Summer Weight Loss ? Easy, Fast, And Effective Tips
Summer weight loss is a very popular topic and every year it seems like many people go into a panic when summer finally arrives. Bathing suites, shorts, tank tops leave little to the imagination and you get to show more skin than during the colder months.
It?s not like we all don?t know it?s coming, it?s just easier to put it off till the last second. But never fear, there are some easy and fast ways to lose weight quickly. And summer even offers a few advantages over the other colder months.
For those us that like a glass of wine or other alcoholic beverages, stay away from the sweet drinks. Check out the calories in some of these popular summer drinks.
Mai Tai ? 225 calories
Banana Daiquiri ? 230 calories
Long Island Iced Tea ? 275 calories
Pina Colada ? 280 calories
Zombie ? 325 calories
Wow, three Zombies and besides not being able to walk, you just consumed almost 1000 calories with no food content. Even a basic mixed drink has about 65-75 calories, a glass of red wine can be 80-100 calories, and a beer can be 100. Some experts say these calories don?t convert to fat, others say they can. A good way to still have a glass of wine is to add soda or plain water, that cuts down the intake of alcohol. Or pick one of the new low caloric beers, there are several.
Fresh vegetables and fruits are readily available in both grocery stores and local farmer?s markets in the summer. Many of these are both fiber rich and have minimal calories to boot. So it?s easy to put together some great low cal meals summer style. Summer weight loss can be easy and effective including fiber rich fruits and vegetables.
I?ve been searching for the right diet plan for the past year and have found some great tips for easy, fast, and effective summer weight loss. Obviously these meals will work at any time of year but they really shine when you add fresh vegetables and outdoor grilling to the mix.
Foods high in fiber are you?re best choice for at least two meals every day. Fiber can help reduce cholesterol and glucose in the blood. Most nutritionists recommend that women should get around 25 grams per day and men around 35. Avoid fried foods, bread, any kind of sodas, and creamy sauces. Make sure you drink enough water; it?s easy to get dehydrated in the summer heat.
Here?s a short list of fruits and vegetables with fiber content (always leave the skin on when possible ? that?s where a lot of the fiber comes from):
Fruits
Apples ? medium, 1, 5 grams
Apricots ? medium, 3-4, 1 gram
Avocado ? medium, 1, 12 grams
Banana ? medium, 1, 4 grams
Blueberries ? cup, 1, 4 grams
Cantaloupe ? cup, 1, 1.2 grams
Figs - medium, 3, 5.5 grams
Grapefruit ? medium, half, 6 grams
Orange ? medium, 1, 3.5 grams
Peach ? medium, 1, 2 grams
Pear ? medium, 1 5 grams
Plum ? medium, 1, 1 gram
Raisins ? oz, 3, 3 grams
Raspberries ? cup, 1, 8 grams
Strawberries ? cup, 1, 4 grams
Vegetables
Beets ? cup, 1, 3 grams
Beet Greens ? cup, 1, 4 grams
Broccoli ? cup, 1, 2 grams
Brussels Sprouts ? cup, 1, 3 grams
Cabbage ? cup, 1, 4 grams
Carrot ? medium, 1, 2 grams
Cauliflower ? cup, 1, 4 grams
Corn, Sweet ? cup, 1, 4.5 grams
Green Beans ? cup, 1, 4 grams
Celery ? stalk, 1, 1 gram
Onions ? cup, 1, 3 grams
Peas ? cup, 1, 9 grams
Peppers, Sweet ? cup, 1, 2.5 grams
Potato, Baked ? medium, 1, 5 grams
Spinach ? cup, 1, 4 grams
Summer Squash ? cup, 1, 3 grams
Sweet Potato ? cup, 1, 6 grams
Tomato ? medium, 1, 1 gram
Squash ? cup, 1 5.5 grams
Zucchini ? cup, 1, 2.5 grams
And you can add in the many possible beans and grains and it?s easy to hit that 25 or 35 grams of fiber per day. We need to throw in some protein too, maybe lean meat, fish, eggs, even peanut butter. There?s little agreement on how much protein you need and what kind. Some experts say as little as 47 grams (think of two eggs), some say around 10% of your daily caloric intake.
But keep in mind that most vegetables have protein (potato = 7 grams) so if you stay with small amounts of high protein foods like lean meat and fish you?ll get enough protein. 5-6 ounces of fish or lean meat per meal is fine.
There is no need to torture yourself in your desire for summer weight loss. If you really want a piece of bread to go with that meal, do it. Or if you feel like having something fried, go ahead; just keep the portion down to reasonable amount. Don?t super-size anything.
Which brings us to another area of concern when trying to lose a little weight. Snacks! We all want them, especially when we lower our caloric intake. The best way to deal with that urge is to have something that feeds the need. Want something sweet? Go with ripe fruit, something crunchy, go with pumpkin seeds.
So a good daily meal schedule with lots of fiber and protein, and fewer calories would look like this:
Morning ? Breakfast
Bran cereal with a cup of raspberries and low fat or 2% milk.
(Change out the type of bran and type of fruit every day)
Mid-day ? Lunch
Peanut Butter Sandwich (use whole grain bread) with 2 cups of raw vegetables.
(Substitute the peanut butter with 5-6 ounces of grilled fish, lean hamburger. Swap out vegetables with fruit, or 3 bean salad.)
Evening ? Dinner
One vegetable cold soup, 5-6 ounces of lean meat or fish, vegetables garnished with vinegar, oil, and seasoning on a kabob.
(Swap out the meats, vegetables. Use lemon or lime juice instead of vinegar. Stir fry instead of grill. You can use olive oil in very small quantities ? remember ? no torture necessary)
The flexibility is endless, keep the portions reasonable, and if you use any sauces or oil make sure you use just enough to flavor or properly coat for light grilling or frying. The key is moderation, both in size of servings and types of garnish or sauces.
Many experts have different opinions on daily calorie amounts, some say 1600, some around 2000. I chose the 1600 to base my daily intake since I don?t always get to exercise as much as I?d like.
Speaking of exercise, there are many opportunities to work some light exercise into your daily summer routine. Taking the dog for a walk during the early or late hours during the cooler times is good for you and the dog. Walking to the neighborhood pool with the kids is a good too. Park farther from the store, take the stairs, go window shopping, or go to some outdoor activity like art or craft shows.
Always take some water; the summer heat can dehydrate you quicker than you think. Pick the cooler times of day when possible, early in the morning or late in the evening. Don?t over do it, consider your foot wear, and start slow if you haven?t walked far in a long time. Slowly work up your distance to what you have the time for and slowly pick up the pace.
Summer weight loss can be easy, fun, and keep you healthy. Just be a little creative in your activities and take advantage of the fresh produce to eat healthier.
If you?d like to see how I figured out the easy way to lose weight and change my eating habits too, click on this link to learn more: Diet Plans
Related Articles:
Walking For Weight Loss
You will find many different forms of exercise that a person can indulge in. These forms of exercise can be for pleasure or for the purpose of shaping and toning the body. In other words you can find ways to lose some unwanted weight that has decided to attach itself to you. While many people will find going to gyms a great idea there are others who may feel that walking for weight loss is one of the best activities that they can participate in.
Dieting ? Permanent Weight Loss?
"The inn is not as comforting as the journey." ? unknown
Health, Exercise for Sleeping Better In Your Life and as a Power Source
a) Sleeping Better In Your Life
Frequent Weight Loss Surgery Questions
Deciding whether to undergo weight loss surgery can be a difficult choice for some people. Weight loss surgery is life-altering and requires a solid commitment, on the part of the patient, to follow a diet and exercise plan. These types of surgeries are rapidly gaining acceptance as newer technology makes the surgeries more effective and safer. If you are considering surgery for weight loss, you undoubtedly have many questions. Following are some of the most common questions regarding weight loss surgery.
Do Weight Loss Supplements Really Work?
It amazes me that some big time guru diet people praise certain foods and their own diets as the end all be all Yet in the same breath they claim their own weight loss supplements are the only real way to lose weight
Quality Of The Elliptical Exercise Machine
weight is an issue that Americans simply can't seem to escape. Yeah, you can spend your cash on liposuction, tummy tucks, and thigh reduction, but the truth is you can't escape reality. The weight will come back if you don't alter your diet and start a fitness regime. This is the way our bodies work. My advice is to stop the lame easy way out routine and start working to get physically fit. Having surgery done will hardly put your body into tip-top condition. What you need is a gym or some quality home fitness equipment. The choice is yours. These days they even have high-tech machines to make it safer than ever. Ever heard of the elliptical exercise machine. This one is a huge hit now days at the local gym.
Different Types Of Exercise Equipment And Many Different Ways To Exercise
There are many different types of exercise equipment and many different ways to exercise. Most people will undoubtedly think that it doesn?t matter very much what kind of exercise you do just as long as you are being active you are being healthier. To some extent this is true you are being healthier no matter what type of exercise you get. This can lead to all kinds of benefits, but there are different types of exercises for a reason. There is elliptical equipment, exercise bikes, water aerobics and so on, including strength training equipment. Strength training equipment is used specifically to help you to build muscle.
Weight Loss: Four Secrets To Maintain Your Lower Weight
Getting your weight down to the desired level is a daunting task, by itself Once you have managed to do that, you are faced with an even greater challenge -- keeping your weight constant, at the reduced level
Hollywood Weight Loss Secrets – Movie Star Personal Trainer Tells All!
In the early nineties I had the opportunity to work with some of the most famous movie stars in the world. As a manager and personal trainer of Kathy Smith's health club I experienced first hand the secrets to the stars.
How To Help Your Teen Lose Weight Safely
For many teens nowadays they are confronted one particular problem and that is being out of shape. However they are still growing and will be naturally inclined to eat food which will truly satisfy their taste. But for many of them the end result is that they are gaining weight and becoming obese. But hopefully with the information provided below teen weight loss should not be a problem for them.
Aging And Physical Fitness
We so often hear people saying they feel less physically strong and flexible because they are getting older Our belief is that this is mostly the result of inactivity and poor eating habits
Weight Loss and Disease – It's Not the Food that's Killing Us!
Whether coming from a close friend, the nightly news or from a letter in the mail, it's hard to face the truth at times. Hearing it can really cut to the core of our beings.
Weight Loss for Life – How to Overcome Speed Bumps!
Yesterday evening my computer hard drive crashed. Resulting in the loss of at least six months worth of hard work.
DineWise Introduces New Diet and Weight Loss Meal Plans
DineWise makers of gourmet food ordered online, has created a new line of diet food and meal plans for people who want to quickly lose weight. DineWise has always catered to busy people in need of fast and convenient meals, with an emphasis on good nutrition. Their meals are healthy alternatives to many meal choices sold by a majority of popular fast-food outlets.
Developing Mental Toughness For Permanent Weight Loss
Losing weight and keeping it off is much more than eating right and exercising hard. In order to lose weight and keep it off, especially in today's stressful society, you must be mentally tough.
