What Will You Do for Your Health this Summer?

With the days getting warmer and school wrapping up, the hot conversation topic these days is our summer plans.

We talk about our vacations, the backyard barbeques and getting away to sit on the beach. Won’t it be nice to relax a bit and get out of the predictable routine?

But if we’re not careful, all that relaxing and lack of structure can wreak havoc on our health goals. A few extra chips (or a bunch) at the picnic, a couple of skipped work outs and before you realize it, you’ve lost any progress you’ve made.

On the other hand, summer can be a time to renew our health commitment and ramp up our efforts to be healthy.

What better time to try some different exercise routines. Now that it’s warm, you can more easily launch into that walking program or take up running. Personally, I don’t feel the need for speed but love to take advantage of the longer days and gorgeous weather to go on longer hikes or try new routes.

If you don’t want to waste the sunshine by heading to the gym, look for outdoor classes. Maybe try something new like yoga in the park.

When you are heading away from home for a few days, think ahead about what you want to do to stay in shape. Are there classes you can take at the resort? Or maybe plan on sunset beach walks.

While you’re doing all that great moving, you may want to give some thought to what you’re eating too. Summer brings a lot of extra temptations. French fries with that lobster roll? Follow up with ice cream? I try to take control by looking ahead at what’s coming and making plans around it. There are so many delicious summer fruits and vegetables in the markets and produce stands that inspire me to enjoy their fresh flavors.  And on those nights that I want to splurge at dinner, I make an effort to eat lighter earlier in the day.

Remember that being healthy isn’t be about spoiling your good time, it’s about being well enough to enjoy it all the more.