If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s likely darn hot wherever you are right now!
Did you know? The average person emerges from summertime with an extra 3 lbs on their hips! Why? Blame it on the extended picnics, numerous barbecues, and more drinks than reasonable over weekends at vacation resorts.

So are we doomed to spend the upcoming winter hiding our summer-born flab? Not with me! Follow your coach and learn how to handle this summer’s weight gain traps with ease!

Extended picnics: long picnics and barbecues that start in the middle of the afternoon are a unique summer experience. Unfortunately though, 3pm or so, isn’t the ideal time to start a meal. Why? Let’s examine your schedule in this case: you eat breakfast, then you eat lunch, and you then hit this afternoon picnic where you start eating again mid-afternoon without even being hungry yet. Of course, these parties last until the very end of the day, by which time you have ingested an average of 2000 extra calories than if you had begun your meal at a regular hour. By electing to start your cookout at noon or 7pm – and not in the middle of the afternoon – you will save yourself thousands of extra calories over the summer. As 3,500 extra calories represent one pound of fat, just a few barbecues and voila – you’ve got your 3 extra pounds for the summer.

Barbecues: if you are eating ribs, limit the amount of barbecue sauce (loaded with sugar) and have just 1 large rib or 3 small ones. You don’t need to put butter on your corn; even better, try eating it completely raw – your taste-buds will be pleasantly surprised by its sweet natural taste, and your body by its low Glycemic Index!

Trips to the beach: remember trips to the beach when you were a kid? We always took our water bottles along, but did we bring 3 hamburger patties per person? We went light – just a sunhat and some fun gear for the water. So let’s turn back the clock and behave like our parents did! Next time you head to the beach remember that you DO NOT need to bring along lots of food for a short trip to the shore. Go to the beach on empty and just enjoy the sand and the sea! If you do plan on a picnic, keep it simple: fresh tomato salad (homemade, yes you can do it), wholegrain bread, a few slices of low-fat cheese, some fruit…and yes, a treat or two is okay, but no need to go overboard, especially if you don’t plan on burning all those calories off with a game of beach volleyball, a long swim, or a water ski session!

Summer drinking: everyone enjoys relaxing in the sun with a nice glass of wine or a good beer. For those of you trying to “act French” with the wine, remember that French women might not get fat simply because they don’t drink wine during the day – they’ll rather opt for a glass of Perrier Lemon. So ditch the wine and the beer and go for a calorie-free drink! If you want to work on the state of your skin go for a tomato juice, loaded with lycopene. And if you really need to have your beer on the sand, go for the light version and make that one bottle worth it!

Traveling in cars/on planes/trains to and from vacation spots: boredom often hits during travel time, leading to unnecessary snacking without truly feeling a need to eat. Rule #1: don’t take snacks on the road. There are plenty of places (unless you are crossing a desert, of course) where you can purchase food on the way if hunger hits. Rule #2: Always take plenty of water with you; staying hydrated is key, and it’s also a great way to quieten “false” hunger feelings. Note: if you feel more comfortable and safe with food onboard the car (in case emergency strikes), then put it in the trunk where it is less accessible! And make sure you are loading up with light, healthy snacks, such as fresh fruit, etc.

Dining out: eat lightly on the day before you plan to party; opt for cold soups such as gazpacho, and avoid rich foods. If your event is planned for evening, also have a lighter breakfast and lunch on the day of. Take a snack before heading out to dinner: a hard-boiled egg is the best approach. Don’t arrive completely starving! This will limit your urge to overindulge in all the finger food appetizers. Some good post-party practices: do NOT do a drastic detox the day after heavy dining; simply eat lighter meals so that your body adjusts gradually and doesn’t frantically store fat. DO drink lots of water, and increase your exercise. This will help you sweat and you’ll eliminate those toxins a lot faster!

Feared you’d walk out of August 2016 with another 3lbs on your hips? Let’s make the rest of your summer break a true weight loss ally, and have you looking thinner, healthier, fitter, and simply more gorgeous than ever before!

To a healthy & happy summer,

Valerie Orsoni
Your Weight Loss & Wellness Coach