Don't Make Your Weekend a Diet Buster

Pack for the road. If you know you'll be running errands all day or will need to be out of the house for most of the day, plan ahead and pack some healthy snacks and mini-meals to take along with you. Trail mix, 100-calorie snack packs, fresh fruit and bottled water are all great options to keep hunger at bay. This will make it easier for you to stick with your healthy diet and nutrition program and resist the temptation of fast-food restaurants and other unhealthy food on your travels.

Focus on the event, not the food. Special occasions, celebration dinners and other events often leave you with very few food choices. Load up on healthy foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables whenever possible, and try to eat your "real" meal before you attend the event so you can focus on the people and atmosphere rather than what's on the dinner table.

Maintain your food diary. Don't make weekends your "diet-free" days where you end up eating whatever you can find at the next event or at home. Stick with your diet plan by keeping your food journal or food log by your side so you're still tracking what you eat -- and adding up the calories at the end of the day.

Weekend events and activities can make you vulnerable to diet sabotage, but you can take control by making some conscious decisions about your food choices and making an effort to prepare healthy foods. Don't let your week of hard work go to waste with a weekend of overeating; just follow these simple guidelines so you can stick with your healthy nutrition program and look forward to weight-loss success!