Let’s face it: Summertime is one of those times when most people wanna cut loose and have fun, not “have” to work or stay on track.

Because of that, summertime comes with some pitfalls that, if you allow them to, will sabotage your weight loss progress.

Let’s go over these so you can be better prepared to outsmart them, because a prepared Rebel is a successful one.

1. Sunburns.

A sunburn happens when too much sunlight hits your skin for too long, and your skin burns, turns red, and may even hurt.

Sunburns are a form of injury, and as with any injury, there’s inflammation involved. That means your body hangs on to water, temporarily, during the healing process.

Because of that, your weight will likely go up if you get a sunburn.

SOLUTIONS: Wear sunblock and/or clothes that protect your skin from the sun. Don’t be out in the sun long enough to get a sunburn.

2. Lack of sleep.

Staying up and out late, sleeping in hotel rooms or at campgrounds where you’re outside your normal sleep environment and aren’t following your routine – it all contributes to poor sleep.

Since sleep is the #1 rule in weight loss – not my rule, THE rule – not getting enough really slows down your weight loss.

SOLUTION: Take your sleep routine with you. If you’re sharing a hotel room with a bunch of family members, there may be a limit to how much you can do, but if that’s the case, do the best you can. Also understand that without adequate sleep your weight will, at best, stall, and at worst, go up. Be prepared for that. (It’ll come down again when you start sleeping.)

3. Playing fast and loose with your food choices.

This one’s the most likely to happen of the three, and here’s why.

For most people, “cutting loose” means cutting out all self-discipline when it comes to food. To do otherwise is labeled as “not enjoying yourself.”

Because of that, weight gain on summer vacation – on any vacation, for that matter – is common, along with the feelings of guilt and shame that usually accompany that kind of behavior.

SOLUTION: Start by redefining what it means to “enjoy yourself.” Eating your own bodyweight in food is not the only way to enjoy yourself and have fun. In fact, it may be contributing to the reason you aren’t physically capable of having fun any other way!

Don’t abandon your weight loss journey just because it’s summer, or you’re on vacation, or it’s your anniversary. All that does is drag your weight loss journey out forever. There will ALWAYS be an outside circumstance you can use as an excuse to go off the rails.

Instead of doing that again, stay focused and get your weight off. Learn to keep it off while living a real life that includes vacations, birthdays, and so on.

You’ve been losing weight long enough. Let’s not drag this out any longer, okay?

So there you go. Three summer weight loss pitfalls to watch out for.

Sunburns are easy to prevent. Lack of sleep can be prevented, or at least managed. And you have 100% control over those summer food choices.

You know what it takes now, so follow through and take your life back.

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