Happy 4th of July... Diet??

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We all know that with holidays comes lots of eating. The 4th of July is all too often celebrated with backyard BBQ's, pot luck get-togethers, or all day food festivals. Don't let the Independence Day celebration sabotage your weight loss goals! There are ways to still enjoy the holiday festivities while keeping your calorie intake down. 

For starters, many celebrate the holidays with alcoholic beverages. Drinkers beware! These calories add up, and FAST!! Be smart with your liquids. Opt for a light beer or skinny cocktail. Here's WebMD's list of low calorie alcoholic beverages. Once you pick your drink of choice, drink slowly and alternate each alcoholic drink with a large glass of water. And most importantly, don't drink and drive! :) 

Now onto food, my favorite part! The great part of the 4th is that no matter where you are in the country, it's summer. And summer means grilling. This is your savior. Grilling is actually healthy if you do it right. Skip the BBQ sauce for starters. Pick up some chicken breasts and add a little pepper and fresh lemon and throw it on the grill. Go for an easy side like asparagus or broccoli. Chop up some garlic and toss it plus your veggies into a foil pouch and spray a little cooking oil on it and throw it on the grill. And if that's not enough for you, add some cottage cheese to the side or cut up some fresh watermelon. And wah-lah! You have a healthy and delicious meal. 

If you're going to a pot luck, here's an idea that sure to make you a star! Buy bananas, blueberries, strawberries, and wood food sticks. Cut bananas into 1in thick pieces and cut the tops off the strawberries and cut them in half. Take one stick and fill the top half of the stick with blueberries, then add a banana slice, strawberry slice, banana, strawberry. Repeat this for a total of 5 food sticks. For 6 sticks, start with a strawberry and alternate with a banana slice.

Get active on the 4th with a game of sand volleyball with your friends. Throw the football or frisbee while you wait for the food to cook. Or if you're at the pool swim laps for 20 minutes. No matter what you end up doing to celebrate your independence, you can find some fun way to get your heart rate up and sneak a cardio session into your festivities. 

In order to have permanent control over your weight, you must develop a lifetime plan, including treats, which supports you for every day, every month, and every circumstance or event.