Night Out, Stomach In
Between watching what you eat and exercising regularly, staying in shape can feel like a full-time job—and you work hard enough to spend a night on the town at least once a week. But sometimes, letting loose can lead you to metaphorically highlight all your Excel spreadsheets and gently rest your finger on the delete button. Don’t press it! By planning ahead and keeping a few simple food rules in mind, your big birthday dinner, bachelorette party, etc., can be a smashing success without threatening all the progress you made in the office (i.e. your super-fit bod) that week. Read ahead and plan your next special occasion with no fear for your figure.
Work Hard, Play Harder
Work Hard, Play Harder
Designate some time for a thorough workout the day of ‘the big night,’ and try to do it as close as possible to the moment you depart for your dinner (or other special occasion). It’s no secret that exercise takes work—whether it’s the physical exertion itself, or mustering up the motivation to get to the gym in the first place—and a strenuous workout will remind you just how tough it can be to burn a few hundred calories. This reinforcement can make the difference between ‘yes’ and ‘no’ when the waiter asks if you’d like to see the dessert menu…especially if you’re still feeling the burn from that last round of squats. You’ll likely end up asking yourself two questions: Do I really want to erase the great work I did at the gym today? And how many more squats will it take to burn off this dessert?! #NotWorthIt
Pick Your Entrée, Then Your Outfit
Pick Your Entrée, Then Your Outfit
Before you even get ready for dinner, hop online, do a quick web search for the restaurant menu, and scope out the healthiest options for each course. Commit yourself to a few meal choices and tell yourself that you’re not going to change your mind before the plates are on the table—no matter what. Best-case scenario: Determine your entire order in advance, and don’t even open the menu when you arrive at the restaurant. Try to tune out your fellow diners’ chitchat about their fattening meal choices, too. This will ensure that you aren’t tempted by any less healthy (but, perhaps, intriguing) food options, which you already know will be more work than they’re worth.
Take the Lead at the Table
Take the Lead at the Table
Even if you’re not naturally assertive, now’s your time to shine: Make sure you’re the first among your dinner party to order your meal. Ordering first will provide a similar benefit to pre-selecting your food: You’ll commit to the healthy choices before you have a chance to be swayed by any of your friends’ fattening fare decisions. Taking the reins will also prevent you from feeling guilty and/or pressured to change your mind if you’re the only one at the table ordering the low-fat, low-carb, low-cal entrée.
Selectively Splurge at Dinner
Selectively Splurge at Dinner
The good news: You don’t have to play Health Police with every part of your meal. I’m a firm believer in allowing yourself to splurge on one item (a fresh piece of bread, a sugary cocktail, a decadent dessert…), as long as you can curtail the rest of your dining experience. After all, you deserve some fun and freedom with your food! Just decide which part of the meal you’re going to indulge in before dinner (or after perusing the menu), and commit to it. If you have trouble choosing a winner in the battle of Bread Basket vs. Dessert, go for the dessert. (Bet you didn’t think I’d say that!) The reason? Simple sequential order. If you splurge on bread at the start of the meal, you may induce the ‘well, I’ve already blown it’ state of mind and allow yourself to slip during later courses—or lose your calorie consciousness entirely. But if you hold out until dessert, then the crème brulée will feel like a truly well-earned reward. And let’s face it, a dessert is memorable, and bread….not-so-much. Not to mention, bread typically comes in unlimited quantities, so it’s easy to overdo it, whereas desserts aren’t automatically refilled. (Unless you’ve found such a restaurant—in which case, RUN.)
Sip Slim, Stay Slim
Sip Slim, Stay Slim
Among the many possible, regrettable consequences of drinking too much, forgetting (or ignoring) your usual reasons for making smart food choices takes the cake. Be sparing with alcohol. If possible, try to limit yourself to one cocktail; if not possible, drink a glass of water or club soda between each cocktail. This will prevent the full extent of that red-nosed feeling from hitting you suddenly—at which point, your diet manual may as well be burned. If you’re worried about the impression you’ll make by wandering around the party empty-handed, grab a club soda with a lime or lemon wedge (no one will know!). When it comes to skinny sippers, enjoy a glass of wine, champagne, or light beer—each under 150 calories. Alternatively, if you’re up for a low-cal cocktail, here’s the definitive recipe: one shot of clear liquor (like vodka or gin), unlimited seltzer water, and a splash of 100% juice (like cranberry or grapefruit). Have fun, stay focused, and don’t use your buzz as an excuse to stop by the pizza parlor on your way home.
Whipping up some fun drinks at home? Give my Berkshire Iced Tea, Grapefruit Fizzer, and Apple Spice-Tini recipes a try!
Night Out, Stomach In
Between watching what you eat and exercising regularly, staying in shape can feel like a full-time job—and you work hard enough to spend a night on the town at least once a week. But sometimes, letting loose can lead you to metaphorically highlight all your Excel spreadsheets and gently rest your finger on the delete button. Don’t press it! By planning ahead and keeping a few simple food rules in mind, your big birthday dinner, bachelorette party, etc., can be a smashing success without threatening all the progress you made in the office (i.e. your super-fit bod) that week. Read ahead and plan your next special occasion with no fear for your figure.
