Maintaining in summer months....hardest time of the year?
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I would say just because it's so damn tempting to get ice cream or beer and I'm out and about more. I went to a concert in Chicago Tuesday and it was on a freaking island and your only real choice of food was concert food. Of course it felt like I was melting and a tall can of corona sounded like the best damn idea in the world. Then when the train finally gets back to the burbs white castle is only restaurant open and of course that sounds great at midnight.1
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I find meal skipping is a very easy and effective way to fit in social events involving food, so a "big event day" becomes a two meal day instead of my usual three meals.
That's a great idea! I'm so used to lower calorie meals many times a day instead of the big family feasts. Cutting out a few of those to allow for heavier dinner and deserts around would keep gains to a minimum.0 -
If I go to a gathering I know is probably not going to have healthy options, I pig out on lower calorie-dense foods like cherry tomatoes, berries, salad beforehand or even bring a bunch with me. I'm not hugely comfortable in big groups because I'm pretty introverted, so I systematically keep putting food in my mouth even when not hungry. It's like it's something to do with my hands and food while watching other people socializing. Having those low density foods with me means I can still do it but without the huge amounts of calories and sodium from chips, brats, sweets, etc. I rarely drink anything other than water anyway so that aspect isn't an issue. Unless there's lemonade. I love me some lemonade.1
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Summer is brutal for me! We are always way more social during the summer with weddings, lake house parties, vacations, and boating to name just a few. Then comes fall with the tailgating. I keep my exercise up and just watch my cals when it comes to the choice of drinks I choose. During the winter it is cold here and we are way less social.0
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Way easier in the late spring/summer/early fall because all I do is grill and there is so much fresh fruits and veggies in season to choose from.
In the late fall/early winter, it is a bit more difficult with Thanksgiving/Christmas/NYE, but not unmanageable.0 -
I don't have any problem with summer since my activity level is just as high no mater what time of year it is as well as my calorie intake remaining the same. The only thing that changes is the fact that I eat more fresh veggies and fruit in the summer than the winter months.1
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Summer is a killer here. My favorite past time is laying in the pool chilling with a drink in my hand. I am up 5lbs & need to get a handle on my situation...
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For me summer is way easier to maintain because it's so hot I am not in the mood for eating. Winter with all the cakes, chocolates, holiday food really gets me.0
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I have maintained a 50 pound weight loss for a year... I struggle some in the summer because I am a teacher and off work and out of my normal schedule. I think about food and what I'm going to eat a lot more because I'm not as busy. My workouts are great, though, because I do have more time. I am really active, but more free time for me means more time to worry and fret over what I will eat! Plus, we do attend more social events in the summer where I don't have control over the food being served.0
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Summer time is easier for me too. I get to spend more time outside exercising which helps too. Winter time is hard especially from November to end of Dec and we also celebrate the heck out of football where I live.
My meals on a weekend or holiday are broken down from 3 meals with snacks to 1 bigger meal or 2 meals. I skip meals this day but I also just consume all my calories in 1 meal.0 -
Always easier for me. I walk more, I spend more time at the gym (because it gives me a break from my kids, mom of the year, I know), and I'm less hungry and chocolate is less appealing to me when it's hot.0
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Summer is easier for me too because I can get out and do so much more.
It's light longer and warm in the evenings and on weekends, so my husband and I go for longer bicycle rides and walks and hikes and things.
We're more inclined to do casual "triathlon-like" things on weekends in the summer where we cycle somewhere, then swim or canoe, and then do a hike ... or something like that. We do long, long bicycle rides ... and long, long hikes. We'll spend entire days out exercising just because we like being out exercising in the fresh air.
As for events ... there is Christmas right in the middle of summer, so there are one or two events, but those are easily compensated for by getting out and being active. And there's usually lots of fresh fruit (cherries and mangoes!) and veggies to choose from at those events. I tend to lean toward a vegetarian diet at that time of year ... but not entirely, because I do like a bit of turkey.
As for the heat ... I love it! The heat energises me and I love being out in the sun. I'm actually having trouble with the summers where I currently live because they are just not long and hot enough.
The cold just drains me and makes me tired ... and makes me want to put on fuzzy pjs and curl up on the sofa.
That's phenomenal that you and your husband do so many fitness activities together! It would be great if MINE was so inclined! He works a LOT and I tend to have to drag (sometimes unwilling lol) friends and family members for my excursions! You have certainly given me an idea with your "triathlon" type days...after my hikes and bike rides I normally still have energy to spare..mind you they are less than ten miles... I may begin hiking or biking to a destination and continuing a very Intense workout...:)0 -
Summer is harder for me because I am off from work therefore I am less active. I have been trying to maintain & am happy for any weight loss. I think that a "plateau" in weight loss is easier to handle knowing that I am at least not gaining & will be able to easily increase my activity as soon as work starts up again & I will be back to losing weight in the fall.0
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OP I'm the same way summer is pretty brutal. It seems like there is a get together or event every day. I think I've lost two pounds in the past two months but better than gaining ten i suppose.0
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I think the only time of the year I don't struggle is between New Years and like, May. I live in Minnesota so for much of those months it's too cold to go outside or do much of anything so I've got all the time in the world to work out. The rest of the year I'm just too darn social for my own good. Who wants to eat healthy and go to the gym in the summer when there are street fairs to attend, drinks to drink, patios to sit on, and bbqs to chow down at? Or in fall, where are Oktoberfests to go to, pumpkin spice lattes to sip, and football parties to eat at? The holidays with all the cookies, cheese plates, mashed potatoes, and festive cocktails?
Oh F, now I'm hungry.2 -
I started keeping track of how many special get-togethers I had involving food...pretty consistent all year, and I'm not overly social. Starting changing my mindset to "this is a special people occasion, not a special food occasion" to keep it in check. I have to ask myself: which foods at this event do I really love, and which do I eat cause they're there. Love me a grilled burger. Actually don't care much for the bun. So don't eat the bun. If there are foods where you eat it cause that's how it's served, know you can eat the fun stuff and leave the stuff you're only "meh" about. I find often there's volume in place of quality, so I think out...is this store bought potato salad really that tasty and fun to eat? Or am I eating it because it's part of the picnic atmosphere? On true vacations, I only indulge in things I can't get at home - fresh seaood, local cuisine, etc.2
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I sympathise so much with you guys who have to deal with snow in winter, i could not handle it! It's winter here and at the moment it's 7am and 8C (46F) outside and i'm freezing my butt off. Walking/running (my only exercise) in snow, no thank you
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brian_gunther wrote: »It's the exact opposite for me. Summer is full of lighter foods and options (fruits, salads, grilled meats, vegetables) and the fall/winter is full of heavier, richer foods that go with all the feasting holidays (Thanksgiving, Xmas, New Years, Superbowl parties, etc).
I started my "diet" last year a week before Thanksgiving. Trust me, summer is much easier...
Time of year doesn't matter. There's always "something": a party, vacation, holiday, distraction, family issue, crisis, work issue... something. Just have a plan and stay the course. If you get off track, just log it and move on. It happens. Don't let the time of year be a crutch or an excuse. We all make choices. Make yours count! It's about moderation, not deprivation.
This is me for sure! In the Summer my appetite decreases because of the heat. I want lighter foods and more fluids. It is very easy for me to gain 10 pounds from Thanksgiving, Christmas, and 2 Birthdays in January. This weight gain will not happen this year.0 -
Got to take it day by day no matter what season it's so freakin hard cause I love food so much day and night0
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Summer is always much harder for me even though I love to cycle. It is all the ice cream, parties, wineries, just as others have mentioned, BUT --- this year I am kicking butt. Down below my goal because of the Amazing Race Summer heat challenge. I love these MFP amazing race challenges, This is my third one. The team challenges keep me so focused on both my eating and exercise. There is a wait list if someone wants to try and get in on August. It is in the MFP challenges or message @hawkins4100
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This depends a lot on where you live! I'm in FL. My runs are shorter now and only going just before sunset. The kids are out of school, so on my days off I don't have my morning runs that I'm used to the rest of the year. The food thing doesn't bother me. I'm not a big fan of potato salad, hot dogs and hamburgers anyway and I don't drink beer.0
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Christine_72 wrote: »I sympathise so much with you guys who have to deal with snow in winter, i could not handle it! It's winter here and at the moment it's 7am and 8C (46F) outside and i'm freezing my butt off. Walking/running (my only exercise) in snow, no thank you
We deal with snow in summer, thank goodness.
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Yes, summer is so much harder for me. We have lots of parties at our house and all I want to do is lay around in the pool drinking margaritas. I am more way more active so that's the only thing that's saved me from gaining this summer - definitely no loss! Fall/winter is way easier as I don't do holidays and no pool parties.0
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Summer is easy...yeah, I definitely attend more BBQs, etc and I drink more cold beers...but I'm also way more active in summer than I am in the dead of winter...not just exercise active, but active in general...like you're likely to find me on a summer Sunday afternoon in the mountains hiking with my family or walking around the zoo or playing in the park, etc...whereas in winter you're likely to find me keeping warm in a movie theater or sitting on my couch watching football, etc.
I'd also say that while there are more BBQs, etc it's really not that big of a deal...a burger and some baked beans and corn on the cob isn't some kind of crazy calorie bomb...the stuff I tend to eat in winter is far more calorie dense "comfort" type of food and I move less. I usually put on 5-8 Lbs every winter which isn't really a big deal because it falls right off come Spring.1 -
Summer is harder for me because that's when I travel. I went to Italy, Greece, and two beach trips. Between all that it was hard to keep up a regular workout routine and of course, when in Italy: GELATO EVERY DAY. Because, duh.1
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I find it easier to focus in winter when there are fewer distractions of parties, boating, concerts, festivals, etc. But, it's super nice to have long daylight hours in Summer to get more walking/running in.0
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NorthCascades wrote: »Christine_72 wrote: »I sympathise so much with you guys who have to deal with snow in winter, i could not handle it! It's winter here and at the moment it's 7am and 8C (46F) outside and i'm freezing my butt off. Walking/running (my only exercise) in snow, no thank you
We deal with snow in summer, thank goodness.
Wow yes, that would be refreshing in summer
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I have maintained a 50 pound weight loss for a year... I struggle some in the summer because I am a teacher and off work and out of my normal schedule. I think about food and what I'm going to eat a lot more because I'm not as busy. My workouts are great, though, because I do have more time. I am really active, but more free time for me means more time to worry and fret over what I will eat! Plus, we do attend more social events in the summer where I don't have control over the food being served.
Same!! Love more time to do workouts in summer, but also more food "around" and not as busy!0 -
This summer has been harder for me. Last summer I was so close to my goal that I was really focused. This summer I am on maintenance and it seems easier to give into summer treats at family gatherings
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Summer is harder because my exercise is 80% running and living in FL with the searing heat and humidity has made my runs shorter. And the kids are out of school and keep me very busy.0
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