Holidays are an excuse to eat your face off.

No they are not. You do not have an excuse to eat your face off unless you're sitting at your last meal on death row. Even then...not really necessary. This holiday weekend is a test for anyone trying to be good. Alcohol, hot dogs, hamburgers, salads, ice cream. All things we love in America. All things that are bad for us. But maybe..there's HOPE!
1. If you're eating a hamburger: A. No cheese B. No bun C. No fun. Sorry. That's the reality. You can always add avocado and tomatoes to the burger along with spices. Try Old Bay. This West coast gal did not grow up on this lovely mixture but now that I am dating a kid from the Eastern Shore  of MD, I have no choice but to include Old Bay in every meal.

2. If you want to relive college this weekend: Drink LIGHT beers. Yes. I said it. I already told you about Skinny Girl Margaritas but Coors, Miller, Becks, and any other light are usually 1 point per 12 oz (which is generally a can). MOST of these beers are under 10 g of Carbs per can but it's always important to check the label before you start your marathon. Cooking Light has a great little article about light beers and which are the best! Check it out and you might try something new!

3. If you are drinking always remember: 1. You don't have to eat while you are drinking. In fact, it's always the beer that makes you gain weight, it's all the shit you eat while you're drinking. Think back to your latest Happy Hour. Besides your drink, what else was on your table? Nachos? Sliders? Something that died and is now fried? 2. Moderation is always important for both yourself and your friends. No one likes the drunken asshole. It's NOT A RACE...it's a marathon.

Above all else, enjoy your weekend. The Fourth is about the independence of our great nation. The freedoms we enjoy. This is Amerikah so go out and celebrate!

GREAT NEWS.

I DID NOT GAIN WEIGHT ON VACATION! And I ate everything. BBQ, biscuits and gravy, ice cream, pizza, sweets, alcohol (not a lot but the good kinds with a lot of points). But here's the key, we walked everywhere. We rarely took the car if we were within 2 miles. We walked everywhere because it was beautiful outside. This is true of European lifestyle as well. They walk everywhere because they can. Guess what? I live in a "city" with everything within walking distance minus my gym. I have a grocery store, coffee shops, and salon. I am committed to walking where I can walk. I did this in France and I lost 45 pounds. I can even WALK TO MY BOYFRIEND'S HOUSE! No need to drive my car. Plus I'll save gas!
Nashville Walking Shoes

That GOOD alcohol I was talking about. Yazoo Brewery. So good. So deadly.

The greatest thing about getting out there and walking is sometimes you find things you never expected. I remember when I would walk to school, I would always find something different about Paris. I found a church built in 1465 right in the middle of my neighborhood. I would run into a fashion shoot for Vogue France. It's eye opening when you take a second and look around.