So I guess this means no more chocolate dipped bacon?

It's no secret that most of the year I eat high-calorie unhealthy foods. However, in the summer I am inspired to eat healthy and be very fit. I suppose I could blame it on the longer hours of daylight, the delicious summer veggies, or the fact that my crazy schedule slows down a bit. But in all honesty, it's probably because summer brings the season of swimsuits, shorts, and mini skirts. Summer is already here in Florida (the temperature has been a balmy 80 degrees), and the pools and beaches have been packed the past few weeks. Hubby and I started our healthy summer eating plan this week, and I managed to put my workout plan in gear this weekend. We've also decided that this summer will be a great time to become "green", which I'm very excited about. Since many of you will also be getting ready for swimsuit season soon, I thought I would share with you some healthy things I love.

Joining MyFoodDiary is one of the most useful things that hubby and I have done to keep track of our health. It's only $9 a month and is superior to any of the free programs. It allows you to keep up with calories, nutrients, and exercise. The program allows you to track weight, body measurements, and goals. I love how it tells you how many calories you have left to eat that day in order to stay on track with your goals...it really holds you accountable! There are also forums full of recipes, work out tips, etc. It's simply amazing.

I became addicted to Cooking Light magazine last summer. It's full of delicious recipes, exercise tips, health research, and interesting information. I highly encourage you to pick an issue up and check it out...you will probably fall in love with it just as I have!

If you are serious about fitness, you should DEFINITELY have a heart rate monitor. Adding this to your workout will allow to see if you are in your target heart rate for burning the most fat. Most models will also tell you exactly how many calories you burned during your workout. If you can afford to splurge, invest in a Polar. I have the F11 (shown above). It makes a huge difference in your workout.
We all know how important it is to drink water while on any fitness or health regimen. I recently discovered SIGG bottles. These bottles are a great alternative to plastic. They are a bit pricey for a water bottle but seem like they would last forever.

The final thing on my list is a pair of fins. My summer workout consists of swimming laps, biking, power walks, and runs on the elliptical. I also like to add strength training, Pilate's, and yoga. But the component that really gives me the body I want is swimming. Swimming works out the entire body, and the resistance of the water really tones the body nicely. Simply adding a pair of fins to your swim make a huge difference. The fins increase the resistance on your legs, which really works those muscles in the back of the legs. Hubby can always tell if I've been swimming with fins because it makes a HUGE difference. Another added bonus of the fins is that they cause you to use your abdominal muscles as well. Fins are also very reasonably priced...you can get a great pair for less than $25.