If you are among the select few that have managed to stick to their fitness regimen and goals through mid-summer, congratulations!I've been asking my soul survivors, who are toughing it out in the gym, what they'd like to hear more about health-and-fitness-wise. Their inevitable answer: "I workout, but it's summer. What do I eat?"I understand that along with the summer comes lots of parties, and along with those parties, comes lots of food. For you to stick to your goals, I put together a fool-proof guide on how to still live life to the fullest, NOT the fullest pant size!1. Factor in a cupcakeHere is the reality... you are most likely going to want to have a cookie, a piece of pie or a cupcake. Fine. Good. Enjoy it and then walk away from the dessert table. Quickly. "One and done" should be your motto when it comes to those sugary sweets.2. Do you have to let it linger?Please take note of where you are lingering at these types of gatherings. Someone may have you cornered, talking your ear off about how their son is going to Penn State on scholarship. It just may be the most boring ten minutes of your entire day, so you decide to do what all the rest of us would do... you eat to kill the boredom. While this person is gumming it up, you have already downed 32 chips and dip. Ever notice that when we are truly engaged in a great conversation, we aren't eating? So, when you see "My son is honor roll" strolling your way, do not place yourself near food, because you WILL eat.3. The Hot and Not ListI can tell you this - there are five deadly sins and they are disguised as buns, dressings, deep fried, doughy, and deep-dish-anything. So, here are the top five best and worst foods to dive into when at a picnic:The "Hot" List1. Fruit salad2. Corn on the cob3. Grilled seafood4. Chicken, Fruit & Veggie Skewers5. Oven Roasted ChickenThe "Not" List1. Burger with the works, aka saturated fat bomb2. Pulled pork - seems like a good option... 1,658 grams of sodium per cup!? Hello, bloat.3. Fried Chicken - the cousin to KFC. NO.4. Potato salad - over 20 grams of fat per cup5. Hot dogs - Just say no because we don't really know what is in them. Weird.4. BYOB - Bring your own Bowl... of salad... with lots of greens shoved in there.Now that you brought the the goods, you have no excuse to eat the "bads." Plus you were polite to bring something. Double win. High fives all around.5. Going Hungry...?! Stop Right There.We have all heard, "Don't go to the grocery store hungry!" Well, the same goes for picnics, and BBQs and party adventures! Don't starve all day to pig out later! Balance people, balance. Recent studies revealed that when we skip breakfast with plans to pig out later, we eat 24% more than we should at that party! When we chose to skip breakfast and lunch to pig out later, we eat 60% more than we should! Lesson: Do not skip to save, it does not workTake these tips, eat them up, and apply them next time you step out into summer fun!Tags: Healthy EatingDietWeight Loss
