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Wellness > Health

Lose the Freshman 15: How to survive a cookout

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Picture113Who could have thought weather would be a great help in sticking to my Jump Start Diet progress? I’ve always said Boone mountain weather is bi-polar. Yesterday was proof. As you read in my last blog, the weather went from cool and pretty to torrents of rain and hail.

Well Sunday was so sunny and hot, I now have a good sunburn to show for it.  My friends and I had a great cookout in the parking lot/side lawn of their apartment complex.

At first I was nervous about it. I mean, cookouts tend to involve tons of greasy, awesome slabs of beef accompanied by greasy, yummy chips.

Plus, this cookout started at 3:30. Not quite lunch. Not quite dinner. Just an opportune time to eat for the sake of eating.

What’s a poor dieter to do?

Well first, I set up a game plan. Like almost every situation and step in this whole Jump Start dieting experience, planning has always been key.

Eat before going:

  •  Addison and I happened to have a lunch date with an older couple from our church. We filled up on delicious food (I ordered the chicken tacos, grilled and filled with veggies). This way, I wouldn’t be tempted by any deliciously greasy burgers.

Bring my own snack:

  •   Since I knew there would tons of awesome treats, I brought a couple of bags of my own Popchips to share and keep my munchies at bay (they ended up being really popular).

Stay active:

  •    While tanning or just eating can seem enticing, there is always a way to be active (read: exercise without seeming so) at outdoor events.  Four square was the game of choice this particular day, which actually can be quite heart-raising.

The cookout was a fabulous time with friends without feeling like the odd person out dieting.

How do you survive parties while being healthy? Do you set your own game plan? Share your experiences here or email me at Nikkiroberti@HerCampus.com or tweet me anytime @Nikki_Roberti. 

Nikki is a senior at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC majoring in journalism. Obsessed with all things magazines, she hopes to one day be a health editor for a publication in New York. She interned at Parents magazine through ASME and also reported on the hill in D.C. through the Scripps Howard Foundation Wire semester in Washington program. Currently, she is the Health Editor for Jaye Magazine and runs the health-meets-wedding planning blog, The Bloated Bride.