Summer arrives and, with it, family gatherings, days at the beach, and, of course, the eagerly anticipated barbecues. There is a widespread belief that it is precisely during these months that the most weight is gained, specifically due to those meals and constant family get-togethers. However, the reality is quite different: the culprit for your weight gain isn’t precisely the barbecue meat. Nutritionist Pablo Ojeda has taken on revealing what really makes you gain a few kilos during the holidays.
The real problem with barbecues
When it comes to dieting or trying to maintain an ideal weight, we often look at barbecues with fear or any similar meal. However, Ojeda assures that “The barbecue is the best, because after all it’s just meat, protein.” And the real problem isn’t what you eat, but those things that accompany the celebration. “A barbecue doesn’t make you gain weight. It’s the seven kilos of bread, the three liters of sauce, and the 28 beers and ‘cubatillas’ you drink,” says Ojeda.
Can you compensate with beach walks?
Another of the summer’s big deceits is thinking that strolling along the shoreline for a while serves as an excuse to eat wildly for the rest of the time. In fact, Ojeda notes that the typical phrase “I just eat a little more in summer because I take walks on the beach” is useless.
The reality is much different: “A walk on the beach doesn’t slim you down at all. You just get your ankles wet,” warns the nutritionist. His advice is that this exercise should not be used as an excuse so that, after finishing the walk without sweating at all, you “go to the beach bar and Down five premium beers, plus three scoops of ice cream.”
Do ice creams help in beating the heat?
Regarding ice creams and slushies, the expert does not ban them. In fact, he acknowledges that “the best time of the year to have a little ice cream or a slush is precisely now.”
However, he asks that they not be used as a method to refresh oneself. The reason is purely biological: the excess sugar contained in these foods will cause the opposite effect in your body and “what you’ll end up with is more thirst.”
Adding ice to alcoholic drinks
Finally, the expert debunks one of the most widespread summer tricks: adding ice to beer or wine thinking that it lowers the alcohol and makes you gain weight less or affects you less.
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James Whitaker
I’m James Whitaker, a UK-based journalist focused on emerging trends and everyday stories gaining attention across the country. I cover the topics people start talking about before they fully break into the mainstream. My work aims to stay clear, factual, and closely connected to how news is actually consumed today.