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A wise man once asked, \u201cWhat do you like better, Christmas or wedding season?\u201d And while, OK, that man was Vince Vaughn in Wedding Crashers<\/em>, he\u2019s right about wedding season being celebration central, right up there with the grandest of annual holidays.<\/p>\n With spring in full swing \u2014 and love in the air \u2014 chances are you\u2019ll be attending a marathon of engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelorette weekends (yup, weekends<\/em>), and friends’ weddings over the next few months. Whether you\u2019re the bride, the maid of honor, or a guest, chances are these months are equal parts exciting and stressful.<\/p>\n In addition to the financial strain of wedding season, having such a jam-packed social schedule can be disastrous when it comes to your personal health and weight loss (or maintenance) goals. Here\u2019s how to keep everything in check without sacrificing any of the fun \u2014 or the open bar.<\/p>\n RELATED: <\/strong>5 Easy Tips for Healthy Travel<\/a><\/p>\n 1. Remember the goal of the weekend. 2. Choose your drinks wisely. RELATED: <\/strong>Can Wine Before Bed Really Help You Lose Weight?<\/a><\/p>\n 3. Don\u2019t drink on an empty stomach. 4. Keep drinking water! RELATED: <\/strong>The Ultimate Hangover Helper Smoothie Recipe<\/a><\/p>\n 5. Give yourself a drinking limit. RELATED: <\/strong>The Healthy Cocktail Ingredient You Need to Try<\/a><\/p>\n 6. Don\u2019t skip meals. 7. Get gummy. RELATED: <\/strong>7 Ways to Stop Unhealthy Food Cravings<\/a><\/p>\n 8. Beware of the buffet. 9. Eat what you love, ditch what you don\u2019t. RELATED: <\/strong>Are Late-Night Snacks Sabotaging Your Weight Loss?<\/a><\/p>\n 10. Offer to help. 11. Hold firm when it comes to your fitness routine. If your hungover friends give you a hard time for squeezing in a workout, don\u2019t let that derail you. \u201cExplain to them why you\u2019re making the decisions you are,\u201d says Livingston. \u201cSharing your goals is a great way to hold yourself accountable \u2014 and it might even inspire those around you.\u201d<\/p>\n12 Tips to Keep Your Friends’ Weddings in Check<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong>Yes, all these celebrations come with a hefty dose of food and beverages \u2014 but that\u2019s not the point. \u201cRemember why you\u2019re there,\u201d says <\/span>Jessica DeGore<\/a>, RD. \u201cThe event doesn\u2019t need to be a booze-fest or about eating everything in sight. You\u2019re celebrating your friend, so focus your energy on that. You won\u2019t be able to enjoy yourself if you\u2019re super stressed about what you\u2019re eating and drinking.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>\u201cThe number one item that may sabotage weight-loss goals during wedding season is alcohol,\u201d says <\/span>Kelly Hogan<\/a>, MS, RD, CDN, clinical nutrition coordinator at the Dubin Breast Center of the Tisch Cancer Institute at the Mount Sinai Hospital. \u201c<\/span>Alcohol<\/a> is the common denominator at bachelorette parties, showers, rehearsal dinners, and weddings. And those liquid calories add up quickly.\u201d Wine, champagne and a simple cocktail like a vodka and club soda have the least amount of calories, while <\/span>sugary cocktails<\/a> pack the highest caloric punch.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Alcohol should always be paired with food, whether it\u2019s a meal or a pre-party snack. Hogan recommends something with a combination of protein, fiber and healthy fats, like a slice of avocado toast and a hard-boiled egg or some plain Greek yogurt with berries, which can slow the absorption of alcohol and keep your decision making in check.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Alternating <\/span>boozy drinks<\/a> with water will slow the alcohol consumption process and keep the calories down. It\u2019ll also help keep you from getting dehydrated. \u201cWhen our schedules are thrown off, we often forget to drink an adequate amount of fluids,\u201d Hogan says. \u201cTry sipping on plain or <\/span>sparkling water with lemon or lime<\/a> in between alcoholic beverages throughout the day to stay hydrated. Those mini eight-ounce bottled waters can fit in most small handbags and are lifesavers during marathon<\/a> wedding days.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Once the alcohol starts flowing, it can be hard to make it stop \u2014 or to keep the bartender from topping off your glass of champagne again and again. \u201cIf you know you have trouble cutting yourself off after a few drinks, consider only drinking during <\/span>cocktail<\/a> hour,\u201d says <\/span>Lindsay Livingston, RD<\/a>. \u201cIf it\u2019s a cash bar, only bring enough cash for a certain amount of drinks, or pick a set number of drinks for the night and spread them out throughout the evening, drinking water in between.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>It can be tempting to forgo lunch knowing you\u2019ll have a heavy-on-the-<\/span>appetizers<\/a> dinner later that night. But be sure to eat at least a little something before the party gets going. \u201cSkipping meals can lead to overeating later,\u201d says Hogan. \u201cBring a portable snack with you so you never have to worry about going too long without meals. Women are lucky: We usually have a clutch or small purse on hand, which is perfect for stashing <\/span>a bag of nuts and dried fruit<\/a> or a Kind bar, Larabar or Picky Bar \u2014 my personal favorites.\u201d If you feel weird busting out a snack in front of the wedding party, save it for a bathroom trip or take a breather outside for a quick personal bite.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>With appetizers constantly floating around and buffet tables lining every wall, it\u2019s hard to <\/span>stop<\/em> eating at some parties. Livingston suggests stashing chewing gum in your purse to make it easier to resist snacking. \u201cHaving gum in your mouth will keep you from mindlessly grabbing and eating anything that passes by,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Buffet, loosely translated, seems to mean <\/span>load up your plate with two (or three!) of everything<\/em>. The trick to keeping your <\/span>portions<\/a> in check? \u201cChoose a small plate,\u201d says Livingston. \u201cThen, if you try something and don\u2019t like it, you don\u2019t have to finish it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>It\u2019s tempting to want to try every hors d\u2019oeuvre that passes your way on a tray. That\u2019s fine \u2014 but only finish the ones you really love. If you take a bite of a mini spanakopita that\u2019s only <\/span>meh<\/em>, don\u2019t feel like you have to polish it off. Save your next bite for the crispy crudite or <\/span>chicken skewers<\/a>. \u201cThink about what parts of the celebration you enjoy the most: drinks, dessert, late-night snacks, etc.,\u201d says Livingston. \u201cPick one or two to enjoy, but not all. If you plan to indulge in dessert at the wedding, choose a healthier cocktail and late-night snack. If you eat fairly well at the reception, enjoy a late-night treat.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>If you\u2019re attending a bridal shower, volunteer your [healthy-minded] services. \u201cOffer to bring a fruit-and-herb-infused water, or vegetable-based side dish,\u201d says DeGore. Everyone loves a pretty veggie platter or fresh fruit salad<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>You\u2019re at a weekend-long bachelorette party in Las Vegas, and the bride wants to sleep in on Sunday morning before hitting up an epic brunch buffet \u2014 but you know you\u2019ll feel better if you squeeze in a four-miler before devouring a plate of scrambled eggs. Don\u2019t be afraid to set your alarm a little earlier than the rest of the crew so you can <\/span>make your sweat session happen<\/a>. \u201cAlways pack comfortable running or walking shoes and schedule in time for a quick run or walk before the events start,\u201d says Hogan. \u201cOr look up nearby exercise studios and sign up for a class. Those early morning endorphins can help keep your energy levels up for a day \u2014 and night \u2014 of celebrating.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n