My Summer Skinny Toolbox

Sep 26, 2014

At the first sign of serious warm weather, I search for my beach bag, pull out last year’s sunscreen and predictably wonder, “Does sunscreen have an expiration date?” Unlike my youth, I no longer associate sunny skies with a healthy looking tan, but instead with unsightly brown spots that I continue to pay good money to have lazered off every few years. Who knew?

I also have a beach bag or toolbox of sorts filled with summertime strategies for weight management behaviors specific to the pleasurable lack of structure and spontaneity that summer also regularly entails – unexpected BBQ’s, neighborhood block parties, days that I just didn’t want to leave the beach. Expecting the unexpected is key.

Summer Toolbox Ideas:

1. Foods to keep in the fridge at home: ice tea, broccoli slaw, smoothie makings

2. Foods to bring to eat: yogurt or cheese and fruit, hummus and veggies, cottage cheese w/ cucumber and tomato, turkey cheese roll ups

3. Foods to bring to other people’s houses: a crudite platter, berries, shrimp, spritzer makings

4. On the road real food and treat options: Anybody’s salad, frozen yogurt, skinny lattes

5. Equipment to carry food: a thermal bag and ice packs

6. Equipment to exercise: socks for the sneakers I always have in my trunk, a sun visor, bug spray, sunscreen

7. Equipment to do something other than eat! My camera, a frisbee, a good audio book on my iphone

Clients often site the lack of structure of summer as their great underminer, so more intangible tools like keeping track or deliberately creating structure in meal format and timing may be critical. I can even learn to simply calorically bank ahead for the predictably unpredictable treats.

Enjoying the spontaneity and treats of summer and still being able to keep a grip on my weight and myself? Priceless.

What’s in your summer weight management tool box?

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Susan L. Holmberg, MS, CNS is a Nutritionist in private practice with twenty years experience empowering individuals to solve their unique weight challenges.