Summer Vacation!

It's officially summer! Which means kids and teachers are out of school (I'm a teacher so I'm out of school until August! Yippee!), it's dangerously hot outside, everyone is heading to the pool/beach, and people are taking long vacations! Many tend to slack off on their healthy diet during the summer. Let's face it...it's 95 degrees in the shade and you just want lemonade, sweet tea, and ice cream! Don't slack off during the summer. If you love ice cream, swap that out for frozen yogurt and sorbet. It's healthier, has less calories, and is seriously yummy! Eat more fruit! Fruit is refreshing and it's peak season for growing it right now so you can find really fresh fruit for great prices. If you're on vacation it can be extremely difficult to stick to a diet plan, but you can do it! If you still want to eat your favorite foods (for me when I go to the beach I must go to a seafood buffet!) just eat smaller portions. When you get your plate ask for a to-go box immediately and put half of it away for leftovers. Many times we're conditioned to clear our plates, but if we have less on our plate to begin with we'll eat less! Ask for "Light" menus are restaurants. Most restaurants include healthier options and will have lighter dishes for those health-conscious people. If you do slack off during vacation don't beat yourself up about it! It is vacation! Just enjoy yourself and try to pay attention to what you're eating and get as much exercise as you can!

XOXO

Cardio

So most of us hate cardio workouts (i.e. treadmills, elliptical, treadclimber, etc.), but let's face it...if you're trying to lose weight then cardio is what you need! Here's a few cardio tips:

• Switch It Up: Never do the same machine over and over. That goes for any workout! Your body will basically get used to the workout. Your body is smarter than you think it is and it will learn your routine. Never give your body the chance to "get used to" any workout. 
• Buddy System: Hate running? Run with a buddy! You will be able to help each other as well as push each other to run harder and faster. If your partner is a fast runner you will naturally run faster to try to keep up. Make it a competition and make sure to cheer each other on. 
• Entertain Yourself: We all have that one cardio machine we absolutely despise. Take your favorite magazine, the current book your lost in, or turn on your favorite show on Netflix. You'll get so lost in what you're reading or watching that you'll forget you're on that machine you hate. You'll also forget how much time has passed and before you know it, you'll have completed 30 minutes of cardio. 
• Ignore the Time: Set a timer for 30 minutes, or however long you plan to do cardio, and cover up the time elapsed on the machine. Sometimes you tend to slack towards the end of your cardio workout or you tend to feel defeated and tired. If you aren't paying attention to the time, it won't have a chance to bother you.