Venus Trapped in Mars Sports and Lifestyle Blog Dallas

06 August 2013

5 Tips To Staying Healthy During the Summer Months

I'm as much doing this blog post for me to remember, hey, just because you have a cookout Thursday night doesn't mean that your whole week is pig out week. I sometimes think that it is ok to blow my healthy eating habits all week long if I know I have an event with limited food selection one day that week. HELLO stupid thinking.

I hate that I have such an all or nothing approach to the healthy lifestyle. My caloric consumption varies so much from day to day that I give a new meaning to the term swing dieter. One day I bet I'll only consume 900 calories then the next day 2900 calories because I'm so flipping hungry from the 900 calorie day.

My friend Lisa and I spent last past year working out religiously 2-4 times per week doing fun classes like Turbo Kick and Zumba. Upon moving to Dallas I lost my workout buddy, and clearly my motivation for keeping fit. By some grace of God, I have not gained too much weight since I moved here, but I have lost muscle and that makes me feel terrible about myself.

I'm waking up this Tuesday morning and saying, GET IT TOGETHER SARAH.

I'm not an expert, I'm not a nutritionist, I'm not skinny, I'm not pretending to know it all. I'm just an every-girl that struggles. But I'm an every-girl that knows what works, and what doesn't work. Here are my tips and tricks for staying focused and fit during the hot, event-filled Summer months, and well, really any time of year!



1. Utilize your iPhone: Track, track, track, then track some more. The best app I have on my phone is My Fitness Pal. I just went through and friended as many random people as possible so I have people cheering me on, and vice versa. Who cares if I don't know them, in fact, that may even make it better because I can be more honest! I update my weight every monday, and when I lose weight, it gets announced in my "news feed" (and all my friends start to congratulate me on my weight loss!) Whoo! Friends or strangers, encouragement and congrats are always fun to receive.

2. MOVE: Move somehow. Do something. During the summer, don't stress out about not being in the gym for an hour. Do a 30 minute spin class instead of an hour of turbo kick. Do 15 minutes of abs. Walk the dog for longer than normal. Go to Zumba instead of spin if you just can't fathom being on a bike for 45 minutes. I know that is so hard for me sometimes. Run around in circles in your apartment... regardless, just move, then you can have more wine!


3. Fear the most common misconceptions: Tip: When at a restaurant, let the server know that you have an allergy to butter and oils. Restaurants take allergies very seriously and I assure you there will be no butter or oil on your food. Will your food taste as good? No, but you will look fab in your bathing suit.
Yes I know vinaigrette is spelled wrong, but I didn't save the file and this post took me long enough to write already.

4. Take Pictures: Pregnant women take pictures of their belly growing and post it on Facebook every week. Well, take similar pictures and watch yourself shrink. I try and pick the worst possible outfit that makes me look super heavy on day 1 of a health overhaul. My go to is usually this purple bathing suit. Nothing is more revealing, or makes you want to lose weight more than a bathing suit. I update my picture each week to see my progress! I don't post them on Facebook, OBVIOUSLY! Don't nobody wanna see that. If nothing else, your before and after could make you (and your blog) a Pinterest sensation.







..... and I've clearly lost my mind for posting that. Hey turbo kick, how ya doing? We clearly need to hang out soon.

5. Don't live an all or nothing lifestyle: If you mess up at a catered work lunch, don't dwell, your day is not shot. Eat a salad for dinner! Those who wander are not lost! This is the one I have the hardest time with, hands down.

And the same goes for treating yourself. If I were to say to myself, "Self, you may never have chips and salsa or sweet treats again, if you want to be thin" what do you think self would then go do? Eat a bag of chips and salsa with birthday cake remix from Cold Stone on top.

I was lucky enough to have Fruttare ask me to review their frozen fruit bars.

Content provided in partnership with Fruttare.

I loved this product because first and foremost, it was totally delicious. I tried a box of both the strawberry and the mango. The mango was hands down my favorite. In the 109 (yes I said 109) degree weather, it is so hard to get cooled off. It's easy to turn to high sugar sodas or ice cream. This is the best alternative to refreshing yourself without totally ruining your healthy day.

Content provided in partnership with Fruttare.

The best part is that the bars I tried, mango and strawberry, are only 60 calories!! YES, 60! You could even have two, feel like you are totally indulging, but you've only consumed the amount of calories you would burn off in a 30 minute casual walk.

And the best part is Fruttare gave me a coupon for a free box of frozen fruit bars for one lucky reader to try! Just to make this deal even sweeter (pun of course intended) I'm going to throw in ESPN sized ad space too. All you have to do is comment and leave me a tip you use to stay healthy in the summer months. I'll use random.org to pick the winner. You have until Thursday at 5:00pmCST to enter!
Venus Trapped

52 comments :

  1. i LOVE that you're adding fitness posts to your blog!! and you're making incredible progress too.

    i'm totally an "everything in moderation" kinda gal and as long as you eat clean 95% of the time, that 5% won't make a dent.

    keep it up!

    -kathy
    Vodka and Soda

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  2. It is so important to track! & it also shows you what you waste your calories on. A lot of people do it for drinks. DIET! No cal is the way to go. Dressing is literally loaded with calories and some people don't realize that, so I am so glad you pointed that out.

    I love this post, and i love knowing that you are getting up and working hard today. Its inspirational to see that. Keep up the great work!

    xo. Kailagh

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  3. Love this post So true that all is not lost from one bad food decision in a day! I need to remind myself of this more! Those bars looks delic and a great way to beat the Texas heat!

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  4. I'm an all or nothing person too when it comes to being healthy! I knew I was going out to dinner last night...so I had Cheetos for lunch. Seriously. If I slip up and have one unhealthy thing, I may as well have 7 other unhealthy things, right? I'm the worst.

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  5. good luck on your fitness journey. one of my fave things to do when i'm feeling "lazy" is to do a dvd workout at home or even just go find a workout on youtube. there are tons and i can get in 15-30 minutes without even leaving the house. those fruit bars look awesome. i've been having a million smoothies at home lately too and it's nice to have a sweet snack that isn't bad for you.
    -- jackie @ jade and oak

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  6. Love this!! I think the best is not throwing in the towel if you've made a mistake or eaten a bad lunch! Like you said, just make sure you next meal/decision is a good one and get right back on track!

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  7. I try to remind myself that I'm not going to be PERFECT every single time. When I mess up, that doesn't mean the rest of the week/month is shot. Just gotta' keep at it! Habits take awhile to BECOME habits! :)

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  8. oooh yummm and look at that BOD. i think you look amaze but that's just me.

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  9. I get in the habit of doing the all or nothing thing, too! I don't know why we do that...it's ridiculous! Loved your tips :)

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  10. I bought a desk bike..not sure what they are really called. It looks like bike pedals but I slide it under my desk so I can work out while working. I've gained 15 pounds this year and on a 4'10 body that looks like 100 extra pounds.

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  11. Balsamic vinegarette has more calories than ranch dressing??!!? My mind is blown.

    Big Apple, Little Bites

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  12. I weigh every other day to motivate myself. It's easier to eat healthily when I know there's a consequence for not.

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  13. I try to drink lots of water. it helps me feel more full, plus it helps hydrate me before I dehydrate with a few cold ones. filling up a tumbler helps me drink the boring water, and occasionally I'll add some lemon to it.

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  14. No all or nothing is key - I'm so freaking all or nothing. I'll say I won't eat carbs, and then I have 1 M&M and I'm like days over, where's the pasta? Not normal.

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  15. You look great! I've been going back and forth between getting a gym membership just so I can go to classes like BodyPump and TurboKick!

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  16. Great post Sarah. I'm the same way with the all or nothing life-style, which is not good. I was doing soo good in the beginning of the summer. Eating a strict/healthy diet and exercising regularly. I had a long weekend of events/dinners and never fully committed/ got back into it. I haven't gained the weight back, but am still disappointed in myself. I really need to get a better handle on a healthy lifestyle and not let my schedule hinder that!

    encouragement and praise are a wonderful thing! I'll have to join My Fitness Pal!

    Have a great day! xoxo

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  17. I so wish I had a partner to go to the gym with... I usually go at the same time as Derek but we never work out together. But it still helps that we can hold each other accountable!

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  18. Love your tips!! I've recently been traveling a lot for work and it's so hard to not order a giant bowl of alfredo smothered pasta when we go out. I feel my gut growing as we speak.

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  19. Love these! I hear you on the all or nothing! My BF is a workout-o-holic so I've been going to 6AM workouts with him, I hate it, but I try to remember that I feel great after when I dont want to drag myself out of bed! I'm moving back to Dallas in a week if you need a workout buddy, or if you want to jump on the 6AM train let me know!

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  20. Say no to Cooler Ranch doritos. You can't just have one...

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  21. Good tips, but don't lie to your waiter or waitress. They aren't stupid, they know you just don't want it and you aren't allergic to butter and/or oil. It's insulting and rude.

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  22. #1 you look great in that swim suit you bitch. #2 I always had the all or nothing mentality until a few months ago, I don't know what happened but all of a sudden I became healthy. I mean I drink and shit but i kind of can't stand more than a bite or two of anything super unhealthy these days. (i hope it is not a phase!)

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  23. The all or nothing mentality is a great way to fail--I think. It makes me super depressed when I mess up and then I just want to quit. But if I'm allowed a cheat day, it makes me more determined to "make it" until that day! Great post girl!

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  24. Great post! Like you said, I try to just get moving some how every day or I feel like a bum. A friend convinced me to take progress photos and it is so much more motivating than I thought! Lookin' good!

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  25. i think your last tip is the most important! you have to remember to be active and healthy, but not beat yourself up if you slip once in a while! #getsweaty oh and do burpess, they suck, but they are awesome for you

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  26. First, this post is awesome my friend. And not gunna lie...I want me some of them fruit bars... What has worked for me to keep on track is to let myself have one day a week I endulge in whatever (i.e. donuts on a Saturday morning followed by pizza and beer for dinner..yum) And during the week I make sure I eat constantly..every 2 hours to keep my metabolism working round the clock. I like to think 80/20..if 80% of the week I am doing good, then 20% of not so good won't hurt ;)

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  27. Uhhh you have a better body than I do. Why are you hiding that thing?! And you said you didn't wanna fit into a body hugging dress...psh

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  28. You look GREAT! I am inspired to run and do some interval training tonight. And eat a frozen fruit bar!

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  29. Drinks lots of water!!! And if you aren't a water drinker, then use some flavor stuff like Mio or Dasani water enhancers. Super good!

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  30. LOVE the fruit bars. Strawberry is my favorite! Thanks for all your fitness tips. Good for you for posting that photo. I don't know if I could ever do that!

    ~Ashley @ A Cute Angle
    http://acutelifestyle.blogspot.com

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  31. Congrats to you! During the summer months, I actually cut out most carbs except for one day. Tim Ferriss (I know, I know...) has been my lifesaver and keeps me slim with finding the right balance!

    cpresto11@gmail.com

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  32. Oh no...another one of my daily reads is talking about health. Lol j/k, I've noticed that sitting down all day and being on the other side of 25 has DEFINITELY seen some changes in my physique. Changes I'm not fond of. Changes Boomer points out EVERY day. I get stuck on the all or nothing post. I need to just rest in a happy medium. We can do it!

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  33. I see what you're doing but I'd still like to look like your "before" picture. I use MFP too, although I've been horrible about using it. You can find me at gotjack28

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  34. I LOVE MFP... I think my biggest thing during summer is getting motivated.. with it being hot here too, it's hard but I go try on a bathing suit and POW. motivation.. cuz it ain't looking to hot now

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  35. Ughhhhh I so should take your advice from this post. I'm a total 'treat yoself' on Monday and then the whole rest of the week I eat like shit because hey, I already screwed up! (My left hand is in a bag of chips as I type with the right, ha) but seriously good tips

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  36. Such good tips!! Love them all! And please girl! You look AH-mazing in your swimsuit pics!! I went to the beach yesterday and wore a bikini for the first time in a year and a half!! I took a pic of it just to compare my progress and such and my immediate thoughts were "nope. no one is seeing. better put a more slimming outfit on for ze blog" lol. But have you might have inspired me to show it off on my Friday Fitness Progress post... We'll see :P

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  37. Mmmmmm, those fruit bars look delish. I am always reminding myself that one meal of "poor choices" is not the end. It doesn't have to derail everything. Now, if only I could make it so that one meal doesn't happen quite so often!

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  38. I always get so so angry at myself for falling off the wagon because I know that it's going to be SO BAD the first "new" week. Ugh.

    Michelle @ Mishfish13

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  39. I'm a big advocate during the summer of making it a priority to get out of the house once; if its walking, running, or biking - I try to do something active. And let me know if you want to workout together!!

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  40. I love summer, I eat better during summer and have more motivation to exercise during summer............all in all it is a great time of year

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  41. You look GREAT! And all this hard work will pay off when we are partying our asses off for New Years Eve in Dallas.

    Anyway, my healthy tip is homemade popcorn. Get some kernels, pop them in a brown paper bag, and sue some spray butter (the fake stuff). It fills you up for almost no calories AND cures a snacking addiction fast!

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  42. Yeah girl, way to be a freaking idol and post bathing suit selfies on the blog. Confidence off the charts, hope you wake up tomorrow feeling the same way :)

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  43. For the summer months, I try to work out doing activities that don't seem like working out. Strolling up and down a sandy beach burns more calories because you're walking against the sand which is sucking you in. Riding bikes, strolling around your neighborhood and cooling off in the pool all count too! I love knowing I burned calories without consciously thinking about burning them off!

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  44. Well first of all, I say good for you for being a real person and posting a picture you don't love of yourself on your blog. I like your style.
    But as for the rest of the post goes, I'm afraid I'm a write off for a bit. I had my baby 5 months ago and although I only have ...6 pounds to lose until I'm back to my old weight, I'm just not feeling the motivation to lose weight! I blame the summer, the heat and mainly my lazy ass. One day soon I'll at least start small... Like push ups.., or skipping in the driveway. (Yeah right.. I start with such great intentions and then I get tired way too fast and quit..!)
    Good for you though. I admire the go get em attitude.
    P.S Don't you love when you start a paragraoh with "first of all.." and then forget to follow through with a "secondly" or a "lastly"!? LOL Oh well ;)

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  45. There are SO many great apps on your phone for free that can help!

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  46. Oh MAN, do I ever need this list right now. My best friend and I have been debating going on 24 hour cleanses/week long gluten free/etcs ever since we started drinking back in... June? July, I guess, actually.

    I love this time of year because I'm usually so over being hungover/eating too much BBQ/pushing off my gym days to go to the beach instead that I turn into a superhuman come late August/early September and stay that way til Christmas. When baked goods are ultimately my downfall.

    Man I don't think I could have sounded more unhealthy if I tried hahahaha.

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  47. One of my favorite ways to stay healthy in the summer is to make sure that I am drinking lots of water. When I am dehydrated, I always reach for sugary drinks and eat a lot more. Also, cold grapes are a wonderful snack!

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  48. I love to reward myself! I set up goals, i.e. after I've lost 10lbs, I get to spend $$ at Sephora, at 15lbs I let my self enjoy a mani/pedi. I've lost 55lbs so far! I love shopping and this has really helped! Also, I've got horrible will power. If I want something, I get it- but I only eat a very small portion. It makes binge eating a thing of the past! Good luck girl!
    -Erin @EastCoastGlamm

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  49. I struggle with the all or nothing problem too but I have realized it and am really working on it now!

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  50. I'm definitely an all-or-nothing girl as well. :(
    I really have to get rid of that mindset!
    Thanks for the tips!
    Britt @ One&20

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  51. All great tips! I definitely need to start applying these tips to my life. I'm such a slacker when it comes to living a healthier life. :-/

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