Summer is here and you are keen to join the beach games, outdoor sports, and fun parties. With all this come barbeques, ice creams, and other fat rich and sugary foods. You have already put on weight over the winter, and these foods make you gain weight even faster. You will definitely not fit into those bikinis and shorts, and need to wear the next size; and you will not feel good doing that.

Have fun, but stay in shape with some sensible eating and exercise regimes that keep you in better health. Alter your diet according to this article and exercise around five times to keep in good shape. Remember, weight loss is not like instant coffee, where you pour in the water, and it’s ready. Patience, perseverance and some planning will go a long way to get you results you desire; a better and fitter you.

Diets itself do not promote weight loss. There are two parts for any weight loss program. The first is to cut down your fat and carbohydrate intake so that your calorie count goes down, and you start slimming. The next step is exercise. This does not necessarily mean going to the gym to burn up those body fats. Walk five times a week for about 45 minutes. Exercise increase metabolism and reduces fats from your system.

The following guidelines are just right for the summer, but follow them through the year to keep the benefits going.

    •    Keep hydrated. With summer come sweat, dehydration, and loss of salts. To counter this, drink at least eight or more glasses of water daily. Water is a good appetite killer and so helps in your weight loss efforts. Water flushes harmful toxins from the kidneys and helps the liver control fat.

    •    Control your meals. From eating three meals a day, eat five or six smaller meals a day. This is a good weight control method as it keeps you with a ‘feeling full’ effect and so you’ll eventually eat less.

    •    Control alcohol. It decreases metabolism and stores fats.

    •    Lessen your intake of saturated fatty food and sugary foods.

    •    Eat fish that are high in Omega 3 fatty acids, which are essential fats as they raise metabolism. Mackerel and salmon, and flaxseed, too, are high in essential fats, which benefit heart patients as well.

    •    Spice up your table with mustard, pepper and ginger, which also raise metabolism. Clove, cinnamon, and bay leaf fight your sugar cravings.

    •    Exercise. You could go for either muscle stretching or aerobics, as both have their strong points and burn up fats in you very easily.

    •    Go for skim milk, which is fat free, but rich in calcium.

    •    Consume at least five portions of vegetables, fruits, and nuts every day to get your supply of minerals, vitamins, and fibre.

Enjoy the summer; be slim, trim, fit and have fun.