One of the significant concerns people face today is staying fit while still having a social life. Whether it may be a birthday party, wedding, or a family gathering, almost every social activity today involves drinks and eating junk food. Especially with holidays around the corner, there are always circumstances that make it challenging to make healthy decisions.
As social activities revolve around drinking and eating, many people believe the best way to keep in shape is to stay secluded and avoid going out with their loved ones. But this is not the case. You don’t need to give up your social life to be healthy.
You can go out, manage your food consumption and still have fun. Incorporating a few healthy habits and hacks will allow you to stay fit while enjoying yourself. And this is exactly what we’ll cover in this article.
Below are a few tips that can come in super handy while you go out and have fun.
Cut out sugar sweetened beverages
When partying outside with friends there is a high chance that you’ll be consuming a lot of sugar sweetened beverages such as cold drinks, shakes or even alcohol.
All these beverages have a lot of empty calories with next to no nutritional value. If you want to enjoy a drink without massively affecting your diet consider adding diet soda, ice or even water to the drink. This way you can enjoy your drink, but with fewer calories.
In addition, we advise you to preplan how much quantity you’re comfortable drinking, so that you can plan it to fit within your calorie count for the day.
Keep moving
Another way to stay in shape while socializing is to incorporate movement when meeting friends. This could be when you are at the bar or in a club.
Even if you’ve never danced in your life, get onto the stage and shake a leg. Or if you’re not comfortable with dancing, make it a point to stand at your table/bar. Try walking around a bit if the weather allows, rather than just sitting at one place throughout the party. Standing burns more calories than sitting, so be as active as you can.
Buy a cardio equipment for home
You don’t need to feel guilty if you eat extra calories at a party. You can always shred them by working out.
If you don’t have time to go to a gym, you can buy a budget elliptical for your home. If you live in a small space, consider investing in an apartment treadmill. They will offer you a great cardio experience in the comfort of your home, and help you burn a ton of calories. Additionally, working out at home saves a lot of time and offers you flexibility.
Enjoy foods in moderation
Working out regularly would solve only half of the problem. You must indulge in your treats mindfully if you want to stay in shape and enjoy your social life. This involves paying close attention to your food choices not only when you go out but also when you buy or cook at home.
Make sure your diet primarily consists of fruits, whole grains, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Also include protein at each meal to help you manage your hunger better.
Practice intermittent fasting
Another way to allow yourself more flexibility with your social meals is through intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting involves you to not consume any foods for a certain period of time. However, it does not prescribe what to eat but rather when to eat.
This method can help you cut our calories as your eating window is limited. However, you can’t be consuming high calorie foods and expect it to work.
You can incorporate two intermittent fasting rules. One is the 16/8 rule: you must fast for 16 hours and eat during the 8-hour window. The second is the eat-stop-eat rule, where you have to fast for 24 hours once or twice per week without attempting to make up for the calories on other days.
Sleep properly
Sleep is another crucial element, like exercising and diet. You need 7 to 9 hours of sleep daily to keep you fresh.
You might not be able to sleep at your usual time on some nights when you’re out. But you shouldn’t make it a habit of staying up all night or sleeping just 3 to 4 hours. Attempting to make up for it later can lead to several health issues alongside decreased productivity.
Getting enough sleep also avoids terrible neurological and hormonal disturbances that result from an irregular sleep pattern.
Conclusion
Fitness should always be your top priority, no matter what you are doing and where you are. If you want to stay healthy, eat lots of protein and veggies, get enough sleep, limit your intake of sugar and alcohol, and exercise regularly.
Planning will help you avoid being caught off guard during social gatherings. It will allow you to have fun while maintaining a healthy diet, which will help you move closer to your fitness objectives.
Author Info: By healthyandkhush.com
Summary:
Healthy and Khush is a blog dedicated to sharing science-based tips and hacks that will help you lose weight and keep it off.
