As many of you reflect on your weekend, you are probably also reflecting on your poor dietary choices of the last 48 hours.
Of course, after any weekend looking back you could probably pick out a few choices you could have made healthier, but after homecoming, it’s hard not to think that your fitness and health goals have just been blown out of the water.
Worry not, my hungover friends — you’re fine. If you have a fitness goal in place, a workout routine established and a general understanding that you should probably take it easy for the next couple days with your calorie intake — you’re safe.
The thing with modifying your routines is that you cannot cut out all the good things. To expect yourself to stick to such a diet is no fun and no fair. You deserved every delightful choice you made this weekend. You deserved to have fun, but now your body deserves a rest.
Fill yourself with extra apples, bananas and grapes. Maybe try to hit the gym an extra time this week, or even just stay a little bit longer than normal. I promise your past weekend hasn’t killed all hope of you getting to where you want to be. You just proved to yourself that you are in fact human.
We like to have fun, and we deserve to treat ourselves (especially as stressed college students).
Letting loose is something I highly encourage after long, draining weeks — just make sure it’s in a decent moderation and not something that happens every day or to such an extreme every weekend. So here are my top tips for getting you and your body back on the right track.
1. Take an extra nap
Everyone knows whether they didn’t get the rest they needed this week. Allot an hour or two to catch some extra Zs. It will leave you feeling refreshed, revitalized and ready to take on whatever challenges the rest of the day will bring.
2. Go buy some extra fruit
Reaching for that Halloween candy your mom sent you? Take an apple instead. Your body needs some not-so-toxic foods to enter it at this point. You can thank yourself later.
3. Do an extra 30 minute workout
Sure, 30 minutes may not feel like enough to justify your last 48 hours — but, hey, it’s a start. A little extra time at the gym will certainly start to help you feel better about the extra food you ate this weekend. Don't feel too bad about the memories you made and the good times you had.
Enjoy life and all that college has to offer. Just make sure to reward your body after!
Sarah Vaughn is a junior studying education at Ohio University. What delicious food did you eat during this years homecoming celebration? Tweet your answers to Sarah using her Twitter handle @_suraaahhh.
