by Samantha Montpetit-Huynh
It’s funny how we tend to work so hard “for” summer, just to let it fall by the way side once it gets here. And why is that? Because just like 99% of the population, the summer is the time to enjoy, be outside and (literally) bask in all there is to be offered!
The summer is so short and we don’t want to miss a thing – but unfortunately, like anything, else, there are consequences for all that enjoyment and it usually presents as the scale creeping up and not feeling so comfortable in that bathing suit anymore.
So how about if someone told you how you could keep on course and avoid this endless yo-yo year after year? Well of course I have some tips to not gain weight in summer.
Here are 5 tips to keep healthy and fit in the summer:
1. Think ahead.
Most times, things don’t just sneak up as much as we would like to pretend they do. The reality is it’s much easier to blame “events” for our lack of discipline. If we look ahead and plan our meals around it, we would be in a much better position in the end.
2. A calorie is a calorie is a calorie.
However, some calories are MUCH better than others so choose them wisely. If you are someone who is watching their calorie intake, be sure to choose ones that are higher in fibre and protein so your appetite is suppressed and you can starve off blood sugar crashes.
3. Liquids count too
For those of you who think that liquid calories don’t count; WRONG! Liquid calories are empty and (mostly) void of any nutritional value. Unless you are making your own juices or shakes, juice and alcohol can rob you of your caloric needs and leave you feeling hungry in the end. Remember this the next time you are sitting on a patio and deciding whether or not to have that second beer.
4. You need to earn it!
I actually stole this idea from a colleague and it’s brilliant. If you have a party coming up, you need to go into in a deficit. In other words, make sure to burn “x” number of calories so you can go to that party and enjoy it. Who wants to be at an event an only eat veggies and drink water? So kick up your workout before so you can go to that party free of guilt.
5. Increase your activity.
Notice that I said activity and not “exercise”. For most, when you add warm weather, people want to be outside and naturally tend to be more active. But if it doesn’t come naturally to you, just make an added effort to move more so you can maintain what you have worked so hard for. For example; if you are going out for the evening, see if there is an option to walk back home.
Luckily, when the weather is above 10 degrees, it’s not too hard to get people motivated to stay on the go. However, when you have people constantly dangling barbeques, pool parties and cottage weekends in your face, that’s where the creativity comes in to play.
As we speak, I am sitting on my porch at my cottage, enjoying the fresh air after I finished my 15 minute ab routine. And tonight I will enjoy a glass of wine (or two) but head to bed early so I can meet my friend for an early morning run.
So you see, it is possible to enjoy the summer and not regret it, it just takes a little ingenuity and you’re set.
Samantha Montpetit-Huynh is the mother of two beautiful girls and the founder of Core Expectations, Toronto’s only full services wellness team that delivers personal training, abdominal rehabilitation and other support services to the homes and offices of pregnant women and new moms across the GTA.
