Doritos. Beer. Donuts. Burgers. And even … a hot dog {gasp}. Believe it or not all of these items have been part of my summer menu so far. And, I’ve enjoyed every single one of them.
As a physician and a member of the wellness community sometimes I feel a little misunderstood. While I will always do my best to set a good example for my patients, I do want to set the record straight and confess …
I am human too.
I like to indulge.
And, I don’t want to feel guilty about that.
Ever.
While strict diets and vigorous exercise programs will whip your body into shape, they aren’t always sustainable long term. Remember, life is meant to enjoyed. While it’s a good thing to consume consciously, I argue that those occasional splurges are good for our souls. They stimulate our taste buds. They encourage us to let loose a little bit. And, they also test our ability to rebound.
Like many things, the secret is finding a good balance between your health, and your happiness. Something that can be especially challenging during the summer months. Luckily, I have a few ideas that will help all of us stay on track.

Love Yourself
Self-loathing is worse for our bodies that anything we could ever consume. I promise. If you find yourself feeling bloated, off track, and not quite squeezing into your favorite outfits take a deep breath. Rather than hating on yourself, remember all of the good times that brought you there. The nights out with your ladies, the spontaneous cocktails with your partner, the pizzas you made with your kids. Irreplaceable memories. Once you’ve calmed down, remember it’s reversible! Read on …
Move Your Body
While I know you all know this, I just want to put it out there as a quick reminder. In order to maintain our weight we need to exert just as many calories as we are consuming. So, if you find yourself in a state of indulgence make a conscious effort to increase your physical activity. Moving will improve the way that your body metabolizes the extra sugar and carbs. And, the best part about summer is that we aren’t limited to a treadmill at the back of a crowded gym. We can go outside! Take a walk with a friend, hop on your bike, or do an outdoor fitness class.
Embrace Mini Detoxes
If your family is anything like mine summers are jam-packed. While I know that our complete two-week detox would do wonders for my body in the middle of July, it would also require me to miss out on a lot of summer fun. For this reason I’m a big fan of mini detoxes at this time of year. Once a month I set aside three days to reset. No excuses! Not only does this regimen help me stay balanced, it also is a great way to ward off that nasty guilt that we tend to attach to our favorite indulgences.
 Stay Hydrated
Our bodies are made up of more than 50% water. Like it or not, we need it to survive and when it comes to achieving balance and staying energized during the summer months, it’s like a miracle drug. While water intake will vary based on your body type and your activity level, my general recommendation is to drink half of your body weight in ounces.
Love yourself, keep moving, reset your system, and hydrate. That’s my recipe for balancing summer health and happiness. If you need help finding the right equation for your lifestyle get in touch with our Wellness Team. They can help with coaching and even come with a custom summer detox for you. Above all remember that summer, and life, are meant to be enjoyed! We’re here to help you get there.