Summer is around the corner. The summer season can put an extra hop in your step thinking about summer vacations, celebrations, and umbrella-clad drinks. Despite kicking back and overindulging in summer treats, summer can be the ideal time you will achieve all your weight loss goals.
Warm Weather Can Suppress Your Appetite
Many people consider ice cream the “official” summer food. However, with the warm temperatures people are less inclined to over indulge. You can confirm this theory by stepping into virtually any restaurant in the summer months and feeling the rush of cool air that will meet you at the door. Restaurants want to keep you comfortable and hungry. A report issued by the Institute of Medicine highlights how heat lowers our appetites. Try to eat outdoors in the warmer temperatures or bring a sweater or jacket along when dining out.
Nice Weather Encourages You To Be Active
Americans tend to be more active in the spring and summer months leading to an increase in weight loss. In 2012 Americans set a record for exercise, according to a Gallup Poll. But why did exercise levels increase in 2012 in the US? 2012 was one of the hottest and longest-lasting early summer heat waves in U.S. history. Enjoy the summer temperatures by walking, going for a bike ride, or swimming for at least 30 minutes a day.
You May Be Less Prone To Bad-Mood Binges
Colder temperatures often accompany dark and dreary days, and for some people this leads to an increase in depression. Depression and obesity can trigger and influence each other. Similar to the chicken and egg theory, science is not certain whether depression triggers obesity or vice versa. In a University of Pittsburgh study of people with winter seasonal affective disorder, 27 percent reported binge eating during the most depressing months of the year. And of these overeaters, 94 percent said they isolate themselves during the winter and 90 percent said they crave carbs more than normal when it’s cold outside
In addition to these summer weight loss benefits, incorporating a high-protein low-carbohydrate diet can help to shed some extra weight.
Do you have any health tips or ideas that help you reach your summer weight loss goals? We would love to hear from you.