There are two schools of thought when it comes to the summer. Some people try to cram in a ton of workouts because “bikini body” season has arrived. Others like to reap the benefits of their spring health habits because patio season is fleeting and those cocktails aren’t going to drink themselves.
There is a way to be balanced in the summer without having to ignore the weather. After all, who wants to spend a summer in a gym rather than at a backyard BBQ? We assume the answer is safely no one, but that doesn’t mean you have to ditch your health for tan lines and grill lines.
Here are some effortless ways to work fitness and balanced eating into a jam-packed summer schedule:
1) Pause your gym membership to get outside.
Even if you are a gym rat, it is likely that your attendance will dwindle in the season of the ice cream truck. Pause your membership to stay in tune with the season and still stay fit.
Many cities have free fitness classes outside. See if there is something at your local farmer’s market, by a boardwalk or even in a local beer garden. The summer is the slowest time in the fitness world and personal trainers and yoga instructors will work hard to keep you in the game.
2) Enjoy the journey and the destination.
Have some plans for cocktails after work under an umbrella? We certainly aren’t going to suggest you don’t attend, but think about getting there differently.
Bike or walk to the destination, even if it’s quite far. Along the way, enjoy the sounds and sights of summer as an exercise in mindfulness. Once you arrive, down a glass of water and enjoy resting.
Physical activity is often seen as the big, sweaty movements, but a good old-fashioned walk is still an excellent way to keep fit.
3) Get creative with fruits and veggies.
Farmers are waiting at the summer farmers markets, ready to discuss the best way to serve their freshest fruits and vegetables of the year. In many cases, doing as little as possible to them brings out the best flavor.
Unlike the winter, when produce might need a little prodding, the summer season has a bounty of fresh ingredients that need very little work to enjoy. Muddle them into mocktails, spiralize them into salads, or even just enjoy them as is. An outdoor movie goes just as well with a pint of raspberries as it does with popcorn.
4) Hot days are an opportunity.
As much as we all anticipate the summer, we also recognize that there will be some insufferably hot days. When you feel blocked from the heat, you could certainly go to a movie.
Or you could do some slow flow cooling yoga. Or you could lift some weights while catching up on the new summer drama. Or you could chop up your produce and divide into smoothie packs to make breakfast smoothies unquestionably easy.
Even better, you could do all of the above.
5) Use water as an activity and a drink.
Invest in a water bottle to make drinking water not only simple but also more appealing. Infuse your water with all of those farmers market goodies, from citrus to fresh mint. And get in the pool, or walk by the ocean, or remember how great it is to run through a sprinkler.
When physical exercise happens from a joyful place, it is more likely to happen consistently. Summer fitness doesn’t have to come in the form of a CrossFit workout. It can also be a giant slip-and-slide contest or a day at the water park.
It is not necessary to deny yourself pleasure to gain a healthful summer. Enjoy every sun-soaked minute with the bikini body you already have.
Edited by Jody Smith