4th of July is one of those holidays loaded with all kinds of delicious food and drink. Temptation is everywhere. However, if you're on a "drop poundage" plan like me, and would like to still enjoy some tasty goodies yet not damage your daily caloric count or health streak too badly, here's some things you can do:
- Make 4th of July your cheat day. That doesn't mean eat everything in sight because "you can." It means allow yourself to have a favorite or two without feeling guilty or beating yourself up. If you do end up overeating, well, let it pass. Forgive yourself, and focus forward. You might even want to journal as to what you were feeling during those barbecues. You might learn something about your eating patterns. Know that you are still lovable and still a success in your overall weight loss program.
- Want that hamburger or hot dog real bad? Go ahead. To lower the calories, nix the cheese, put minimal condiments on it, and use only half the bun. Can't bring yourself to waste the other half of the bun? Then take your hot dog or hamburger or any other hight fat, high sugar, high caloric food, cut it in half, and share it with someone else you know is dieting like yourself. Both of you can then talk about how happy you are to have been able to enjoy a "forbidden" food on a summer holiday and still feel like you're on track. (more after the jump)
- Before going to the barbecue or party, buy some drinks that do not contain artificial sweeteners or high fructose corn syrup and bring them with you. Odds are, in that cooler of iced drinks is going to be bulk buy sodas and syrupy drinks from Costco or Walmart. Some of my favorite suggestions include: Vitamin Water (in a rainbow of flavors), Fruit Water, Sweetleaf Tea (not the diet ones as those have the AS's), Fuze Teas (Other Fuze drinks are great but check the label as some have AS's too. The tea drinks do not), Whole Foods 365 brand soda (these are made with cane sugar), and Orangina.
- Go work out first thing before you go to any social event. By doing some exercise at the beginning of the day, you can burn some calories to help keep your total caloric count for the day smaller. To even help motivate you to workout a little bit harder, you might want to think about Grandma's Apple Pie or your buddy's special Firecracker Cocktail, and make an effort to burn an extra 200 calories or so during cardio to offset those "Fourth of July" calories. Plus it will make your cheat day a little more relaxing.
- Keep tabs on your booze intake. If you're going to inhale calories, it's better to chew them than swallow them. Calories from alcohol can quickly add up especially beer and those fruity chick drinks made with the dark colored liquors and fruit juices. Before you know it, 4-5 drinks could add up to over 1,000 calories. Just one Long Island Iced Tea could set you back over 700 calories because of all the different liquors in it. Oh yes! Rule of thumb for mixed drinks, keep it to one liquor and one mixer like vodka and OJ. And if you are going to drink at all, play it safe, assign a designated driver, and don't do a Lohan or Paris.
Picture credit: "sizzling patties on a grill" by megan soh
