If we rewind life to a few months ago to a time when the weather started warming up and we were day-dreaming of being on the beach, the mindset was most likely, “I’m going to get fit for summer. I’m going to show off my fit body as I strut down to the water.” Fast-forward to present day and what’s happening? The heat has arrived and so have invitations to barbecues, happy hour get togethers, potlucks, and other gatherings that are not conducive to achieving those summer health goals, which now seem like distant memories.
How do you improve your health if you are falling of the health wagon or have not yet embarked on your health journey? First off, don’t make excuses and don’t dwell in unhealthy habits because change is necessary to achieve a healthier body. If you were going strong on a healthier path but temptations have lured you away from your progress, stop it right now. You don’t need to undo all your hard work. The reality is that transitioning into a healthier lifestyle and adopting healthy habits doesn’t have to be a miserable experience. You can treat yourself and continue to look and feel good as the summer progresses.
Grill All The Vegetables
Barbecue season isn’t solely reserved for burgers, hot dogs, and ribs. You can still fire up the grill, throw some marinated vegetables over the flame, and then indulge in some low-calorie, tasty vegetable goodness. A grill basket may be the perfect summer gift to inspire you to grill more vegetables! Alternatively, you can make balsamic marinated mixed veggie skewers, or you can grill a portobello top to make a mushroom burger. Whatever you do, don’t forget the seasonings!
Get Your Butt Outside
We know the heat can be oppressive during summer in certain parts of the country, but there are plenty of pleasant sunny days to take advantage of. You don’t have to push your body to the brink of exhaustion, but you can ride a bike, take a hike, kayak in a lake or ocean, bounce on a trampoline, or swim in a refreshing body of water. Nature has a positive influence on mental health, helping to lower stress levels in the body. Soak up some quality vitamin D and get moving outside!
Host A Clean Dinner Party
It’s a good feeling to stand out from the rest. Shed a little healthy light on your friends by hosting a clean dinner party with nutritious recipes. Not only will you dish out masterful creations, but you may also open a doorway that shows your friends that healthy recipes are not short on flavor. Collect some vegetarian or vegan recipes and get to cooking.
Always Bring A Healthy Dish
When you attend the inevitable barbecue or party this summer, bring a healthy dish for two reasons: 1) to ensure that you will have something healthy to eat; and 2) to bring health into your friends’ lives. Try your hardest to not make unhealthy dishes like mac n’ cheese, apple pie, or sloppy Joe’s. Or, you can make those dishes, but find the healthier renditions! Shake up what people know about healthy food and surprise them with unique flavors and creations.
Exercise In The Morning
Finding the time to squeeze a workout into your day can prove difficult, especially if you have children. On the other hand, laziness can set in from the heat of summer and working out after a long day at work may not sound appetizing. That’s why we recommend scheduling a morning workout. It is much cooler in the mornings, and exercising in the morning is a great way to rev up your metabolism and boost endorphin production. Working out in the morning may be entering a body of cold water: it’s hard to get in, but it feels refreshing once you’re in and you can’t get enough!
Infuse That Sparkling Water
Flavored sparkling waters have become increasingly popular, due to the fact that people don’t want to consume artificial sweeteners, dyes, or high fructose corn syrup. Most of these flavored waters contain “natural flavors.” How natural are these flavors? The answer: not very. You shouldn’t knock back sparkling waters left and right because drinking them in excess is almost as bad as drinking soda all the time. Instead, purchase plain sparkling water and add fresh grapefruit, cucumber, lemon, lime, rosemary, mint, strawberries, or berries to it.
Try your best to stick employ these tips throughout the summer if your goal is become a healthier person. In addition to these tips, keep a positive outlook and find your balance in this new, healthy world. There will undoubtedly be some slip-ups, but don’t give up when this happens. Get back on the horse and reset your compass. Celebrate your victories and take your health one day at a time.
