If you've ever attended an overnight outdoor concert before, you'll know the value of planning in advance.
When your tent is floating away on a river of mud and you're down to your last dry pair of clothes, somehow seeing that up-and-coming band on stage doesn't seem all that important — some sweet-smelling barbecued or fried food from a vendor booth does.
The trick is to prepare for every possibility — to ensure you have a fun experience at your festival of choice, while staying on the weight-loss track:
| DO |
DON'T |
| Put some thought into what food you plan to eat. Plan ahead and freeze some veggie-based meals in old takeout containers for the first night. Then take canned goods e.g. baked beans, crackers, rice cakes, peanut butter, skinned fruit (such as oranges) that won't bruise easily, granola bars and other snacks for the next few days. |
Rely on the festival food to get you through. Festival food is notoriously expensive and usually of the greasy variety which will throw you off the wagon before you can say "cheeseburger." If you've no other option, check out the festival Web site in advance — some list the facilities and stalls available so you'll be able to work out the wisest food options. |
| Take plenty of water. It will keep you hydrated while you dance the days and nights away in front of your favorite bands. |
Wait until you are at the festival to buy water. Bottled water is notoriously expensive and going without is not an option when you're getting active all day in the heat — or suffering from last night's excesses! |
| Make sure your drink of choice is one which is low in POINTS® values and one that can easily be enjoyed mixed with locally bought soft drinks. If BYO alcohol is allowed at your festival, make sure to decant it into plastic bottles — most festival organiers are strict about glass. |
Expect to hang out in the bar tent all festival. If you thought the food was expensive, you'll swoon at the festival alcohol prices. And a plastic cupped pint of beer comes in at a whopping 3 POINTS values. |
| Take advantage of the activity options. Dance your heart out to your favorite bands or go exploring around the festival site.
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Spend your whole experience sitting around the fire strumming American Pie and Jimi Hendrix songs as you discover your festival hippy roots. |
| Celebrate your weight loss by wearing summery, brightly colored clothing, festival-style. And don't forget those funky festival rainboots. |
Hide beneath baggy clothes. This is your chance to shine! |