By Coach Shawn
Good Times & Great Results
Summer is a time for relaxation, sunshine, and enjoying all the activities that warmer weather brings. From beach days to barbecues, vacations or getaways, it’s easy to get caught up in the carefree spirit of the season and put your fitness goals on the back burner.
However, staying active and maintaining a healthy lifestyle during the summer months is not only possible but can also lead to even greater results.
How can you strike a balance between summer fun and achieving your fitness goals?
Let’s dive in.
Summer Fun
As the temperatures rise, the sun is shining and the days get longer, it’s natural to want to spend more time outdoors, soaking up the sun. Even indulging in delicious summer treats.
While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying yourself, it is important to be mindful of how too much enjoyment without control can impact your health and your fitness routine.
Skipping workouts and overindulging in unhealthy foods can quickly undo all the hard work you’ve put in leading up to summer.
And lead you down a road you don’t want to go down.
If We Stop Working Out…
It’s disappointing enough to let go of your progress, strength and momentum you’ve built during the summer, putting fitness on the constant back burner lowers your activity level, ability to burn calories easier and feel and be generally healthy.
Not to mention loss of gains and fitness.
Consistency is key when it comes to fitness, and taking a break from your workouts can lead to decreased strength, endurance, and overall fitness levels.
Indulging in too many sugary drinks, ice creams, and barbecue foods can lead to body fat increase, overall weight gain and a decline in overall health.
How do we strike the balance?
To strike a balance between enjoying summer activities and staying on track with your fitness goals, moderation is key.
You don’t have to completely deprive yourself of your favorite summer treats, but be mindful of portion sizes and make healthier choices whenever possible.
Opt for grilled lean proteins, fresh fruits and vegetables, and hydrating beverages like water or seltzers to stay on track with your nutrition.
Ensure even on days you enjoy some summer treats or barbecues that you have healthy food within that day as well.
Summer + Fitness…
Keep up with your fitness.
Commitment to fitness during the summer months is essential for achieving great results.
Set realistic goals for yourself.
Create a workout schedule that fits into your plans. Take it one week at a time.
Prioritize and schedule your workouts and work other things around it.
Switch to the morning classes and beat the heat.
Can’t make a class or training session?
Go for a morning run before the heat sets in, take a yoga class, or go for a swim in the pool/lake.
On days you’re not in the gym, find activities that you enjoy and look forward to incorporating into your routine.
We still need the gym. The strength training, the cardio work, the camaraderie, the stretching, and doing all the things we wouldn’t do on our own.
Without Coaches, fellow people almost all of us would simply lose motivation and stop working out all together.
Summer + Nutrition….
In addition to staying active, we must focus on maintaining a mostly healthy nutrition throughout the summer.
Start your days with 50 grams of protein.
Drink plenty of water.
If you decide to drink alcohol, drink water between drinks.
Plan ahead for social events by bringing a healthy dish to share or eating a nutritious meal before heading out to a barbecue.
Listen to your body’s hunger cues and practice mindful eating to avoid overindulging.
It takes 15 min for stomach to catch up to brain, be mindful of this.
Ask yourself “Am I really hungry right now, or just thirsty?”
Acknowledge when you “zag” it opens a door thats hard to shut and abnormal cravings may ensue.
Give yourself guilt free permission to decline, say no and turn down offerings if you don’t want them. It’s your body, your health and we are not responsible for other peoples emotions.
Eat Protein first.
Balance the two in Summer
Finding a balance between summer fun and fitness, you can enjoy all that the season has to offer while still making progress towards your health and wellness goals.
Eat mostly healthy nutrition daily.
Enjoy treats when you zag.
Stay consistent within the gym for gains, progress, health, weight management and more.
Be active on days you are away from the gym.
Remember that consistency, moderation, and commitment are key to achieving great results, and having fun too. No matter the season.
