It's officially college football season! Marshall kicks off this evening at 7pm against Miami (Ohio). Our Wilmington group of Herd fans is meeting at Buffalo Wild Wings tonight to watch so I am excited about that! I don't think this group knows how many Marshall cheers I sing in my sleep after four softball seasons of over 60+ games a piece.
GO BIG GREEN!!!
We all know with football comes tailgating, viewing parties and lots of food and drink. Here are some tips to help you stay focused on your healthiest self this Fall.
Make it a point to be active early on days you know you might be overindulging a bit. Mark it on your calendar, set it as an appointment and treat it like an important business meeting. Bosses don't cancel.
Now that you've gotten that workout in, don't use that as an excuse to go crazy. Instead, use it as motivation. Think about how hard you worked to burn off those extra calories on the treadmill this morning, and savor each and every bite you decide to put in your mouth. A lot of us have a habit of eating mindlessly, especially when there is so much going on around you. When you choose to eat, focus on your food and enjoy it so you wont feel a need to go back for round 2 after you're full.
Have a game plan. Go in with a specific plan such as, "I am going to fill up at least 2/3 of my plate with veggies and the other third with treats." or, "For each beer I drink, I will drink one glass of water." Just like players prepare for a big game, treat your tailgating or viewing party as just that, a game in which you are the star player, and have practiced and prepared for this. You know how to make the healthy choices, you just have to DO IT.
Bring your own treats. Make your own healthy creation at home, something that you really like and bring enough to share. Not only does this make you a great guest, but you know you have a healthy go-to option if all of the others are nutritionally empty. One of my favorite sides before going vegan was Skinny Ranch Dip. It's packed with protein, and pairs perfectly with veggies, chips or used as a spread!
1 tub plain, nonfat greek yogurt plus one packet of Ranch seasoning.
Make water your bestie! Make sure to hydrate before and DURING your event. And no, I'm not just talking about beer. Water is your best friend! Never go anywhere without it! Mixing in water while eating/drinking is not only better for your waistline, but better for any sort of hangover you may experience the next day. Don't learn this one the hard way people!
Are you a beer drinker? Do some research. You can Google absolutely anything these days including calorie/carbohydrate/sugar content of alcoholic drinks. Pick 5 of your favorite beers and then make a commitment to purchase the one that is the best calorie-wise. Another strategy might be to allow yourself one of your favorite higher calorie drinks with the commitment to switch over to the lighter stuff following. Here are just some of the lower calorie, lower carbohydrate options available.
If you go overboard, let it go. Maybe one hour into your party you've already screwed up on your goal. Don't go into that mindset where you say, "oh well, I already screwed up. The day is ruined, I'll just eat whatever I want now." I can't emphasize this enough, every single healthy choice you make, counts. Don't let yourself feel guilty, just accept it, move on and learn from it when you are preparing for the next big event. Don't wait til tomorrow to make better choices, do it now.
Go the extra mile during the week. If you are big football fan and planning for a long season of drinking and eating, get serious about that weekly workout plan. Make it a priority to prep meals and eat clean during the week and hopefully this will create some leeway for you to enjoy a couple beers/treats each week.
Take the focus OFF food. Enjoy your company, friends and family. Play cornhole, catch up with old friends, make new ones, get into the game. Special events should not be revolved around food. I think pretty much everyone could stand to truly live in the moment a little more, cherish the great times you are creating with loved ones and keep the focus on that!
The Fitness Pups in their game day jersies. Go Herd!!!
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