Most people think the only way to get in shape or to stay in shape is to avoid social events and live an isolated life of no fun.

This is not true

Staying isolated and not enjoying yourself is a sure way to fail at accomplishing your fitness goals. Don’t get me wrong, in order to lose weight and get into shape there needs to be some type of restriction and discipline. But never going to out to eat for a nice meal with your partner or meeting friends for drinks will leave you unhappy. This is not practical for long term success. The best option is to learn how to go out and have fun without a negative effect your fitness or diet goals. Here are 5 tips that can help you next time you have a holiday party or dinner out with friends.

1) Stick to Meat and Vegetables

Eating out can be made simple and effective by just ordering meat and green vegetables. Look for steak, chicken, turkey, fish, wild game along with some steamed or grilled green vegetables. Try to find a meat that is a single ingredient food. So instead of ordering chicken parm. or meatloaf opt for the New York Strip steak or grilled salmon. You can ask the server for steamed asparagus or broccoli with no added butter or oil. If you are eating out for breakfast opt for an omelet with fresh veggies and coffee, avoid orange juice, bread, bagels, French toast etc.…

2) Plan the Event as this Week’s Cheat Meal

On most diets you will be allowed to have at least one cheat meal per week. Simply choose to have your cheat meal on whatever day you have the planned social event. This is usually pretty easy to do because most people schedule their cheat meal for the weekend anyway. But let’s say you usually have your cheat meal on Friday night when you and your partner go out for dinner and drinks. But this weekend you have a dinner party on Saturday night, so skip your usual cheat meal on Friday and enjoy your cheat meal Saturday night at your friend’s house. Just don’t turn your cheat meal into a 3-4-hour binge fest of nonstop eating. Eat a normal meal of whatever you’ve been craving.

3) Seltzer Water in a Cocktail Glass

Let’s say you’re going to a party and you don’t want to drink any alcohol, but you still want to look the part and socialize. The best thing to do is to ask the bartender for seltzer water in a cocktail glass with a slice of lemon or lime. You can even add one of those little red straws for an added touch.

4) Vodka Seltzer

If you’re going to let loose and have a few drinks, then stick to vodka seltzer. A typical vodka seltzer will have about 98 calories total and no added carbs or sugar. The calories come strictly from the alcohol. So even if you have 3 vodka seltzers you still would be having roughly 300 calories. Compare that to a beer that has 6.5% ABV and about 200 calories per beer.

5) Eat Before You Leave

Going to a party hungry, with temping food that you shouldn’t be eating is a recipe for disaster. A simple fix to this situation is to eat a very large healthy meal right before you leave for the event. This will make saying no to all the temping food around you much easier. Also don’t be afraid to sneak a beef jerky stick or healthy protein bar in your bag as a snack to have while you’re there.