Weight Loss Excuse: “The weekends are too busy. I never get it right.”

Remember that 80 percent rule, I have mentioned before? Nutrition is 80 percent of the battle and if you are charging full speed ahead at 100 percent by adding in exercise too, you can afford a moderate amount of fun on the weekends. What I mean by that is, don’t go all vacation-style on the weekends, but allow yourself a cheat day or cheat meal. (Seriously, I can’t live without pizza at least once a week!)Keep the portions moderate, but dive into the BBQ and potato salad at that church picnic. Meet your friends for Happy Hour on Friday, but eat before you go and skip the bar appetizers. When you live a healthy lifestyle, you have more room for little indulgences that won’t derail your goals.

Losing weight is harder than maintaining it. Give yourself four to six weeks to reach some milestones. Take that time to really invest in a clean, healthy lifestyle – even on the weekends. This time will detox your system and make those little indulgences a lot less sticky. After that time frame, practice the 80/20 principles.

Make a deal with yourself – use those cheat meals as motivation. Monday through Friday, stick to a schedule of healthy eating. Add some workouts and make them a non-negotiable part of your day. On the weekends, choose 24 hours of “fun.” Get up on Saturday and do a killer workout after that, hit the beach, meet friends for cocktails or head to a sporting event with family. Enjoy some indulgent foods, but keep your portions moderate. Have a glass of wine with dinner. Get the mashed potatoes with your steak, but skip the bread basket. Go to brunch on Sunday morning. Eat ice cream at the playground with your kids (get the small cone!) When Sunday evening rolls around, it’s time to get back on track. Plan and prepare your meals and workouts for the week ahead.

There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Why not make “cheat days” all the more divine by making them hard-earned? Who ever thought you could cheat a little “guilt-free?” When you earn it, everything is that much sweeter.

It’s not about perfection, it’s about balance.

Dani Cee (a.k.a., Danielle C. Tworek) seeks to empower women to discover the best version of themselves through the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle and fabulous fitness wear. Dani holds a degree in Fashion Merchandising and a degree in Nutrition & Dietetics from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. She is also a NASM certified personal trainer and certified weight loss specialist. She has more than ten years of experience helping individuals reach their wellness goals not only as a writer, but also as a counselor and trainer, including time spent at Jenny Craig, USAA Corporate Wellness, Equinox Fitness Clubs and BodyLogicMD. Learn more from her expertise at www.danicee.com or contact Dani at [email protected].