Listen, I get it, its summer which means it is time for holiday gatherings, family get-togethers and lots of fun-filled cookouts. But, what summer cookouts are not is an excuse to completely blow your nutrition and compromise the fitness gains you have worked so hard to achieve over the winter offseason and the spring shape-up periods! Here are just a few tips I came up with to help you stay true to your nutrition plan and to keep yourself well hydrated during those hot summer outdoor get-togethers:
(1) Opt for veggie burgers and meatless hotdogs. These options can still be grilled alongside the meat varieties on the grill and have substantially fewer calories and saturated fat as do beef burgers and hotdogs. These options also have a high protein content, so my fellow weight trainers don’t despair, you’ll still get in your protein J
(2) Fill up on fresh fruits that are typically a part of any summertime gathering. Watermelon is a staple at any cookout, so eat up! Watermelon is 96% water, so you’ll stay hydrated. It’s also a great source of electrolytes which can help you avoid dehydration…. Which is an issue with our next tip (alcohol)
(3) So of course most cookouts are going to have alcohol right? Be smart and have only a couple of drinks if you must (remember studies have shown that consumption of 24 ounces of alcohol or more can have a negative impact on testosterone levels). Choose low-carb beer varieties such as Michelob Ultra or Miller 64 and even better would be red wine. Red wine has a high content of cancer-fighting antioxidants. Alcohol provides 7 calories per gram, so do the math. It doesn’t take many drinks to seriously rack up the calories! Keep in mind that alcohol also has a dehydrating effect on the body.
(4) Drink lots of water. Water obviously will keep your hydrated, but it will also help you to feel full, which translates into less chances of overeating.
(5) Eat baked potato chips instead of the deep fried varieties. If you’re worried that the host won’t have baked chips available, bring your own and be prepared to share! There are several companies that offer baked chips and they have less calories and no yucky hydrogenated oils like their fried chip cousins.
(6) Have a healthy meal before you go. This can help reduce the likelihood of overeating at the party, if not help you avoid eating at all while there.
(7) If there is a pool, swim your heart out. You’ll totally get in a great cardio workout by simply treading water, getting in and out of the pool, and doing your world-famous cannonball off the diving board. Even horseshoes and ladder-ball burn more calories than lounging in the lawn chair talking about your glory days J
So these are some simple tips that came to mind as I sit here thinking about weekend cookouts. We work hard to keep ourselves fit and living a Wellness Based Lifestyle, so don’t let these fun get-togethers be a set back! Get creative and it will be much easier to avoid pigging out at the next Pig-Pickin’
Stay Focused and Happy Training Y’all!!!!
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