Don't be too Hard on Yourself Over the Easter Weekend

We all know how hard it is to stay on track and avoid overindulging. But it's even harder at this time of the year when the Easter Bunny has been and unloaded all those chocolate eggs, hot cross buns, and other indulgent treats. Plus, with the extra few days off, it's almost impossible to not want to go out and be social either with friends, family, or even both.

So, what do you do in this situation if you are trying to stay on track with your goals?

Me personally? I believe it's not the days in between Good Friday and Easter Sunday that count, but the days that follow from Easter Monday.

That doesn't mean you should go crazy, but it means if you want that easter egg and a few drinks, (maybe one or two more) then that's completely fine.

Maybe this is the time where you incorporate a refeed day or a diet break (more info on this in my next Again Faster blog). Because eating is such a social thing, I don't believe you should ever feel like you can't do anything. It might just mean a few compromises later on! The psychological benefits from having a short break or even having more flexibility in your regime will, in the long run, outweigh any quick fixes you are hoping to achieve by going on some crazy-restrictive diet. But I will talk about this another time.

For now, have the best Easter bank holiday break. Try and get in a long walk or two when possible, allow yourself some flexibility, and remember who won the race: it was the tortoise, right? It's about long-term lifestyle changes, not chasing quick fixes!

You good? Good!

Yusuf Paterson is our lifestyle and nutrition writer (and you may spot him working up a sweat in some of our product photography too!)

"I have been lucky enough to have been in the fitness industry for nearly 10 years now.

Before that, I did a Master's degree in exercise and sport physiology. This really helped to develop my understanding of the science behind the principles of training and nutrition.

This has allowed me to run my own business called Principal Nutrition, where one of my main goals is to help people better understand nutrition so they can achieve their goals. 

I love what I do and am blessed to be able to do this!"