Summer Eating Plan Goals

Suggestions for Summertime Eating

1. Eat reasonable portions - studies found that crash-dieting before any holidays is unhealthy. Goal is to learn to eat healthy over a long term; yo-yo dieting cycle to lower your metabolism can make fat loss more difficult than ever.

2. Stick to your workout program - Exercise and eating right go hand in hand. Instead of "junk food" that detracts from your performance eat foods that will "fuel" your body. But if you do indulge in occasional treats, your regular workouts will help keep you in check. Remember you're building a workout routine as a "fitness habit" that will last a lifetime.

3. Plan ahead for summer gatherings - When attending Barbecues and summer season parties you may be tempted to enjoy hearty meals and snacks. Eat a healthy protein snack before you go; it will prevent you from "gobbling up" treats out of sheer hunger. It doesn't have to be a problem if you make "fitness-friendly" choices. You can still enjoy the party atmosphere with wise choices such as salads, fruits and whole grains as part of your balanced meal.

4. Don't stress out - studies show that people tend to eat high-calorie comfort foods when under chronic stress. Any holidays can be any stressful reasons to do so. Keep up with your regular exercise routine to help relieve stress and create an upbeat mood. But help yourself to do something relaxing; whether its yoga, meditation or listening to calming music. If you start to feel stressed and tempted to reach for extra high-calorie snacks; take a moment to count to ten while deep breathing and reach for some water.

5. Don't abuse the booze - A glass of wine or spritzer is a nice way to celebrate the season; but too much drinking has all kinds of negative effects; extra calories, lowers your inhibitions(which can lead to over-eating or behaviour), feeling sluggish or worse the next day can prevent you from continuing with your exercise routine.

6. Give yourself a break - If you do overindulge at some point during the season, don't beat yourself up about it. Just as long as you have a consistent fitness plan, you're unlikely to lose the progress you have made. Just keep focused!

Happy Summertime Celebrations!