Tips For BlogHer

Hey y’all…it’s early August, and that can mean only one thing.  That’s right!

It’s time for BlogHer!

Once again, I’m not going (Kristen is…find her and say hi!  I’m sure she’d just LOVE it if you rubbed her belly, too.).  But I know a lot of you are, and maybe you’re a little worried about sticking with your fitness/eating regime while you’re there.  If so, here are a few tips to help you out.

Plan Ahead

You don’t always know what kind of food is going to be available during the conference, so make sure you eat a real breakfast each day so you don’t end up starving with nothing but a plate of donuts.  Okay, there will probably be something fancier than donuts, but you never know.  You can also bring/buy snacks to keep with you while you’re wandering around avoiding eye contact, uh, I mean meeting new people.

Get Some Exercise

I heard through the Twitter grapevine that BlogHer attendees will be getting a couple of days at a gym for free.  Take advantage of that to burn off some of the excess fun you may have imbibed the night before.

And don’t forget about the BlogHer 5K (with Tanner)!  Run, walk, crawl…you’ll get some exercise and have fun too.

Drink Water

It’s hard enough to drink water at home, and when I’m at a conference sometimes I’ll go a whole day without drinking any!  So carry a water bottle with you, and make sure you drink a lot.  It’ll keep you from mindless snacking, it’ll keep your body hydrated, and it’ll give you a chance to excuse yourself to go to the bathroom if you find yourself bored by a conversation.  ;)

Try To Eat at Least SOMEWHAT Well

Yeah, nobody wants to do this, and honestly I probably wouldn’t worry TOO much about it either, but when you’re out, try to avoid eating all the things you can get at home.  Forget the bread they put on the table.  Chips and salsa?  Meh.  Save the calories for things you really want but can’t get at home.  Or wouldn’t normally get at home.

And do your best to watch the portion sizes.  Split a dish with a friend.  Put your napkin over it when you’ve finished half to keep yourself from eating more.  Pour salt on it.  All the old tricks work, you just have to do them.

Remember Why You’re There

Try to focus on socializing rather than eating.  It’s so easy to get focused on the food, especially when you’re traveling, but remember why you’re ACTUALLY going to BlogHer.  The swag.  No wait, it’s the people.  It’s a lot harder to talk to new (and old) friends if your mouth is full.

Don’t Feel Guilty

For goodness’ sake, it’s only a couple of days.  Make sure you have fun, don’t feel guilty about falling off the wagon a bit, and make sure you come back home ready to get back on the fitness bandwagon.  We’ll be here waiting for you!