Effective Summer Weight Loss Tips

Summer is a great time to focus on making healthy lifestyle changes. With warmer weather comes more opportunities for outdoor activities, sports, and exercise. However, it can be hard to make healthy changes that stick. 

If you’ve struggled to lose weight on your own, a medically supervised weight loss program from Advantage Spinal Dynamics & Innovative Medicine in Meridian, Idaho, can help you make long-lasting lifestyle changes. 

Dr. Jamie Ricks and the rest of our team have years of experience helping people lose weight healthily. We can assess your current health, help you set realistic weight loss goals, and create a personalized diet and exercise plan tailored to your individual needs. 

Here are some simple weight loss tips that you can start using this summer. 

1. Stay hydrated

Hydration is key to any weight loss regimen, but it’s especially important in summer. As temperatures rise, your body naturally sweats more to cool down, which can lead to dehydration and even sunstroke. When you exercise, you sweat out even more water and electrolytes. 

Staying hydrated can also help you feel satiated and avoid junk food cravings. That’s why we recommend eating water-filled fruits and vegetables such as watermelon, cantaloupe, zucchini, and cucumber. 

These fruits and veggies are packed with important vitamins and minerals, but they can also help you stay hydrated and feel full due to their high water content. 

2. Make summer swaps

Along with sunshine and higher temperatures, summer is known for barbecues, pool parties, and indulgent food. Luckily, there are some simple swaps you can make to enjoy your summer without the extra calories. 

Avoid sugary drinks by swapping soda and lemonade for healthier options like sparkling water and 100% fruit juice. You can even swap out that sugary margarita for white wine, hard seltzer, or a gin and tonic. 

Similarly, exchange unhealthy BBQ options like hot dogs, steaks, and chips for grilled vegetables, fish, and fruit platters. Grilling brings incredible flavor to any food, so adding healthy options means you can still enjoy your summer BBQ guilt-free. 

3. Stay active 

Many people take a break during the summer, making it a great time to try a new activity. Enjoy the lovely weather by hiking, biking, swimming, practicing yoga, or learning a new dance routine. 

If you’re trying to stick to a regular exercise plan, remember to plan ahead and mix it up. Studies show that making a detailed plan helps people stick to their activity goals. Additionally, adding new activities or having a variety of exercises helps you avoid getting bored. 

4. Snack smarter

Take a good look at your snack cupboard and get creative with what you can replace. By swapping sugary or salty processed snacks with healthier options like almonds, walnuts, dried fruit, and veggie “chips,” you can still enjoy a snack without sacrificing a healthy diet. 

Similarly, summertime is a great time to experiment with homemade desserts. Try filling an ice pop mold with fresh fruit juices or smoothies. Making your own desserts can help you avoid sugary treats, artificial sweeteners, and fillers that could lead to bloating and leave you hungry. 

5. Set yourself up for success

While we all know the basics of weight loss involve exercise and diet, other elements can affect the success of your weight loss journey. For example, stress and sleep deprivation can make it harder to lose weight. 

That’s why it’s so important to get a good night’s sleep. It’s also important to have a protein-packed breakfast when you get up. Studies show that skipping breakfast can lead to unhealthy snacking throughout the day and prevent healthy weight loss. 

Stress has been linked to weight gain and weight loss resistance. During these stressful times, try to make room in your schedule for stress-relieving activities such as meditation, yoga, and mindfulness. 

By getting enough sleep, managing your stress, and starting your day with a healthy breakfast, you can set yourself up for weight loss success this summer. 

Whenever you’re ready to start your weight loss journey, our team at Advantage Spinal Dynamics & Innovative Medicine can help you with a medically supervised weight loss program. Call us at 208-225-4358 or make an online appointment today.