After concealing your body under bulky clothes during the winter months, concentrating on eating as healthy as possible is the best way to obtain an attractive summer body. Exercising is also an important component as you try to get in shape, but what you eat will ultimately have more influence over your figure. Here are some diet tips to help you obtain that swimsuit figure by the time summer rolls around.
Tip One: Eat Your Fruits and Veggies
Filling your diet with fresh, nutritious and low-calorie foods is the best way to begin transforming your body. Fruits and vegetables fit the bill. The food pyramid recommends eating 3-5 servings of fruit and vegetables daily. Focus your dieting efforts on trying to eat plenty of the right foods, not trying to avoid your favorite treats. This kind of mentality will aid you in obtaining your ideal summer body. When the afternoon rolls around and you need a snack, reach for an apple or some baby carrots instead of a cookie. Don't think of it as having to avoid the treat, think of it as having to fill you daily fruit and vegetable quota.
Tip Two: Eat a High-Fiber Lunch
No more empty calories. You'll be much less prone to snack if you eat a lunch that is filled with fiber. A bowl of chili with a portion of pita bread makes for an excellent high fiber lunch (bonus: it's also low in calories). A vegetable bean soup is another good option. For those who prefer frozen dinners, Kashi brand frozen meals have a higher fiber content than many of the other brands available. Eat a lunch full of fiber and you'll be amazed at how many hours you can go without a snack.
Tip Three: Cut Back on Sweets
Let's face it: you can't expect to transform you body when you're consuming processed foods and refined sugars. You need to cut back significantly if you want real results. That's not to say that you can't still enjoy the occasional treat--it just needs to be done in moderation. There are a couple of ways to cut back. One way is to enjoy something small every day, like a few small pieces of dark chocolate or a measured cup of low fat ice cream. You won't feel deprived if you still treat yourself every day. The other way is to wait to enjoy one large treat every week, like a shared dessert at a restaurant, if you'd prefer quality over quantity.
Tip Four: Count Your Calories
The only way to lose weight is to burn more calories than you're taking in. Go online to search for a calorie calculator. Based on your age, weight, height and activity level the calculator will estimate how many calories you need to maintain or lose weight. Start keeping a food journal to keep track of every bite you take. You can modify your diet based upon what you write down.
Combine these diet tips with a regular exercise regimen and you can expect to obtain your best summer body in a couple of months.
