have a specific plan you are trying to adhere to, saying “no thank you” is also acceptable – no explanation is necessary either!
