If you’re trying to lose weight, you may have figured out that the weekends are a true test of discipline because that’s usually the time most of the “cheating” takes place. However, there are things you can do on a Friday to prevent weekend weight gain.

  1. Stock up on healthy snacks: it takes less than 15 minutes to chop up some fresh fruit, veggies and other easy-to-grab snacks. Having healthy options readily available can help prevent you from reaching for something that might ruin your diet.
  2. Don’t “diet” on Friday: skipping a meal or cutting back calories as you head into the weekend will set you up to have even more hunger cravings which eventually leads to indulging in extra calories. Instead, eat a full nutritious meal on Friday night to curb those hunger cravings.
  3. Sleep in: this may seem like a no-brainer but sometimes getting up “too early” can lead to increased appetite which leads to more calories consumed. Here’s how Women’s Health Magazine puts it into perspective:

    If you tend to skimp on Zzzs during the workweek, now’s the night to turn in early or plan to sleep in late Saturday morning—it may be the difference between healthy eating and a junk food bender later. “There’s a strong correlation between sleep deprivation and weight gain,” says Nancy Clark, M.S., R.D., a Boston-based nutritionist and author . Translation: The more rested you are, the better able you’ll be to fend off cravings.