Who doesn’t want to look their best for bikini season? When the temperatures heat up you naturally want to shed a few of the bulkier clothing items in your closet. Switching to lighter colors and revealing cuts may show you some unpleasant truths. All those holiday meals add up! Extra calories are easy to hide behind chunky sweaters and leggings in the winter, but swimsuit season shows all. It’s never too late to drop those pesky pounds. To lose weight this summer, follow our quick tips below.
Plenty of Sleep is the Foundation for Weight Loss
Your body cannot function without the proper amounts of sleep. Studies have shown poor sleeping habits severely affect both mental and physical health. Failing to get at least 7 hours of sleep a night fogs your brain, making it difficult to concentrate. Physically, sleep deprivation over long periods leads to higher incidences of heart disease, high blood pressure, and obesity. One of the reasons scientists theorize sleep deprivation adds to obesity rates is because sleep-deprived people tend to show lower levels of leptin. Leptin is the chemical that makes you feel full, so smaller quantities of it drive you to over-indulge. Not least of all sleep’s benefits is the time it gives your body to recover. If you’re working out you need sleep to allow your muscles plenty of rest time.
Prepping Meals Saves Time, Calories, and Money
One of the best things you can do for yourself on your weight loss journey is meal prepping. Unlike what you see on Pinterest, meal prepping is less about the fancy containers and more about planning your meals. The benefit of planning your meals out ahead of time is it leads to fewer indulgences. By knowing what you will eat each meal you’re less likely to splurge on a calorie-laden snack or meal. You can control what you put in your food when you meal plan, adjusting macros, and caloric intake to fit your specific weight loss plan. Meal plans don’t have to be fancy! You can even purchase delicious, healthy meals and snacks from weight-loss experts to save time.
Hydration: A Key Part of Nutrition
Summer weight loss is often hindered by poor hydration. So many Vegas residents underestimate the amount of water they need to drink in the summer’s blazing heat. Without enough water in your body, you’re subject to cramping, fatigue, and dizziness. That makes it hard to work out! Experts recommend drinking about 3 – 4 liters of water per day in the summer for active adults. Your exact requirements may be different depending on your activity level and how much time you spend in the sun. Ask a weight loss expert for a body composition analysis to ensure you’re staying plenty hydrated!
Use Summer As An Excuse to Get Exercise
A jog in the park, a quick lap in the pool, or taking the dog for a walk in the neighborhood are all excellent ways to combine enjoying summer and weight loss. The warm weather is a great excuse for some exercise. You reap mental benefits from exercising outdoors that are impossible to get at an indoor gym. Sunlight has been shown in multiple studies to work as a natural antidepressant. You gain Vitamin D from spending just 20 minutes a day outside in the sun (even with sunscreen!). The summer heat helps you sweat off unwanted water weight, which slims your appearance.
Avoid Drinking Your Calories
Hydration is essential for your summer weight loss, but you must avoid hydrating with the wrong things. Alcoholic drinks seem an easy option to quench your thirst but work against you by dehydrating your body. Alcohol saps your body water, which is one of the reasons you get hungover. Not just do alcoholic beverages dehydrate you, they’re also calorie bombs. A single beer has about an average of 120 calories! If you want to have a drink, stick to low-calorie options like vodka or tequila sodas. Make sure to have a glass of water in between beverages!
Don’t Forget to Indulge a Little
One of the reasons many people fail at their weight loss goals is they get demoralized with a rigid plan. Any weight loss plan that forces you into a one-size-fits-all box won’t work in the long run! Summer is all about having fun and enjoying the warm weather. Weight loss shouldn’t have to take a backseat to the fun picnics, BBQs, and pool parties summer’s known for. You can still meet your weight loss goals while indulging a little. A weekly splurge with a burger or a few brewskis won’t knock you off track! Small indulgences keep your spirit up. This in turn helps you stick to your plan for the long term.
Lean on Weight Loss Experts for Help
Balancing proper nutrition, hydration, and exercise may seem to kill the fun of summer. It doesn’t have to! Weight loss during the summer months is entirely possible without sacrificing any of the seasonal joys. There are always places you can improve without dramatically adjusting your life, such as starting with weekly fat burner shots to boost your metabolism. Even something as small as having your body composition professionally analyzed can be the motivation you need for summer weight loss! Don’t be afraid to lean on weight loss experts to help you with your weight loss plan. It’s what we’re here for! For more common weight loss and other related tips please contact Advanced Medical Weight Loss.