Shape Up for Summer

Jun 21, 2017

Shedding those stubborn 5-10 lingering pounds can make all the difference when it comes to feeling confident sporting a swim suit. Shape up for summer with these simple changes:

Focus on Fueling, not starving

It’s normal to get a little hungry when working on weight loss, but taking it too far can rebound and cause you to raid the pantry. It’s important to eat regularly to fuel your body, and keep your metabolism. Instead of putting energy into trying not to eat, set your focus on eating to fuel and allow that mindset to guide healthy eating decisions.

Taper through the day

While it’s true that the total number of calories you eat makes a large impact on weight loss, the timing of those calories is important and impacts their fate. For a lean body composition, it’s ideal to eat the majority of your calories earlier in the day to fuel your body when its most active, and trim them toward the evening.

Eat Juicy!

Foods with a high-water content are ideal for filling you up without filling you out. Reach for fresh salads and broth based soups before meals to curb your appetite, and include a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables through the day. Fruits and vegetables that rank highest in water content include cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelon, strawberries and iceberg lettuce.

Go Pro-Veg

From veggie omelets to roasted vegetables with fish, prioritizing lean protein and veggies is a great way to trim the fat, literally! While carbohydrates found in whole grains and fruit are still an important part of a healthy diet, enjoying them in moderation keeps your body primed to use reserve fuel (body fat) for energy.

Move in the Morning

After sleeping your body is in a fasting state which means it has to rely on its stores to fuel activity. Getting moving in the morning for a minimum of 20 minutes sets the stage for blasting body fat!

Author:
Sarah Mattison Berndt, MS, RD, CD
Owner Fit Fresh Cuisine & Hybrid Athletic Club
www.fitfreshcuisine.com
www.hybridathleticclub.com