Fitness Routines in Summer

After a long winter full of excuses as to why we haven't worked out, and all the reasons for putting on a few extra pounds such as the holidays, we look forward to summer.

However this is not always the case, summertime can be a sneaky season, a lazy season. We do tend to get outside more in the summer, but we also do other things that sabotage our fitness routine.

For example:

* Lighting up the barbeque and cracking a cold beer - the average light beer has 110 calories and 7g of carbohydrates. Calories can get up there quickly.

* Having family over for a potluck or picnic ? while it is usually healthier to eat at home, piling up a plate of potato salad, chips and a loaded hamburger you can come close to meeting your daily calorie needs in one setting.

* Late nights in the nice weather - we tend to stay up later in the summer and enjoy a lawn chair on the deck, once again the temptation arises to have a cold beverage, even if you choose a soda, the sugar content can be as much 9 teaspoons in one can. You could choose to have a diet soda, but diet drinks have been linked to all kinds of health problems and have been tagged as causing people to drink more because of the empty calories.

* Using the heat as an excuse - getting out at the beginning of summer in for fitness such as relaxing walks or a calorie burning run is a great way to exercise and most of us enjoy it - until the weather gets hot, 85 - 90 degrees, and suddenly choosing to sunbathe is a much better option. Those warm days can quickly add up and then before you realize it, you have gone a couple of weeks without exercise.

* Lack of Sleep- with such long days, most people stay up later in the summer and get up earlier, sometimes cutting their 8 hours of sleep to 6 or less. Not getting enough sleep has, in recent years, become a major finding in gaining weight. People who slept 5 hours per night were 32% more likely to experience major weight gain (an increase of 33 pounds or more) and 15% more likely to become obese.

Keeping Your Weight in Check Knowing is half the battle, or so they say. By reminding yourself daily to eat well and get in a bit of exercise, you can at least maintain your weight throughout the summer. And if you are looking to lose weight, the heat can actually be a great tool, working up a sweat burns more calories and running in the sun can definitely raise your sweat level. Just remember to drink plenty of water as to not become dehydrated.

It is the simple things that we don?t think about that can creep up and ruin our goals to be healthy, but at the same time it can be those simple things, those small changes that can keep us on the right track.

Of course getting to the gym and sticking to your summertime fitness routine is always one of the best options. Accountability and Fitness health go with one another.