Stay strong this summer!

Wow! I can’t believe we are already more than half way through 2015. Did you have a health and/or fitness related resolution this year? How is it going? I think now is a good time to check in with those resolutions, goals and commitments we made with ourselves at the

beginning of the year. If you’ve been slacking off recently, or even fallen of the health and fitness wagon completely,   I have some good news for you.. We still have six months to go! If you set a goal for yourself in January and are feeling discouraged about your progress, or lack thereof, don’t give up! Go after it for the next six months!

I revisited some of the intentions I set for myself this year today and I feel pretty good about them. Like all of us, I’ve had setbacks. I am still recuperating from a knee/hamstring injury (yes, I hurt myself again). So, I’ve been taking it easy with my workouts for the last several weeks but I’m on the mend now and haven’t let this bump in the road discourage me. I’ll get back to my normal routine soon enough and I am looking forward to it. I have kept a much more positive outlook this time than I did when I hurt my back this past winter. I feel good about that. We’ll always encounter setbacks in life, it’s all in how we handle them and move past them.

One area that I need to get back in check is my diet. Isn’t it so hard to stay on track during the summer? It is for me. Between having all our favorite seasonal restaurants and ice cream places back open for the summer and outdoor get-togethers to attend with burgers, beers and yummy desserts, temptation is literally everywhere! I wanted to offer a few tips on surviving this wonderful season without packing on unwanted pounds in the process…

• Bring a healthy dish to cook outs and parties. If you bring a healthy dish to that barbecue you were invited to this weekend then you know there will be something healthy available. Bring a delicious salad with seasonal, local veggies. I guarantee it will be a hit and you won’t have to worry about whether there will be any healthy choices available.

• Fill up on fruits and veggies. There are almost always fruit or veggie platters at get-togethers. It’s a staple. Fill your plate up with those and eat them before you dive into the potato salad or the desserts. They’ll fill you up without weighing you down and you won’t feel guilty later.

• Get active! There are so many fun ways to get active outside in the summer. You can pretty much do something different every day! Switching things up often prevents boredom which means you’ll be less likely to fall of the fitness wagon. If you’re tired of the routine that you’ve been doing all winter in the gym then get outside! Go for a hike, a bike ride or a swim. Try kayaking, paddle-boarding, golfing or tennis. I could go on, you get the point. Get outside and get moving!

• Hydrate and don’t forget those liquid calories. It’s summer. It’s hot out. Remember to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. It’s tempting to reach for other drinks to feel refreshed like a cold beer, frozen cocktail, sweet iced tea or sugary lemonade. I’m not condemning that. Just remember to moderate and keep in mind the calories you’re consuming when you’re sipping on these drinks.

Summer is my favorite season. I plan on enjoying it to the fullest and I hope that you do the same. Live your life but remember: all things in moderation. Stay active and hydrated, make good nutritional choices most of the time and you’ll be golden!