05 Mar Shape up for Spring Break: Diet Tips

Spring Break is rapidly approaching. Whether you’re a high school or college student planning to go on the annual trip in search of warmer weather and fun, or simply want to shake off the winter rust and extra pounds, here are some tips to trim down and shape up.
When it comes to losing weight, it takes a combination of eating well and exercising. Here are five spring break diet tips.
1. First and foremost, drop your total daily calorie intake and understand that the types of calories you consume play a big part as well. Losing weight comes down to simple math — you have to burn more calories than you take in.
2. How do you cut calories? Besides just eating less, you have to eat healthier. Avoid empty calories that provide little nutritional value, such as junk food loaded with sugar, soda pop, and white breads or white rice.
Those types of foods are digested quickly and you’re left more hungry that if you eat more natural foods. Instead, turn to foods like fruit, vegetables, natural oatmeal and whole grain breads. Eat more small meals through the day, incorporating healthy snacks such as carrot sticks, a peanut butter sandwich and apple or orange.
3. Drink plenty of water. That will help fill you up and hydrate your body.
4. If you have a good three or more weeks until your trip, it’s possibly to drop 5-10 pounds. If you’re really serious about losing weight, the first thing to do is to completely cut out drinking soda. Also, eliminate fast food and reduce alcohol intake, which I know may be hard for many college spring breakers.
5. Change won’t happen overnight, but a few weeks of eating like this and exercising 3-4 times per week should tone you up. Then remember your healthy changes and try to continue them through the rest of the year.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. Consult a doctor before making any significant changes in your exercise routine or diet. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com