It’s starting to get warmer outside which means barbeque and bikini season are right around the corner. For once in my life, I am actually excited about bathing suit season and can’t wait to soak up as much sun as possible this summer. However, with the warmer weather comes more opportunities to binge eat and drink.
....Here are few tips that I will be living by this summer to maintain my weight loss while having a great summer with my friends...
Tip #1
Bring it to the party!
Instead of being tempted with bags of potato chips and dips bring a green salad, fruit tray, or veggie tray! Thanks to Pinterest, I’ve got plenty of cute ways to display fruit and veggies this summer. Here’s a couple of examples:
 |
| Peppers and hummus. |
 |
| Grilled zucchini stuffed with goat cheese.....YUUUMMMM!!!! |
Tip #2
Moderation, Moderation, Moderation!!!!
Fact: When you eat in moderation, there's really NOTHING you can't have. Just don't over do it!
Fixing a plate instead of grazing is a good strategy. When you graze, you think you are eating less but overall you are eating more because there's no limit to how many scoops of dip or how many handfuls of chips you eat every time you walk by the table.
Tip #3
Go Lean!
Go Lean!
Make sure you choose the leanest meat possible. Skip the sausage, hot dogs, and burgers and go for grilled fish, shrimp, turkey burgers, or chicken. Also, grilled veggies are my favorite go to! If you haven't grilled veggies before-- TRY IT! You won't regret it!
 |
| You can find these at Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, Ross, TJ Max for under $20. They are perfect for throwing veggies in and just letting it sit on the grill while you cook your protein! |
 |
| They also make GREAT birthday and father's day gifts! :) It's the gift that keeps on giving! |
 |
| When you date a grill master, like I do, grilling accessories are essential! We have definitely switched our grilling habits to the healthier side and have had a lot of fun being creative with what we cook as well. Basically, he doesn't have a choice in being healthy since he's dating me! |
 |
| Using Rosemary or any other herb as a skewer is a really good way to season your shrimp! |
 |
| If you're like me, I enjoy a good piece of steak. Having steak skewers is a way to incorporate veggies and limit the amount of red meat you are eating. |
Join in a volley ball game, throw a frisbee, go for a walk, play in the pool or play cornhole. If you are being active not only are you burning calories but you are also staying away from the food.
Get a group of friends together and do a ropes course!
Kayaking at Emerald Isle, NC.
My favorite men in my life: my dad, brothers, and boyfriend playing Boche Ball.
Always walk on the beach at sunset.
Who doesn't love to go tubing?
Tip #5Watch out for Mindless Munching
A handful of any kind of snack won’t do much harm, but eat too much and it can sabotage your diet. Each ounce of potato chips or cheese puffs is roughly 160 calories and 10 grams of fat. Cheese nachos will set you back 692 calories (plus 38 g fat and 1,632 mg sodium); and a 10-cup box of movie theater popcorn has 550 calories, 31 g fat, and 972 mg sodium. Try snacking on fruits, veggies with light dip, or small portions of fat-free popcorn.
Tip #6Alcohol Schmalcohol.
Welp, there's no way around the empty calories consumed when drinking. If you are serious about losing weight or watching your weight, this is where the empty calories are going to stack up. My advice is to pick and choose when and what you are going to be drinking. Pay attention to how much you are eating in relation to what you are drinking. If you are going to be drinking, make sure you are eating protein and not empty calorie snacks.
Plan a delicious and refreshing drink to make filled with fruit and stay away from the beer.
Mint Melon Sangria
Ingredients: 1 ½ cups diced watermelon
1 ½ cups diced cantaloupe
1 ½ cups diced honeydew melon
2 cups ice
10 mint leaves
Juice from ¼ lime
2 bottles spumonte or other sparkling wine
Directions: Pour all of the diced melons in a large glass pitcher. Top with ice.
Gently muddle mint leaves with the lemon juice. Add to pitcher.
Pour wine last into the glass and stir with a wooden spoon.
Tip #4
Stay Active!
Join in a volley ball game, throw a frisbee, go for a walk, play in the pool or play cornhole. If you are being active not only are you burning calories but you are also staying away from the food.
 |
| Get a group of friends together and do a ropes course! |
 |
| Kayaking at Emerald Isle, NC. |
 |
| My favorite men in my life: my dad, brothers, and boyfriend playing Boche Ball. |
 |
| Always walk on the beach at sunset. |
 |
| Who doesn't love to go tubing? |
Tip #5
Watch out for Mindless Munching
A handful of any kind of snack won’t do much harm, but eat too much and it can sabotage your diet. Each ounce of potato chips or cheese puffs is roughly 160 calories and 10 grams of fat. Cheese nachos will set you back 692 calories (plus 38 g fat and 1,632 mg sodium); and a 10-cup box of movie theater popcorn has 550 calories, 31 g fat, and 972 mg sodium. Try snacking on fruits, veggies with light dip, or small portions of fat-free popcorn.
Tip #6
Alcohol Schmalcohol.
Welp, there's no way around the empty calories consumed when drinking. If you are serious about losing weight or watching your weight, this is where the empty calories are going to stack up. My advice is to pick and choose when and what you are going to be drinking. Pay attention to how much you are eating in relation to what you are drinking. If you are going to be drinking, make sure you are eating protein and not empty calorie snacks.
Plan a delicious and refreshing drink to make filled with fruit and stay away from the beer.
Mint Melon Sangria
Ingredients: 1 ½ cups diced watermelon
1 ½ cups diced cantaloupe
1 ½ cups diced honeydew melon
2 cups ice
10 mint leaves
Juice from ¼ lime
2 bottles spumonte or other sparkling wine
Directions: Pour all of the diced melons in a large glass pitcher. Top with ice.
Gently muddle mint leaves with the lemon juice. Add to pitcher.
Pour wine last into the glass and stir with a wooden spoon.
