Summer is officially here! Are you freaking out at the thought of wearing a bathing suit and having people see you in it? We’ve all been there and admit that we should have started WAY before the first day of summer thinking about our weight. Here are some tips to get you on track without starving yourself, killing yourself at the gym or doing some dangerous and ridiculous weight loss gimmick. Not only do these tips work, but you can do them forever!

Tip #1: Hydrate

I don’t think people REALLY understand the importance of water in health and weight release. It is absolutely crucial to your success to drink plain water. How much? The Healthy Edge recommends 80 oz. of water a day. This number comes from the common recommendation to drink 8-10 eight oz. glasses of water. If you have ANY additional weight to release you should actually be consuming more than 80 oz. of water, so we recommend the higher end of this common recommendation. In order to effectively release weight, you must drink water. By simply drinking more water, people will find themselves dropping weight, increasing their energy, feeling fuller between meals, sleeping better and having more frequent bowel movements! Try adding some cucumbers, oranges, mint, grapefruit, etc. to water to enhance the flavor, but AVOID the flavored water and flavored packets that has added chemicals your body doesn’t need. Plain H2O will do the trick!

Tip #2: Eat Seasonally

One of my most FAVORITE times of the year to eat is summer. The variety of fruits and vegetables available are almost limitless. If you have the ambition to create your own garden, the food is literally at your fingertips. Take advantage of watermelon, peppers, strawberries, lettuces, tomatoes, corn, etc. that is available at your local farmer’s markets, fresh food stands, CSA’s and the produce section at the grocery store. Use ideas from The Healthy Edge Cookbook and website to prepare the most amazing seasonal dishes ever! These include Strawberry Salsa, Pico de Gallo, Shoestring Veggies, Arugula and White Bean Salad and Quinoa and Corn Salad just to name a few! Decide to incorporate one salad a day with tons of fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables and reap the benefits!

Tip #3: Get Outside

Even if exercise is NOT your thing, there is something about summer time that makes it easier to get out and move. What motivates you? Do you like to work out with a group of people? Do you enjoy hiking, walking, biking or kayaking? Exercise doesn’t have to look like walking into a gym and stepping onto a machine. Summer is the perfect time to do the things that you are unmotivated to do when it’s cold and wet. Think about how amazing you will feel and look if you simply decided to take an hour walk after dinner four or five days a week. What can you add into your weekly schedule that takes you outside and into nature and allows you to spend time with people you love! Every time you choose to move it makes a difference!

Tip #4: Be Prepared

There’s no time to tell yourself you don’t have time. Making time to prepare your food for each day (whether it’s in the morning or the evening before) will save you time, energy and money in the long run. Preparing a cooler full of food and water will not only ensure that you eat every 2-3 hours to keep your metabolism revved up, but it will also give you an incredible sense of empowerment and energy! Staying on track during the day allows you to avoid the nighttime binges when you work a full day eating too little or too much of the wrong stuff. The extra 10 – 15 minutes that are required to prepare for your day will result in releasing those extra 10 – 15 pounds you have been trying to get rid of, not to mention keeping you in a happy mood and preventing the afternoon crash.

Tip #5: Family Time

Hopefully you love your family and treasure them as much as I do. Summer is a time of picnics, family reunions and outdoor adventures. Choose to spend time with the people you love the most and fill your mind with wonderful memories this summer. This is not only good for your heart and soul, but it’s amazing for your health! Laughing is not only a great abs workout, but it can add years to your life! Choose to bring a Healthy Edge dish to a potluck and share your amazing journey with someone you love. Taking your family on the journey of health will support you in staying on track and it will begin to create habits that can be incorporated through the year!

There you go. A few tips to get you started living a healthier lifestyle this summer. It may sound too simple. You may have been looking for some particular workout or calorie counting trick. I would challenge you to incorporate these tips for two weeks and feel and see the changes that will occur. Weight release follows good healthy living. It can be that simple or it can be extremely hard. You choose!