Tips for a healthy, cheerful and cool summer
During the summer, cheerleaders aren’t thinking about training. If you’re like me, you want to take it a bit easier. Yet it’s still important to keep after our goals and keep some healthy trends. Here are my top 5 ways to stay healthy in the summer…and yes, taking it easy on occasion is one of my favs :)
1-Hydrate more. Are you drinking 1/2 your body weight in plain water? If plain water is too boring, try adding a slice of your favorite fruit or even some mint. When we sweat we lose a lot of water and it’s important to replenish to keep us feeling energetic and moving well. Even just one more glass per day will help
2-Eat a variety of fruits and veges. Fruits and vegetables have a lot of water and they are a tasty way to feel good and stay cool. Chop up watermellon or strawberries and add them to your salad. Slice an orange for a quick burst of cool. Keep your grapes chilled and take to the beach for a crisp and sweet treat that keeps you going on those hot and hazy days.
3-Use your grill and slow cook to decrease clean up and fat. Grilling requires less fat than frying or sauteeing. You have less pans for clean up. The food tastes amazing. Who wouldn’t want to grill every night?
4-Add a leisurely activity into your day once a week vs always high intensity. High intensity exercise is helpful when trying to build strength, decrease fat and improve cardiovascular health. However, leisurely activities are just as important. Taking a casual walk, while appreciating nature will reduce stress and anxiety and will also train your cardiovascular system to relax. If you are always on the go and pushing yourself, consider adding 1–2 casual movement days into your routine. This is especially helpful when the weather is hot because the heat itself will raise our core temperature and put more strain on our heart. For an added bonus, take a cooling walk on a beach with your best friend and collect some shells to remind you when you need to find some calm.
5-Play with your kids. Just play! Get on the ground. Swing on a swingset. Laugh more. Put on some music and dance. Chase fireflys. Remember what it was like to be a kid. Childlike behavior doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Playing like a child can help reduce stress, build a healthy immune system and if you add jumping in the water with abandon, it just might keep you cool too.
What are your favorite ways to hydrate, have fun, get healthy and stay cool in the summer? Leave me a comment below..I’m always looking for ideas to embrace my inner child :)