Today is June 21st. heris the longest day of the year… for those of us in the northern hemisphere. What does this have to do about weight loss, dieting and healthy weight.

We will have sunshine from about 5am to after 9pm in New York State’s Southern Tier (actual time is 5:28am to 8:43pm and add twilight). Summer days are long and warm.  Our birds start singing about 4:10am. With all this sunlight and activity it is easier to get up and going.

Following a food plan for weight loss or maintenance can be difficult. Yesterday was Father’s day. (Happy Father’s day, belated, to any fellas reading this post). How did you do on your diet? Truthfully.

Personally, I didn’t do all that great. That is a judgement. I worked as a hospice nurse from 4pm Saturday until 8am Sunday. It was a late night. I was calling in report to the day nurse at 8am. My husband and I had plans to go up north for church with family and to celebrate Father’s day. It was a busy morning. I was rushed. No breakfast, just coffee. Poor choice #1.

Went to 11 o’clock Mass with coffee hour after the service. Those 2 small cookies tasted pretty good. Poor choice #2

 Now it is 1pm going shopping to pick up a couple of things for dinner at camp. We have not had a proper breakfast or lunch, so we grab a piece of vegetable pizza. Perhaps not the worst choice. However, eating on the run poor choice #3.

Camp is right on Lake Ontario. What a gorgeous day. High 70’s, sunny, breeze! We did some work like painting, cutting grass, cleaning the grill. I made a big salad made with greens and vegetables from the CSA (consumer supported agriculture) farm. Good choice #1.

We had some clams and shrimp before dinner. While butter was available, I choose the cocktail sauce with lots of horseradish. OK choice. Serving size was probably large. Tasted yummy.

Steaks were on the menu, but I don’t eat steaks. I had a small piece of Salmon. Good choice #2. I had a half of a baked potato and one small ear of corn. OK choices.

I love to walk at the lake. We can walk from the cottage to the main road in about 15 minutes as it is 1 mile away. That means we had to walk back 1 mile. Good Choice #3.

It wasn’t a perfect “diet” day. Oh, well. The company of family was great. The food tasted wonderful and I enjoyed every bite. The day was perfect. I can choose to do a mental flogging of myself for not staying on “the diet”. I am not going to do that. However, I will follow the “flat Belly diet” tomorrow.

Summer is full of picnics, great food and drink and good company. Enjoy all of this in moderation. Do you remember your thinner days? In my thin days, there where times when I ate a lot. I didn’t do that every day. After the party, just go back to your eating plan and exercise routine.

Are you having trouble with “the diet”? Grab your free 5 Tips for Successful Weight Loss report. There is some interesting motivation in the middle. Check it out.

Remember, you get and stay healthy One Healthy Choice At a Time.

Blessings, Mary Pat

Mary Pat FitzGibbons RN MS writes on weight loss and other health issues for Baby Boomer Women.