5 Tips for Summer Weight Loss
It’s June. That means panic time for some, and self acceptance for others. Sleeveless dresses, shorts, swimsuits. AH!
The summer season can create a disappointing realization of weight gain, but it’s not too late to drop some of the puff, fast.
Barbeques and celebrations are opportunities to give into cravings, so let’s talk about how to satisfy those natural tendencies without gaining the weight.
1. Get raw.
Now is the ideal time to experiment with more raw foods in your diet. We naturally reach for cooling foods in hot weather, like fruits and vegetables, and the local markets are bursting with fresh produce.
Adding more raw foods can help you drop a few pounds, and gain more energy.
Think of raw foods as a complete health kit with no added ingredients needed to do their magic. Fruits, vegetables, herbs, nuts, and seeds contain live enzymes that will help you digest food. Because of this, you won’t use your natural enzyme reserve, and that means you don’t have to work as hard to digest your meals.
People who eat a high percentage of raw foods often experience an energy high. Additional benefits can include clear glowing skin, focused thinking, and an overall sense of well-being. Raw foods are linked to anti-aging due to phytonutrients that fight free radicals.
Try adding a green juice to your day instead of snacks, swap the bread on your sandwich for a salad, and have fruit or a smoothie for breakfast.
2. Fruit instead of ice cream
I’m guessing you like to indulge in ice cream whether the weather gets hot? And yet dairy and sugar disagrees with many of us, creating inflammation and a desire for more. Sugar and dairy can both be addictive; sugar creates a sugar high, and then drops your mood down, leaving you wanting more. Dairy is a comfort food that makes you feel good, and then creates a desire for that feeling the next day.
If you have a cheese habit, you know what I’m talking about.
Try replacing your ice cream with some cool, fruit based blender treats. Use your Vitamix or high speed blender and create some fun ice cream alternatives. My nut and banana ice creams are both delicious, simple, and no one will know the difference.
3. Change up your protein
Filling up on burgers with buns, or gooey chicken wings won’t help. Healthy Omnivores can opt for lean, grass-fed protein sources as much as possible, and ditch the bun and unhealthy oils.
Or try some Flexible Vegetarian options like farm raised eggs, wild salmon, nuts, seeds, and dark leafy greens. Kale salads are a favorite way to please everyone (you can try my favorite recipe here).
For a Modern Vegan approach, add whole raw protein sources to your morning smoothie, like hemp seeds, cashews, or chia instead of processed powders.
You can check out the proteins I keep around all year long for smoothies, in my superfood cupboard. here.
4. Get moving.
Summer is the perfect time to move more, while soaking up sunlight to help you make lots of vitamin D. Most of my clients find it easier to get out and be active in summer, because we all tend to feel better with more sunlight.
The luxury of longer days and walking outside in the evenings or enjoying an early-morning run before work is a short-lived gift.
When I’m on vacation, I walk every day, without fail. I don’t usually make it to the gym, instead I’ll go out for hours at a time exploring my surroundings. I don’t make a big deal out of it, in fact I’ll usually be in my Havanas out with a friend, chatting, plotting, and having fun.
Just make sure you keep moving, every day.
5. Hydration
Drinking more water each day will help your digestion become more efficient, reduce hunger, and help to curb cravings.
Water aids digestion, and therefore your metabolism, by helping your body produce sufficient stomach acids to digest and absorb nutrients. A more efficient digestion may mean you don’t crave as many unhealthy foods.
Drinking water prior to meals reduces hunger by creating a feeling of fullness, and staying hydrated prevents water retention and bloating. So if your rings are tight, or your pants tugging at your waist, drink more water for 3 days to reduce the bloat.
Water helps to curb cravings, and often when we think we’re hungry, we’re actually thirsty. Drinking water before meals and frequently during the day will help to curb them.
See if you can make staying hydrated in summer more fun, so you stick to it. See what I mean, here.
What’s your secret? I know you have one to share…We’re all ears.
Give us your tip below.
Holli XO
