Tell me why Summer makes it so hard to stick to your fitness plan and get results?
You want a bikini ready body – maybe you are follow a summer slim down plan – you’ve been following a tummy flattening diet – trying out all the fast summer fat loss tips….
…so what’s making all of this so hard?
Believe me – I understand!
Summer is a time of transition for me as well. School is out which means the temptation to sleep in is greater, warm weather means more outside events leading me to put off getting work done, and many other situations that have the potential to get me out of my routine – affect my eating habits and sticking to my workout plan.
Summer does not have to derail you!
Leave a reply below in the Comment Box so I can Help! I am always searching for new ideas for videos and tips to help you get the MOST out of your Summer Fat Loss fitness plan – so you can get results and KEEP them!
I look forward to your ideas and thoughts!
Holly
This entry was posted on Friday, June 19th, 2009 at 12:56 pm and is filed under Fat Loss Tips.
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No Responses to “Struggling With Summer Ready Results?”
The summer seems like one long endless weekend! I have to fight for a routine! Hard to keep first things first and the main things the main things! It’s worth examing and keeping on it, though!
Having a bedtime, even if it isn’t met, and a wake up time and schedule in place, even if there are continuous slip ups, we are still aiming for something.
I actually do better in the summer then in the winter. I notice that when I can cover up under clothes I don’t pay as much attention to workouts. And when it gets dark so early or the sun comes up so late I feel more tired. So I have more energy in the summer too.
So bizarre that you just posted this topic … just this past Wednesday, I forced myself to sit down and made a daily schedule for myself and the kiddos for this summer. We’ve been on summer break (I’m a teacher, so I’m on break, too) since the last week of May. It took me that long to discover that I was frittering away my days by sleeping in and wandering aimlessly from household project to household project and from summer activity to summer activity. I kept thinking I would get my workout in later in the day, but it kept not happening!!! I FINALLY figured out that I need to get up 1/2 hour to 45 minutes BEFORE my kids – just like I did during the school year – to get in my workout, Bible study, and quiet time with tea in hand, or those things do NOT get done; I end up losing the day in play with the boys and chores that need to get done. Now I’m back on track and feeling a wonderful sense of accomplishment again – HOORAY!
I find that the entertaining increases which means there is an increase in the amount of alcohol, non-supportive foods and just all those BBQ favourites. Another downfall for me are the jumbo freezies. My children and I love those and it is hard not to sit and have one with them after baseball.
Yep, it’s routine…the schedule is totally hosed in the summer and so my routine is crazy. They say”the more you have to do the more you actually do” so during the school year, I am so busy – I am a school teacher. The schedule is tight and strict and every minute is occupied – hello June, goodbye schedule!!!
My biggest challenge with summer is about scheduling. I recently started a new job that starts very early morning. This allows me to be home with me kids shortly after lunch. My husband works at home, so the kids are their with him until that time. As soon as I get home it’s figuring out what has to be done before leaving for sports. Our four children (ages 5-12 yearS) are all in sports and we normally have to leave by 4:30pm and don’t get home until around 11pm. In case you can’t tell dinner is a big problem. We have not figured this out just yet. Exercise isn’t happening right now either. There is always time, but I am not making good enough use out of it. Anybody else?
Holly my problem is that I am a full time student and when I was able to walk everyday I would do it faithfully but now the heat has rolled in and I find my self putting off what needs to be done.Like walking 10 miles a day, or even going out into the gym just getting motivated to just do it? So please help me it becuase of you I was enspired to lose the weight but now I don’t want it back so I really need your help.
Scheduling/new routine! I have sooooo much more to get done in the summer. I’ve just started tackling this and trying to figure out a solid routine but it has to be flexible as I balance two part time jobs, running the business, and my child only in care 2 days a week. Hmmmm. My mornings are busy, busy, busy.
Anyway, is my solution to just do it? Write out a schedule and stick to it best I can?
For me, it also seems like an endless weekend during the week. I’m grateful to be in DC vs Arizona since last summer it was so hot I wasn’t able to get effective workouts in unless I went at 5 am or after 8 pm. So, this summer getting out and about seems easier so far, but with 3 kids, just getting out the door can wear me out. My downfall, but my fuel, is sugar-free energy drinks and taking my vitamins/supplements every day.
Well, it has become obvious to me that it is a lack of plan. I just exercize as motivation hits me and May and June are really busy months and so no exercize hardly. Up to the end of May I take my kids to a class early in the morning and that is my exercize time but they finished and so did my exercize time. It’s still there but I am sleeping my way through it! I need to write out a concrete plan for my week and stick to it. I need to revise weekly as the schedule changes. Just sitting down and focusing on this part of my life may be it. I just don’t plan enough and so nothing happens. I think Sally has it right.
Our bedroom is on the west side of the house, so getting to bed early can be a challenge because the sun is up and our bedroom can be hotter than what is comfortable for sleeping.
Thankfully, we have good shades and air-conditioning. We just have to remember to darken the house around 8-9 pm and get the air conditioning going to get the tempurature cool enough for sleeping.
For me, summer is associated with holidays… fun time… and the likes… which ends up incorporating holiday from exercise.. but at the moment… it is easy for us southern hemisphere folks… Winter time… still 6 months til the full on heat of Australia hits… so on track with routine. Keep up the great work everyone.
Snacking while out and about doing errands. I’ve found that a home made trail mix is great, string cheese, yogurt in a cooler (we carry it around in our car). However when it’s time to make a stop somewhere and everyone one wants “ice-cream” or some treat. Looking for protein solutions on the go, if anyone has ideas on that. I recently bought these tiny cans of tuna that you open up w/out can opener, but what could you eat it with? I like Mayo, but trying not to have it. How could you eat tuna on the go, w/out those brands out there loaded with other stuff. Getting together with people for lunch makes it challenging, because not everyone is aware of eating healthier. Today I made a spinach salad with shrimp but my husband said it was more like an appetizer and said if we had company over I wouldn’t be serving that. (We switched over to eating in salad plates too for portion control). So I guess mostly for me staying committed to “myself” and letting everyone else enjoy themselves eat their treats.
The loss of a schedule is hard, but my main challenge is the heat! I do not respond well to high temperatures, and it’s very difficult to convince myself to get up and move MORE when I already feel like I’m melting.
My challenges are five kids at home 24/7 wanting to be entertained!!! And the loss of the structure to our day. My boys still have 5.5 days left of school, so I have time to plan some structure into the day. Also, I think with the hot weather, there’s the temptation to grab the sugary cold treats for snacks…we need some healthy yet tasty frozen snack ideas to help us cool off.
My major challenges revolve mostly around work and energy. I work eight hour shifts starting early in the morning and feel exhausted and drained when I get home. Even if I want to do something, it takes me a while to get motivated, especially on hotter days.
Hi, Holly! Definitely for me this is opposite. WINTER is the hardest, starting in September. The weather can get brutally cold that early and stay bone-chillingly cold til early May. That’s 9 months, long enough to have a baby start to finish.
What I need is stuff to keep us going all winter long, during school days, ideas to do outside even if it’s icy. Good foods to eat instead of all the holiday treats and sweets from Thanksgiving through Christmas and New Year’s all the way past Valentine’s.
Summer is when nobody is home, everyone is outside. Everyone is eating fresh vegetables and seasonal fruits. And fish. Lots of fish. No, summer isn’t the problem that winter is.
I find it a strain with the kids home and the demand for junk foods (pizza, noodles, chocolate, ice cream, fizzy drinks) because sometimes I’d LIKE to have some too, but I’d much rather stick to healthier alternatives. They say “You don’t have to eat it” but then I feel resentful that I can’t eat it! So far I have been coping by buying myself berries and things but I’d like to find some good recipes that will make them feel are ‘naughty’ but which are in fact healthy I’ll dig out my raw brownies recipe I think
Hi, Holly.
I love your blog and videos, but spare a thought that some of us are in the southern hemisphere! We’re having winter at the moment, so it’s hard for us to relate!
I’m struggling with not being able to ride my bike since it’s dark so early, and I also don’t like to run in the dark. I do have a gym membership, though, so I’ve got little excuse!
Summer or winter, though, I find that if I haven’t planned my day ahead of time, then I don’t end up doing anything that’s non-urgent, whether fitness-related or otherwise. The laundry piles up (till it becomes urgent!) and my workouts just don’t happen. The days I work I also eat very well, as I have to pack my food (i.e. planning!) the days I’m at home with the kids, I eat far less well, as I have not planned.
I think planning and creativeity for whatever obstacles we face is the key!
Definately all the invitations for BBQs and other leisurely summer evenings that involve food and wine! Workouts seem much easier though as I find it easier to get up earlier in the lighter, warmer months x
I find it hard because my kids are home all day and want to snack snack snack. Summer time does mean lots of activity for me though, trying to keep the kids busy.
My main problem is the calories ingested around entertaining. Mainly snack foods and alcohol!
Social events definitely for me too. How should I be preparing for them nutritionally in advance? Is there any kind of plan that you use before social events? Like tabatas — before or after??
I will be able to keep the workout routine going as I’m up in Canada – but it’s just the back-to-back social events taht happen throughout so much of the summer weekends.
For me it’s all the social engagements associated with summer… everyone is off and we’re invited to bbqs, dinner at friends’ houses, family functions with huge meals prepared for us, etc. And whenever someone invites us over they have always gone out of their way to prepare some crazy calorie-laden dessert for us. In the summer we are at these kinds of social things sometimes several times a week. It does seem in a way like 2 months of holidays in that sense, even though we still work. Plus my husband is an icecream fiend in the summertime and is ALWAYS eating it (and when I say always I mean like every night) which makes me feel deprived when I opt not to have it EVERY time… sigh!
For me it is all of the get-togethers and picnics that friends and family have. When you aren’t hosting the party, you don’t necessarily control if they will have hamburgers, chips, and drinks (not such healthy options), vs. chicken, fruit, salads, etc. What do you suggest for still being able to eat healthy in situations like this? Thanks for being so helpful!
For me my biggest challenge is eating well and often enough. So often I dont plan far enough ahead to have snacks all ready to go as I am running out the door. also making time to get my workouts in. I know that when I do my workouts I always feel so much better the rest of the day, but I feel like we are so busy and to have a schedule is next to impossible! Thanks, and excited for your motivation and insight!
I guess my biggest challenges would be #1 FOOD! Too many summer functions of which the food is out of my control on what it is of which de-rails me on what I make at home (I’m not great at figuring out what to eat). #2 Time. I get up at 5 and seem to go non-stop until 11. Work keeps me very very busy and when I’m not working I’m driving my daughter to things or we are headed somewhere as a family to do something. I need to figure out how to get up even just 15 mintues earlier but I just can’t wake up. I’m at a loss of energy and motivation and need so badly to get back on track! HOLLY HELP!! How do we get scheduled and on track when we feel we have no time?
I can sum up my summer problem in one word: SALT! And it’s in all of those summer time favorites; corn on the cob, hot dogs, potato chips. Lately I’ve been craving it and eating way too many foods that are heavy on the salt. I think it’s actually making me feel bloated, like I’m pregnant again. Is that possible? My joints are stiff and I’m thirsty all the time. Wondering if I’m the only salt fanatic out there and Holly if you could share tips on how to cut down, exactly what it’s doing to my body, and maybe some healthier alternatives. that would be great! Thanks!
Holly – again it is nice to know we are not challenged alone! I struggle with the heat and humidity when working out. It seems as though I can get through only 3 sets instead of 4 or 5 when it is cooler. Exercise seems to take so much more effort when it is hot. Started working out inside again – at least it is cooler and seems to help. Any suggestions are appreciated!!!
Hi
for me winter is a problem because I have to get up at 4am if I want to do my workout and it is just to cold! Summer time is not a problem to get up at 4am it is not so warm at that time
As far as my fitness and health are concerned, I dread summer. I notoriously gain 6-8 pounds by the end of August and seem to work the rest of the year to shed those pounds only to put them all back on in the summer.
My biggest challenge is Mommy guilt. I like to go to the gym every day for 9:30 classes and that means getting out of the house for 9am. My kids love to sleep late and I hate the idea of waking them early when it is their summer vacation. Needless to say, I give in to the unstructured schedule and sacrafice my health.
Another challenge is the eating temptations. We vacation 4 weeks in the summer on two separate occasions and healthy eating at resorts or beach side communities is so difficult, especially when you are eating out 3 times a day for two weeks at a time. I start to dread vacation because I know it is so hard to eat healthy.
The summer seems like one long endless weekend! I have to fight for a routine! Hard to keep first things first and the main things the main things! It’s worth examing and keeping on it, though!
Having a bedtime, even if it isn’t met, and a wake up time and schedule in place, even if there are continuous slip ups, we are still aiming for something.
I actually do better in the summer then in the winter. I notice that when I can cover up under clothes I don’t pay as much attention to workouts. And when it gets dark so early or the sun comes up so late I feel more tired. So I have more energy in the summer too.
So bizarre that you just posted this topic … just this past Wednesday, I forced myself to sit down and made a daily schedule for myself and the kiddos for this summer. We’ve been on summer break (I’m a teacher, so I’m on break, too) since the last week of May. It took me that long to discover that I was frittering away my days by sleeping in and wandering aimlessly from household project to household project and from summer activity to summer activity. I kept thinking I would get my workout in later in the day, but it kept not happening!!! I FINALLY figured out that I need to get up 1/2 hour to 45 minutes BEFORE my kids – just like I did during the school year – to get in my workout, Bible study, and quiet time with tea in hand, or those things do NOT get done; I end up losing the day in play with the boys and chores that need to get done. Now I’m back on track and feeling a wonderful sense of accomplishment again – HOORAY!
I find that the entertaining increases which means there is an increase in the amount of alcohol, non-supportive foods and just all those BBQ favourites. Another downfall for me are the jumbo freezies. My children and I love those and it is hard not to sit and have one with them after baseball.
Yep, it’s routine…the schedule is totally hosed in the summer and so my routine is crazy. They say”the more you have to do the more you actually do” so during the school year, I am so busy – I am a school teacher. The schedule is tight and strict and every minute is occupied – hello June, goodbye schedule!!!
My biggest challenge with summer is about scheduling. I recently started a new job that starts very early morning. This allows me to be home with me kids shortly after lunch. My husband works at home, so the kids are their with him until that time. As soon as I get home it’s figuring out what has to be done before leaving for sports. Our four children (ages 5-12 yearS) are all in sports and we normally have to leave by 4:30pm and don’t get home until around 11pm. In case you can’t tell dinner is a big problem. We have not figured this out just yet. Exercise isn’t happening right now either. There is always time, but I am not making good enough use out of it. Anybody else?
Holly my problem is that I am a full time student and when I was able to walk everyday I would do it faithfully but now the heat has rolled in and I find my self putting off what needs to be done.Like walking 10 miles a day, or even going out into the gym just getting motivated to just do it? So please help me it becuase of you I was enspired to lose the weight but now I don’t want it back so I really need your help.
Scheduling/new routine! I have sooooo much more to get done in the summer. I’ve just started tackling this and trying to figure out a solid routine but it has to be flexible as I balance two part time jobs, running the business, and my child only in care 2 days a week. Hmmmm. My mornings are busy, busy, busy.
Anyway, is my solution to just do it? Write out a schedule and stick to it best I can?
For me, it also seems like an endless weekend during the week. I’m grateful to be in DC vs Arizona since last summer it was so hot I wasn’t able to get effective workouts in unless I went at 5 am or after 8 pm. So, this summer getting out and about seems easier so far, but with 3 kids, just getting out the door can wear me out. My downfall, but my fuel, is sugar-free energy drinks and taking my vitamins/supplements every day.
Well, it has become obvious to me that it is a lack of plan. I just exercize as motivation hits me and May and June are really busy months and so no exercize hardly. Up to the end of May I take my kids to a class early in the morning and that is my exercize time but they finished and so did my exercize time. It’s still there but I am sleeping my way through it! I need to write out a concrete plan for my week and stick to it. I need to revise weekly as the schedule changes. Just sitting down and focusing on this part of my life may be it. I just don’t plan enough and so nothing happens. I think Sally has it right.
Vicki
Our bedroom is on the west side of the house, so getting to bed early can be a challenge because the sun is up and our bedroom can be hotter than what is comfortable for sleeping.
Thankfully, we have good shades and air-conditioning. We just have to remember to darken the house around 8-9 pm and get the air conditioning going to get the tempurature cool enough for sleeping.
Again, this is something we have to plan ahead.
For me, summer is associated with holidays… fun time… and the likes… which ends up incorporating holiday from exercise.. but at the moment… it is easy for us southern hemisphere folks… Winter time… still 6 months til the full on heat of Australia hits… so on track with routine. Keep up the great work everyone.
Snacking while out and about doing errands. I’ve found that a home made trail mix is great, string cheese, yogurt in a cooler (we carry it around in our car). However when it’s time to make a stop somewhere and everyone one wants “ice-cream” or some treat. Looking for protein solutions on the go, if anyone has ideas on that. I recently bought these tiny cans of tuna that you open up w/out can opener, but what could you eat it with? I like Mayo, but trying not to have it. How could you eat tuna on the go, w/out those brands out there loaded with other stuff. Getting together with people for lunch makes it challenging, because not everyone is aware of eating healthier. Today I made a spinach salad with shrimp but my husband said it was more like an appetizer and said if we had company over I wouldn’t be serving that. (We switched over to eating in salad plates too for portion control). So I guess mostly for me staying committed to “myself” and letting everyone else enjoy themselves eat their treats.
The loss of a schedule is hard, but my main challenge is the heat! I do not respond well to high temperatures, and it’s very difficult to convince myself to get up and move MORE when I already feel like I’m melting.
My challenges are five kids at home 24/7 wanting to be entertained!!! And the loss of the structure to our day. My boys still have 5.5 days left of school, so I have time to plan some structure into the day. Also, I think with the hot weather, there’s the temptation to grab the sugary cold treats for snacks…we need some healthy yet tasty frozen snack ideas to help us cool off.
My major challenges revolve mostly around work and energy. I work eight hour shifts starting early in the morning and feel exhausted and drained when I get home. Even if I want to do something, it takes me a while to get motivated, especially on hotter days.
Hi, Holly! Definitely for me this is opposite. WINTER is the hardest, starting in September. The weather can get brutally cold that early and stay bone-chillingly cold til early May. That’s 9 months, long enough to have a baby start to finish.
What I need is stuff to keep us going all winter long, during school days, ideas to do outside even if it’s icy. Good foods to eat instead of all the holiday treats and sweets from Thanksgiving through Christmas and New Year’s all the way past Valentine’s.
Summer is when nobody is home, everyone is outside. Everyone is eating fresh vegetables and seasonal fruits. And fish. Lots of fish. No, summer isn’t the problem that winter is.
I find it a strain with the kids home and the demand for junk foods (pizza, noodles, chocolate, ice cream, fizzy drinks) because sometimes I’d LIKE to have some too, but I’d much rather stick to healthier alternatives. They say “You don’t have to eat it” but then I feel resentful that I can’t eat it! So far I have been coping by buying myself berries and things but I’d like to find some good recipes that will make them feel are ‘naughty’ but which are in fact healthy
I’ll dig out my raw brownies recipe I think 
Hi, Holly.
I love your blog and videos, but spare a thought that some of us are in the southern hemisphere! We’re having winter at the moment, so it’s hard for us to relate!
I’m struggling with not being able to ride my bike since it’s dark so early, and I also don’t like to run in the dark. I do have a gym membership, though, so I’ve got little excuse!
Summer or winter, though, I find that if I haven’t planned my day ahead of time, then I don’t end up doing anything that’s non-urgent, whether fitness-related or otherwise. The laundry piles up (till it becomes urgent!) and my workouts just don’t happen. The days I work I also eat very well, as I have to pack my food (i.e. planning!) the days I’m at home with the kids, I eat far less well, as I have not planned.
I think planning and creativeity for whatever obstacles we face is the key!
Definately all the invitations for BBQs and other leisurely summer evenings that involve food and wine! Workouts seem much easier though as I find it easier to get up earlier in the lighter, warmer months x
I find it hard because my kids are home all day and want to snack snack snack. Summer time does mean lots of activity for me though, trying to keep the kids busy.
My main problem is the calories ingested around entertaining. Mainly snack foods and alcohol!
Social events definitely for me too. How should I be preparing for them nutritionally in advance? Is there any kind of plan that you use before social events? Like tabatas — before or after??
I will be able to keep the workout routine going as I’m up in Canada – but it’s just the back-to-back social events taht happen throughout so much of the summer weekends.
In need of a map!
Thanks a bunch.
For me it’s all the social engagements associated with summer… everyone is off and we’re invited to bbqs, dinner at friends’ houses, family functions with huge meals prepared for us, etc. And whenever someone invites us over they have always gone out of their way to prepare some crazy calorie-laden dessert for us. In the summer we are at these kinds of social things sometimes several times a week. It does seem in a way like 2 months of holidays in that sense, even though we still work. Plus my husband is an icecream fiend in the summertime and is ALWAYS eating it (and when I say always I mean like every night) which makes me feel deprived when I opt not to have it EVERY time… sigh!
Beer and Diet coke are my biggest strugles to find something else to take their place.
Unlike most of the women here our child is becoming very independent since she is driving so we are being more social.
My drink of choice when we go boating is beer. I have tried flavored vokda and other low calorie drinks. Not found anything as good as beer:)
My morning drink is diet coke. Love the caffine. I have tried green tea. That stuff is just alfull. Coffee tastes like dirt.
Just feel bad that the things I drink are not good for me, but what can ya do???
Lori
For me it is all of the get-togethers and picnics that friends and family have. When you aren’t hosting the party, you don’t necessarily control if they will have hamburgers, chips, and drinks (not such healthy options), vs. chicken, fruit, salads, etc. What do you suggest for still being able to eat healthy in situations like this? Thanks for being so helpful!
For me my biggest challenge is eating well and often enough. So often I dont plan far enough ahead to have snacks all ready to go as I am running out the door. also making time to get my workouts in. I know that when I do my workouts I always feel so much better the rest of the day, but I feel like we are so busy and to have a schedule is next to impossible! Thanks, and excited for your motivation and insight!
I guess my biggest challenges would be #1 FOOD! Too many summer functions of which the food is out of my control on what it is of which de-rails me on what I make at home (I’m not great at figuring out what to eat). #2 Time. I get up at 5 and seem to go non-stop until 11. Work keeps me very very busy and when I’m not working I’m driving my daughter to things or we are headed somewhere as a family to do something. I need to figure out how to get up even just 15 mintues earlier but I just can’t wake up. I’m at a loss of energy and motivation and need so badly to get back on track! HOLLY HELP!! How do we get scheduled and on track when we feel we have no time?
I can sum up my summer problem in one word: SALT! And it’s in all of those summer time favorites; corn on the cob, hot dogs, potato chips. Lately I’ve been craving it and eating way too many foods that are heavy on the salt. I think it’s actually making me feel bloated, like I’m pregnant again. Is that possible? My joints are stiff and I’m thirsty all the time. Wondering if I’m the only salt fanatic out there and Holly if you could share tips on how to cut down, exactly what it’s doing to my body, and maybe some healthier alternatives. that would be great! Thanks!
Holly – again it is nice to know we are not challenged alone! I struggle with the heat and humidity when working out. It seems as though I can get through only 3 sets instead of 4 or 5 when it is cooler. Exercise seems to take so much more effort when it is hot. Started working out inside again – at least it is cooler and seems to help. Any suggestions are appreciated!!!
Hi
for me winter is a problem because I have to get up at 4am if I want to do my workout and it is just to cold! Summer time is not a problem to get up at 4am it is not so warm at that time
As far as my fitness and health are concerned, I dread summer. I notoriously gain 6-8 pounds by the end of August and seem to work the rest of the year to shed those pounds only to put them all back on in the summer.
My biggest challenge is Mommy guilt. I like to go to the gym every day for 9:30 classes and that means getting out of the house for 9am. My kids love to sleep late and I hate the idea of waking them early when it is their summer vacation. Needless to say, I give in to the unstructured schedule and sacrafice my health.
Another challenge is the eating temptations. We vacation 4 weeks in the summer on two separate occasions and healthy eating at resorts or beach side communities is so difficult, especially when you are eating out 3 times a day for two weeks at a time. I start to dread vacation because I know it is so hard to eat healthy.