7 Must Dos to Avoid Spring Weight Gain

Winter is all about carby comfort foods like pasta, bread, cereal, creamy soups, buttery potatoes, and crunchy carb-loaded snacks. Go a little lighter by restocking your kitchen with foods high in fiber and protein like fresh veggies, broth-based soups, whole grains, nuts, and beans.

Stay on track with exercise by signing up for a race in June or July. Since you'll have to keep up with a training schedule, it's an effective way to inspire regular workouts throughout the Spring season. Here's a 16-week beginner half-marathon training plan.

While sipping a lemonade or mojito on your deck seems like the perfect way to cool off, a tall glass means you're sipping down about 150 to 250 calories. Skip high-calorie refreshing drinks like sugary juice, shakes, or sodas, and opt for seltzer with a squeeze of orange or good old H2O with grapefruit. And if a cocktail is calling your name, make one of our low-cal warm-weather cocktail recipes.

You know it's Spring when restaurants start opening up their outside seating. Strolling by an outdoor café, catching wafts of delicious aromas, and seeing plates of tasty bites just about drags you to sit down, too. But if you want to prevent weight gain, limit the amount of restaurant meals you eat — even "healthy" items are laden with calories! If you want to celebrate Spring with a friend, meet them for a calorie-burning walk or bike ride in the park instead. If the lure of an outdoor café is too much, follow these tips for saving calories at a restaurant.

The first couple weeks of warm weather inspire us to take walks along the beach, hike on woodsy trails, or hop on our bikes. But unless you're committed to exercising as regularly as you did at your gym, don't give up that membership just yet. Without consistently working out and burning calories, it won't take long for the pounds to creep on. Besides, you may need a fallback for all those Spring showers.

Full of antioxidants, folate, and fiber, asparagus is also bursting with delicious earthy flavor. Six medium spears is about 20 calories, so it's a delicious way to fill you up without busting out of your new capris. Take advantage of asparagus and other detoxing Spring veggies, but don't undo the good by piling on high-calorie and high-fat butter, cheese, or cream sauce. Lightly steam or grill veggies with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper, and enjoy them as nature intended.

The first barbecues of the season are starting, and you know what that means — high-calorie, high-fat foods like cheeseburgers, sausages, and hot dogs, served with a side of condiments, potato salad, chips, and brewskis. Barbecues are practically the definition of warm weather, but don't go overboard. Load up on the fresh veggies, grill chicken or fish, kick back with just one beer, and enjoy fresh fruit for dessert. Keep your barbecue healthy with these diet-friendly side dish recipes.