If you gained weight in the recent hot spell, perhaps you need to rethink your approach to food. Or at least stop eating in strong air conditioning.
Hot weather tends to kill appetites but also the desire to cook and heat up your kitchen. So maybe you eat out in an air conditioned restaurant or mall. Okay, so there are ways to gain weight in hot weather.
Hot weather also makes it more difficult to exercise, so unless you are walking or running early in the morning or close to sunset, you haven't been moving around as much.
Often when we think we are hungry, we really are thirsty. Despite the love for sports drinks and energy drinks, water is still the one to turn to as all-time records get shattered.
Water has 0 calories, 0 grams of fat, and 0 carbohydrates. If you are one of those who thinks water is boring, splash a little lemon juice or lime juice in your glass or bottle. If you like your water extra cold — which can improve the taste — fill a bottle and put it in the freezer. If you don't like water that is too cold, just leave your bottle out. Nature will take care of the rest for you.
Even in the hottest of days, you still need to eat food. Vegetables and fruits that are mostly water are the ideal foods for really hot weather.
The higher the percentage, the more water you get. Vegetables tend to rate higher in water content than fruit. Though you shouldn't limit yourself just to this list, and if your favorite fruit or vegetable scores 85 instead of 91, well, you're still better off with that fruit or vegetable than most other food choices.
Water Content in Vegetables
| Vegetable | Water % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| cucumber | 96 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| iceberg lettuce | 96 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| celery | 95 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| red tomato | 94 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| green cabbage | 93 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| eggplant | 92 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| red cabbage | 92 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| spinach | 92 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| broccoli | 91 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| carrot | 87 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: Cooperative Extension Service of the University of Kentucky. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Water Content in Fruit
| Fruit | Water % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| strawberry | 92 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| watermelon | 92 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| grapefruit | 91 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| pineapple | 87 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| raspberry | 87 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| blueberry | 85 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| plum | 85 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| apple | 84 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| cherry | 81 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| grape | 81 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: Cooperative Extension Service of the University of Kentucky. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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