The summer season is on it’s way, marked with outdoor BBQs, thirst-quenching cocktails, and if you’re like “most” woman-swimsuit panic is just about to erupt. Scouring for a quick fix, millions of women turn to diet gimmicks that promise immediate results overlooking the harmful effects from a lack of calories and nutrient dense foods. To achieve that bathing suit ready body consider these guidelines:

• Plan ahead: If you know you will be attending a summer BBQ, ramp up your activity that day, eat a healthy snack before heading out to the party. Foods like nuts, low-fat cheese sticks, yogurt and fruit, these snacks will fill you up and keep you from going to the chip bowl multiple times.

• Avoid Fad Diets: Quick- fix diets result in rapid weight gain once you resume your old eating habits. Instead, lose weight by making healthy lifestyle changes.

• Put Party Eating In Perspective: Don’t be too hard on yourself if you go overboard at a weekend BBQ. The scale may look like you gained 5 pounds at your BBQ splurge, but to gain 5 pounds of fat you must consume 17,500 calories. To put this into perspective, a hamburger with ketchup, potato salad, ice cream bar and a margarita equates to 1,150 calories.

• Stay Active: Make physical activity a part of your weekly routine. From walking, swimming, tennis, biking or going to the gym. Building activity into your day-to-day life can make a lasting impact on your overall health and waistline!

• Redesign Your Food Choices: Making drastic diet changes often leads to failure, resulting in seeking out unhealthy food choices high in sugar and fat. Make smart changes, like adding more vegetables, fruits, leaner meats, fish, low-fat dairy products and whole grains. You can shave hundreds of calories from your diet with simple smart food choices that won’t require starving yourself.

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