Easter weekend often brings a lot of chocolate, quite often the cheap, sugary and processed crappy kind of chocolate.  If you’re going to have a few, pick a day to enjoy them and then get rid of them.  Don’t buy them because “they were on sale” and don’t keep any in the house.  Treats like Easter chocolates are too easy to nibble on all day long, so its best to just get rid of them.  

 

There are so many options out there nowadays and you can easily find some recipes to make your own raw chocolate, paleo treats or more nutritious dessert options that are a little more wholesome, and little less naughty.  This doesn’t mean you should have an unlimited amount, but they can be a bit better for your digestive system, your skin (hello chocolate pimple fest anyone?!), as well as the waistline.  You will probably be more satisfied with something that is a bit more wholesome, and therefore cut the sugar cravings and eat less.  Some of you may be rolling your eyes at this suggestion, however, once you clean up your diet you will soon be thinking of healthier treat ideas as well!

 

Again, having too much to drink is a common theme over long weekends.  Pick a day to enjoy a drop or two, then put it away.  Having too much alcohol for numerous days in a row will hinder your food choices and leave you feeling tired and lazy (which can easily spiral into many sedentary days in order to “recover”).   I don’t want to dwell on all the negative effects of alcohol, so let’s keep this category short and sweet.  LAY OFF THE BOOZE.  

 

With the increase in food and drink, its always a good idea to drink plenty of water.  When we are busy and distracted with friends and family, it is so easy to forget and not have ANY water, compared to your usual daily intake.  Try to have a few glasses first thing in the morning and throughout your day to help you feel a bit better, keep you feeling full for those marathon lunches, and sleep better at night.  Hydrating is a vital part of our bodily functions, all of them, so drink up!

 

Giving yourself a big break can be helpful for recovery, but only if you need it.   Part-time gym goers don’t usually need a full long weekend to “recover”… this is the worst excuse I hear (generally from people who don’t particularly love to exercise – you know who you are!).  If you train hard, and train regularly, then YES, take a break.  Otherwise, find something active to do over the long weekend and keep moving.  Most of us should keep up with our regular routine if we can.  Hit the gym during these quieter days (how good is a quiet gym?), and ask friends and family to do something active rather than just sitting and drinking.   Pair up an early morning walk, a family bike ride, or some outdoor activities to go with those big lunches.  

 

* Don’t forget that our work week can be a lot busier when there is a long weekend, trying to cram 5 days of work into 4; therefore some exercise during the long weekend is quite rewarding.  (And you won’t feel as guilty when you get back to your regular routine).

 

Shut off the alarm clock and let your body sleep.  Try not to jam pack the weekend with non-stop events and commitments.