We all look forward to an occasional "cheat"meal. Cheat meals are okay if you've stuck to your plan all week and have made room for that cheat meal. However, don't be surprised if you hop on the scale following a cheat meal and you're up 3-5 lbs. Yes, the scale is probably right. The good news is it's probably only temporary fluid retention caused by the extra carbohydrates, salt, or sugar intake and not fat. Don't panic! You'll be back to your pre-cheat weight in about 3 days or so.
Below are tips to help you get rid of the water weight.
1. Drink more water. The best way to get rid of water weight is to drink more water to flush out the extra salt. If you normally drink half your body weight in ounces drink more.
2. Nutrition. Resume your normal healthy nutrition plan and add water rich foods such as asparagus and cucumbers.
3. Exercise. Resume your normal workout routine (Cardio & Strength Training). There is no need for punishment workouts after a cheat meal.
4. Rest. Adequate sleep also helps to minimize water retention. Shoot for 6-8 hours each night.
Remember living a healthy lifestyle is about creating healthy habits and balance. The weekends are not an excuse to go off the rails and cheat the entire weekend. Plan a cheat meal, enjoy the meal, and back to the grind.
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