Summertime gatherings, social outings, lazy days, and balancing a healthy lifestyle and swimsuit baring body can blend together with ease when you stay mindful about picking and choosing where to indulge, when to refrain and remembering to stay active. Feeling great in our own skin starts and sticks with the basics – so keeping them in check (like fueling our bodies with more good stuff than bad stuff, and not becoming sedentary) is an absolute must.
Always eat breakfast, and space your meals around 3 hours apart so your body has a chance to digest what you’ve eaten without overlapping into fat-storage mode. Be willing to tough-love yourself into good self-discipline when the mindless snacking starts to creep up; those extra bites usually turn into caloric surplus and fat storage, so find ways to occupy yourself from getting the munchies between meals.
Stay hydrated by starting the first hour of being awake with at least 16 ounces of water, and drinking more throughout the day and again before going to bed. Depending on your activity levels, 80 ounces to a gallon is a great range to stay in, and your brain, body, and skin will thank you. If you’re in the mood for some flavor, try fruit-flavored teas or infuse your water with fresh or frozen fruit.
Swap the overly processed snack food for fresh produce, and healthy fats like avocado, hummus, nuts and nut butter. Having fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables in the kitchen will make healthy snacking easier, and leaves plenty of room to get creative. Try freezing cubes of watermelon and snacking on crisp veggies with a small side of dip or dressing between meals; or create a light and crispy salad with greens, fruit, a sprinkle of walnuts and vinaigrette or blue cheese dressing.
Save the sweet treat indulgences for social gatherings or time with family, and keep your portion sizes in check – splitting desserts or opting for a smaller round of frozen yogurt is your best bet in keeping your waistline and metabolism happy.
Being willing to carve out time to stay active will help you enjoy the summer season without feeling bogged down by beverage and food-laden festivities. If you’re not already into a regular exercise routine, commit to getting outdoors or doing something that gets your heart rate up at least 3 days throughout the week, for 30 minutes or more. A good hike, bike, swim, or brisk morning or evening walk is a great way to soak up the sun and can be a great way to spend time with friends and family.
Master these basics and you’ll find yourself enjoying the sun-shine’y season without battling extra bulge or feeling ultra-restricted. Remember that what we do consistently over time will reveal what is most important to us; so, if a healthy, fit and able body you feel great in is important to you, make what you do, consistently, over time, reflect it!
All in good health and lots of love,
Kelsey