Summer 2023 is officially here!
Summer is the time when a lot of us enjoy a well-deserved period of indulgence when we fly abroad for some sun or enjoy a nice little staycation.
From meals out with family and friends to delicious treats under the sun, the summer period can be hard for many of us to stay on track with our fitness and nutrition goals.
For those of you out there who want to avoid straying too far from the fitness track, ABS’ personal trainers say to keep these following tips in mind on those long summer days.
Try to stick to your current routine as much as possible.
Sticking as closely as you can to your current routine will really help. If you go to the gym a couple of times a week, try to keep that up. If you can’t, maybe squeeze in at least one gym visit rather than not going at all. This will help you to maintain a level of fitness over the summer and holiday period.
Similar too with your nutrition. If you’re following a nutrition plan and have found a nice balance with your diet, don’t rip the whole thing up when you go on holiday. Of course, there will be days when you may need to adapt but on the other days stay as close to your usual routine as possible. You can also adapt your plan to suit the season by calculating your calories over a week as opposed to daily. Calculate how many calories you usually consume over an average week and try to stick to around the same figure throughout summer by consuming fewer calories at some points in the week to compensate for the times when you indulge.
Have a plan for getting back to your routine and get in your steps by making time for a walk!
When the long summer days come to an end and autumn approaches many of us rush back to the gym to try to get back on track. To start off, try to ease yourself slowly back into your old routine. Start by tapering off the summer indulgence and begin to exercise again with a view to building back up to where you were before.
Put some dates in the diary for getting back into fitness whether that is exercising in the gym, going for a walk, or having a swim. Whatever your fitness thing is, try to make yourself get back to it.
We find that walking is a great way to start. Aim for 10,000 steps a day if you can.
When you do want to indulge, prioritise the healthier stuff first.
Despite everything, a lot of the go-to summer foods tend to be healthier. From light salads to less rich food that is traditionally saved for consumption in the winter months.
Prioritising these delicious and health summer foods, rich in protein, will make you much fuller meaning the temptation to overeat elsewhere will be reduced. Having said that, if it’s your summer holiday, don’t worry too much, it’s time to enjoy yourself.
Make healthier alcohol choices and keep drinking plenty of water!
It’s important to factor in the calorie content in alcoholic beverages, and remember, you don’t have to cut it out completely, just make smarter choices.
Instead of opting for a glass of red wine or pint of beer, try a slimline gin and tonic or glass of prosecco, both of which contain fewer calories.
Remember to also keep drinking water. Aim for 2-3 litres a day.
Try out our previous 4 tips but our 5th tip is simply to enjoy your summer break!
There are loads you can do to mitigate overindulgence but if you’re away on your much deserved holiday, it’s time to enjoy yourself.
When you get back there are plenty of things you can do to get back on track.
