by Donna Hamlin

Created on: July 31, 2011   Last Updated: August 07, 2011

Typically, people make their new year resolutions at the start of January. Many make a personal goal to lose weight. Ironically, the hardest time to start such a plan is in the middle of winter, when weather in most parts of the country keeps people indoors with limits to exercise and access to fresh, low-calorie foods.

Thank goodness for summer, which is a great time to lose weight! Consider these seasonal advantages to help shape up and slim down.

1. Outdoor Activities. In sunny climates, summer provides fun activities to encourage exercise. Team sports, swimming, biking, hiking, running and tennis are all examples of options to get people out and moving.  Boosting the metabolism helps burn calories and strengthen and tones the body.

2. Fresh foods from the garden. Planting fresh vegetables in the spring produces healthy, right-off-the-vine vegetables. Eating organic tomatoes, beets, snow peas, sweet potatoes and salads provides nutrition, low calories and detoxifying immunity. Fruits are at their finest in the summer. Replace hot chocolate in the morning with a fresh squeezed grapefruit juice and notice the difference. Take advantage of light and luscious summer recipes, which far outweigh the winter choices for hot and hearty meals to keep people warm.

3. Limit Lounging. Everyone has heard the expression "the lazy days of summer." Many people relax alongside the pool during the summer. Rest is good for everyone but swimming is better! Set a goal for how many laps to do, increasing the amount each week. Use the lounge chair as a reward after the swim is done. Swimming is a personal form of meditation. With its rhythm of strokes and personal pace, it provides both exercise and stress reduction. That is double the value of a snooze at the pool side.

4. Drink Light Beverages. Of course, water is ideal to offset the hot. There are many other healthy, no calorie and low calorie options that help in summer as well. Try chilled herbal teas, lemon-infused water, flavored smart waters, and iced teas. Lighten up on alcohol. Instead of wine, try a wine spritzer. Beer manufacturers are offering low-calorie options that are fine substitutes for the unnecessary calories of the heavier beers.

5. Follow and use the "new foods" coming onto the market. The food and beverage industry is on a roll to bring to the market "health-enhanced" options. Be advised and informed.Try substituting ice cream with zero calorie soy ice cream, vitamin-packed yogurts, sweet potato fries instead of white ones, power drinks loaded up with vitamins and supplements to increase energy and health. Diet is mostly a matter of habit for the taste buds. Break into a new habit and it won't be long before the old cravings for high sugar and fat foods will be a distant memory.

6. Find friends with a common health goal. It can be hard to stick to a goal to slim down if you mix with others who don't share the goal or support you. Find friends who set their targets with the same purpose and do things together. Cook together, share recipes, exercise together and support each other as you progress.

Summer can be a time of personal inspiration. Taking advantage of it can help you gain confidence instead of pounds. Who can't be excited by that? 

Learn more about this author, Donna Hamlin.
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