And it's a typical snag up for many people...

...so let's all be proactive here and make a list of ways to get through this holiday weekend unscathed.

I'll start:

-Let myself have ONE treat, such as a hotdog off the grill. Too much deprivation is no good.
-If I do get together with friends and drink, limit myself to 2-3 drinks during the week
-Stick to my workout routine no matter what
-Drink water, drink water, drink water
-Find something active to do at picnics and BBQ's besides gather around the food table.

Here are some of my ideas:

*Offer to be the designated driver. That way I absolutely won't drink, no matter how bad I want to, and I won't have to explain to everyone I'm not drinking cause I'm dieting.

*Eat a healthy meal at home before arriving at the event. This way I won't be hungry and blow all my calories on macaroni and potato salads.

*Spend time at the event socializing away from the food tables or maybe even being active (hiking, basketball, frisbee, chasing around the kids).

*Lots of water. Not only for diet purposes, but also just to stay hydrated in the heat.

And don't forget the sunblock. I had to miss a day of working out due to a terrible sunburn!

Given that this year's July 4 falls on a funky Wednesday, I actually had no special events that I planned to attend (either weekend before/after or day before/of) - but I will throw in my generic special events tips:

*Don't attend events famished! Have some vegetables, a whole fruit, or some protein -- that way you won't be starving during the event and risk devouring the whole table.

*Offer to bring a main/side dish - that way at least you know there's one thing that's "safe" to eat.

*Do the "plate rule" - fill up 2/3 of the plate plate with healthy veggies, and the remaining with whatever the heck you please. Helps portion control (of course, don't pile that 1/3 like a mountain )

*Eat slowly, and take a breather/short walk before going for seconds- both will help you better evaluate how hungry/full you are. Also gives you an opportunity to burn a little bit of the calories you ate.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this rule. It's easy to do and very effective and I always feel full.