Wedding season is in full swing and we’re sure there will still be a few more weddings to attend this year. Love it or hate it, it’s that time of year where your calendar is full of weddings. Although consuming an overall healthy diet allows some room for cheat days, attending many weddings in the space of a couple months can really shake up your routine. Weddings are all about having fun, so we want to show you that you can still do exactly that without breaking the diet!
So get ready, The Slimming Clinic have some top tips to stop you from worrying about fitting in to that tight dress this wedding season!
Before arriving
DON’T SKIP MEALS
Plan ahead. Let’s make this clear now, there is no such thing as saving calories. Doing this will only make you hungrier and most likely lead to you overdoing it with the cocktails and food.
Be smart and eat well on the wedding day and the days before. Make sure you are loading yourself with lots of veggies, lean protein, water and high fibre foods from days before to keep you satisfied. On the day of the wedding eat light and eat a snack before you head out.
If you usually allow yourself a cheeky treat on the weekend, why not enjoy it for the wedding instead. Cutting down on treats and alcohol for a few days ahead of the occasion will really help you to stick to your healthy eating pattern.
Pack a snack. Bringing along a little healthy snack like a handful of almonds or a high protein fruit and nut energy bites will keep you full for longer due to the high fibre content, making it less likely for you to over indulge when you get to the wedding brunch.
Be active. Don’t skip your daily workout just because you’re going to a wedding! Fitting in that morning activity regardless of it being a walk or fitness class will really help you burn calories throughout the whole day, keep you calm and will help you manage your choices more effectively later on in the evening. If you’re travelling, download a few home workouts that you could do in the hotel or outdoors, but most importantly don’t forget your trainers!
Cocktail hour
Pace yourself. It’s the start of the celebrations, so don’t rush into it. Decide how much you want to drink on the night and limit yourself from there after. A good rule of thumb would be having a drink per meal or per hour. Do not forget to keep drinking water.
Try starting off with a light beer or a small glass of wine (about 120 calories each). If you are having spirits, try sticking to gin or if you’re a cocktail fan, give a paelo margarita or dry martini a try.
Colour code cocktails. BEWARE of anything neon or bright! Drinks that are neon green of bright blue are filled with loads of artificial colours, flavours and sugar so try to avoid them as best you can.*
Dinner
Appetisers. Aim for the lighter options such as grilled veggies, chicken skewers and even shrimp cocktail with a bit of sauce! Try to skip anything fried or filled with cream and cheese. But if you’re feeling a bit naughty grab a couple of your favourites to stop you from feeling left out.
Decide wisely. Take a miss with the bread and butter. Try to start your meal with a salad, to stop you from filling yourself up with those buttered rolls. Also try to avoid anything cream or cheese based as these sauces will be filled with trans fats.
Portion control. Choose what you want to make room for. Whether you have already RSVPed or if it’s an open buffet try sticking to one plate, half filled with veggies and a quarter protein and quarter grains. For meat eaters, try to skip meat free options as they’re usually carb heavy and low protein. Try to base your meal with high-fibre foods to help your digestive system with all the alcohol and food you’ll be consuming.
Out of sight, out of mind. It’s hard to stop picking at food once you’ve finished. To help with this make sure you lay your napkin over your plate once you feel like you’ve had an adequate amount!
Dessert
Let them eat cake. Thankfully the slice of cake you’ll be given will probably be a small one. Take a bite to asses if its worth the calories. If it is, and you’re really eager for a slice, then don’t hesitate! If you feel full or don’t need a whole slice to satisfy your sweet tooth, then have a couple bites instead of the whole thing! Either way, enjoy it and don’t feel guilty after. You’re allowed to treat yourself!
Other sweet treats. If there’s a whole range of desserts, decide what you WANT the most and pop it on your plate. Keep your eyes pealed for mini desserts instead of big cookies and cupcakes. Filling up your plate with fresh fruit and some sweetened coffee or tea can really help curb that sweet tooth. You could also try sharing with a friend to limit your calorie intake!
So what’s the next step after indulging on all that food and drink?
Go Dance!
The festivities are continuing on the dance floor, and its time to work up a sweat by showing off those dance moves! Help burn off those sweet treats you couldn’t resist earlier by shaking your booty to your hearts content. So let down your hair and have a good time!
It’s totally OK to spoil yourself sometimes. Just remember to stay motivated and consistent with your healthy eating. It’s important to realise that you can drink and eat food you wouldn’t normally consume without having to go overboard. It’s all about moderation folks!
If you feel like you need an extra push when it comes to your weight loss journey, The Slimming Clinic have many treatments to offer including our SlimSlim Slimming Aid to help suppress appetite and hunger and our Carb Blocker which reduces the absorption of carbohydrates in the body. To find out more about what The Slimming Clinic can offer you, call 0800 917 9334 or click here to visit our website.