Diet Expert Says Summer Shape-up Is Easy With Healthful Diet, Exercise

By Donna Cope

Trying on a favorite pair of summer shorts – and finding they no longer fit – can be depressing.

But launching a crash diet to lose 10 pounds is likely to be fruitless in the long term, said Riley Thornton, a wellness specialist at UAB. Cutting meals may help you drop a few pounds in the short term, but it can wreak havoc with your metabolism and cause more health issues.

“The most important thing you can do to lose weight is to stay active doing the things you love while eating a healthful diet,” said Thornton, who earned a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from Auburn University, and completed a dietitian internship at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. “Summer is a laid-back season, and it can be harder to lose weight because you’re socializing more.”Indeed, backyard barbecues, pool parties and outings with friends and family can wreck one’s best intentions to diet. To keep on the right track, eat healthily most of the time and exercise, Thornton said. She’s a firm believer in the 80/20 rule.

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