How to avoid putting on summer weight

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) - Ice cream, barbecues, and lounging at the pool or beach are all hallmarks of summer. But they can also lead to weight gain.

"Summer, actually a lot of people are taking vacation, they're also taking vacations from their usual routine," said Paul Kita, a Senior Editor at Men's Health Magazine. "So eating when they're on a trip, people tend to put on weight...as much as five pounds."

Call it the "summer weight swing," come late August and post-Labor-Day, a lot of people are looking to shed the signs of a summer well-enjoyed, Kita says.

"We're actually seeing that this time of year especially tends to be the new January," he said. "Our website traffic spikes, because people are looking for ways to get remotivated."

Brooke Taylor, the owner of personal training company Taylored Fitness and an instructor at Fithouse, sees the same trend with her clients.

"Usually they have five or ten pounds they pack on during summer travel and barbeques, and they're less active," Taylor said of clients who tend to gain weight during the summer.

She says staying on track, or getting back on, doesn't have to be daunting.

Taylor showed us some simple exercises that can be taken on the road and require just hand weights and a mat. The key is combining strength training with short bursts of activity that get your heart rate going. High-intensity interval training, or HIIT as it's called, can be effective even if you just have 15 or 20 minutes to spare.

"Sneak it in when you wake up," Taylor said. "It's like brushing your teeth. Get it done, then you're revving up your metabolism for the day."

Kita and Men's Health have a few other tips in this month's issue: Make sure to get enough sleep and when it comes to healthy eating, don't forget to bulk up on belly-filling fiber.