The Free Day!

Body-for-LIFE® requires us to be structured and disciplined for twelve weeks. During that time, we focus on planning meals, finding time to cook and exercise, grocery shopping, and whether it’s our upper body or lower body day! Among all that planning and structure, it is hard to adjust to the idea of a free day.  It is not uncommon to feel guilty for taking a free day when you are working so hard to stay on track, but remember this was written into the program for a reason. The free day allows you to recover mentally and physically.  It also allows you to satisfy some cravings so that you can be motivated to be healthy long term. Who would stick with a program that recommends never eating their favorite lasagna ever again?

If you are still feeling overwhelmed by the idea of a free day, we included a few examples below to give you some ideas.

• Idea 1: Continue eating six small meals per day, but substitute some of the authorized proteins and carbohydrates. For example, at meal 1, you could eat chocolate chip pancakes with your egg whites. Then, at meal 3, you might choose French fries with your chicken breast instead of brown rice.
• Idea 2: Eat three meals, consisting of any foods you want.
• Idea 3: Continue eating six meals per day with lean proteins and complex carbohydrates, but add all those delicious, unauthorized toppings you miss during the week, such as cheese on your sandwich, butter on your baked potato, and cream in your coffee.
• Idea 4: Enjoy a cookie with your lunch and a slice of pie with your dinner for dessert.
• Idea 5: Treat your family, and finally cook your famous meatloaf with beef instead of turkey for once. Don’t be afraid to serve it with mashed potatoes and gravy.
• Idea 6: Choose one big meal to splurge on, and eat smaller meals the rest of the day when you’re feeling hungry.
• Idea 7: Relax and watch a movie with a soda and big bowl of popcorn topped with melted butter and salt.

No matter what you decide to do, remember it is your FREE day, so there is no right or wrong way to use it!