Easy summer diet tricks

Easy summer diet tricks

summer,going abroad,UK travel,weight loss tips,diets,Prima blonde woman on beach eating a watermelon If you want to shed a few pounds for your holiday, now\'s the time. It\'s easy when you know how. Read on for our top (and very easy) summer diet tricks...

A holiday (or wedding) is the perfect motivation

summer,wedding ideas,diets,Prima brunette in white dress on beach There\'s nothing like the thought of baring your body on the beach or slipping into a slinky wedding dress to focus your attention on getting rid of your love handles. ‘There\'s evidence that this type of goal leads to better weight-loss results,\' says Dr Sarah Schenker from the British Nutrition Foundation. Make your goal achievable, though - 2lb per week is realistic.

Eat little and often

summer,diets,healthy eating,Prima brunette eating salad It\'s second nature to choose smaller, more frequent meals in summer. ‘Eating too much food can overtax the digestive system, worsening the effects of heat stress by diverting blood away from the skin,\' says dietician Lyndel Costain. The smaller, more regular meals you eat in summer keep your blood sugar on an even keel, which keeps hunger sewn up.\'

Summer fruits have less calories

summer,weight loss tips,diets,strawberries,raspberries,Prima woman places berries in her mouth At this time of year, seasonal soft fruits crowd supermarket shelves - and they\'re low-calorie! Berries are top of the summer seasonal crops, which is great news for your waistline, as a bowl of deliciously sweet strawberries or raspberries only contains around 25 calories. They\'re also packed with antioxidants that zap cell-damaging free radicals.

Your hormones help you out

summer,weight loss tips,diets,stress management,Prima slim woman trying on dress Studies show that levels of the stress hormone cortisol actually drop during the summer, which is good news as it\'s linked with the storage of abdominal fat. As well as ruining your bikini body, abdominal fat increases your risk of developing heart disease or diabetes.

You don\'t crave carbs as much

summer,weight loss tips,diets,Prima 123 setting sun over a river Carb cravers agree that their carb habit is much worse in winter - as low light levels affect serotonin levels in the brain, which in turn can increase the urge for starchy snacks. When days are longer and light levels higher, carb cravings aren\'t as strong, which makes it easier to stick to your healthy eating plan.

Drink more water

summer,weight loss tips,diets,Prima,drinks glass of water with slice of kiwi Being more aware of your thirst in the hot weather means you\'re less likely to eat when you actually just need a drink. And if you quench your thirst with ice-cold water, you can even burn a handful of extra calories in bringing it up to body temperature. By swapping two litres of room-temperature water daily for the same amount of icy water, you could lose a pound over three months - not a lot, but every little helps.

Salad is top of the menu

summer,salads,weight loss tips,diets,Prima leafy green salad with tomatoes Deep-green leafy salads are ultra low in calories and packed with immune-boosting betacarotene, plus anaemia-protective iron and folate. To keep salads healthy, add a tasty but low-fat dressing.

Try sorbet instead of ice cream

summer,ice cream,weight loss tips,diets,Prima lush raspberry sorbet in glass In summer, sorbet is a more refreshing and healthier option than ice cream. Two 60ml scoops of sorbet contain around 100 calories, whereas two 60ml scoops of premium vanilla contain over 230 calories.

Make the most of barbecues

summer,weight loss tips,diets,Prima,barbecue barbecued steak Marinated barbecued meats are succulent without the need for added fat, and what fat they do contain drains off readily. So as long as you stick to steaks, chops and kebabs (not sausages and burgers) and pile your plate with salad, you can enjoy alfresco eating and prevent your waistline expanding.

Enjoy the outdoors

summer,outdoor pursuits,weight loss tips,diets,exercise,Prima woman playing tennis in the sun Warm weather encourages you to be more active because you can exercise outdoors. Try cycling in the cool of the evening, kicking a ball around the park with your kids, or having a knockabout on the tennis court. Aim for half an hour\'s fairly vigorous activity a day, which will burn around 200 calories.

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