With the summer almost here, most women are thinking about losing weight or starting new healthier habits. If that’s you, it’s important to set realistic goals that could motivate you to make progress. Whether it’s eating right or exercising more, here are four key weight health goals you can consider for the summer season.
How to Set Realistic Weight Goals for the Summer
When setting goals, it’s important to be realistic as to what you can achieve. As we get older, our metabolism starts to shift and muscle mass declines. When you’re in your 40s, it’s important to establish some structure and consistency in your weight-loss plan. You don’t want to set any goals that are beyond your reach. Try using the SMART goals strategy in lose weight effectively. Here’s an outline to create SMART weight loss goals:
S-Specific-Set a timeline and specific target you’re trying to reach
M-Measurable-Get a tracker, whether it’s an app or a printable planner, to keep up with how much protein or workouts you’ve been doing each week.
A-Achievable- Make sure that these nutritional and fitness goals are attainable. Make sure that these goals are beneficial in protecting muscle and energy.
R-Relevant- Connect your goal to other health markers such as blood pressure, mobility, and energy level.
T-Time-bound- Set a time of 6-12 weeks for a weight loss plan leading into summer.
It’s also beneficial to set sizable, easy-to-achieve weekly and monthly goals. Focus on making progress rather than just doing things perfectly.
Healthy Eating Habits to Support Goals
Eating healthy during the summer season could be hard. You’re surrounded by so many food trucks, festivals, and other luring temptations that could lead to weight gain. Summer also brings plenty of ice cream trucks and other sweet eateries. However, despite those temptations, you can still eat well during the summer. It takes discipline and hard work, but it can be done by following these goals.
Fill Your Plate with Seasonal Produce
There are plenty of seasonal, nutritious produce options for you to enjoy. Watermelon, cantaloupe, zucchini, and cucumber are all good examples of foods you can put in recipes or just put on your plate. A lot of these fruits and veggies have high water content that keeps you hydrated in the summer heat. Implement fruits and veggies in your diet to keep your weight down.
Practice Portion Awareness
It’s also important to discipline yourself to eat in small portion sizes. When you’re at a barbecue or at a backyard party and surrounded by delicious food, that’s not always easy. As a food fan, that isn’t always easy for me as well. However, eating in oversized portions could lead to serious weight gain. Eat balanced meals by practicing mindful eating. This involves taking your time while eating and paying attention to your hunger and fullness cues. Also, it’s okay to sometimes eat guilty-pleasure foods. Just balance them with healthy choices.
Summer Fitness Goals That Promote Healthy Weight
Along with eating right, exercising is important as well. Now that the weather is great, it makes it easier to go out for a walk, run, or bike ride with your friends and family. Staying active is extremely important in the summer months. Here are a couple of ways you can do that to promote a healthy weight.
Increase Daily Movement
Daily movement is a must to achieve your fitness goals. Take a day or more to get out of your car and do some 30-minute brisk walking or running. Some people also like to engage in hiking adventures during the summer. Whether it’s swimming or bike-riding with your friends and family, you can increase your daily movement to lose weight.
Find Activities You Enjoy
It’s also important to do activities that you love. Doing activities you enjoy motivates you to be consistent. What’s your favorite summer activity? Do you enjoy bike-riding, playing volleyball, or swimming? Now that the weather is nice, start doing one of these activities regularly. You’ll be having fun and getting fit at the same time.
Tips for Staying Motivated Throughout the Summer
Staying motivated to lose weight in the summer requires discipline, hard work, and endurance. Consider keeping track of your health by means of journals, habit trackers, or health apps. Give yourself flexibility by not developing all-or-nothing goals for yourself. If you start to develop some setbacks, be sure to work your way back to starting those healthy habits again. Always be kind to yourself when setting your summer weight goals.
Do you have any weight loss and self-care goals for the summer? What are your weight health goals for the summer season? Feel free to share your goals in the comments section below. As always, be sure to like or share this post with the next woman who’s trying to set some weight goals for this summer.
