Jumpstart Your Fitness: 8 steps to healthy summer living

Sometimes when you're really looking for weight loss or fitness results it's easy to get discouraged and hit a plateau. Adding some extra reps with the free-weights or cutting a few more calories every day can sometimes be a good answer, but not always.

Sometimes it's just a matter of remembering that getting healthy and fit is not just about how much you're working out or what you're eating, but about making complete lifestyle changes. The key to getting more out of your efforts and giving yourself a "jumpstart" may be to reevaluate how you're approaching all kinds of things in your life. WebMD has compiled this awesome list of 8 steps for healthy living -- are you working on doing all of these things? Some of them are motivating and some are just 'good for life' habits:

Give your diet a boost of berries Although eating any kind of fruit is good for your diet, adding in antioxidant and fiber rich berries like blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries is even better. And besides giving your body a boost they will also add some variety to your diet and help you break away from the usual apples and oranges all the time.

Grow something green Planting a small garden or some plants in indoor pots can help reduce stress. Some people feel more grounded just by putting their hands in the dirt -- there's something very natural and 'down to earth' about it.

Get outside Choose a regular activity that you can do outside, either on your own or with friends and family, and make it a priority. The outdoors will help you feel less cooped up, plus you can appreciate the seasons and have more interesting and changing scenery as opposed to working out in the gym.

Take care of your eyes You only get one pair, and unfortunately it's not always obvious when they're getting slowly damaged. UV rays, for example, can cause damage over time so wearing hats and sunglasses regularly is important. Also remember to wear protective eye wear when doing household tasks (like mowing or home repair) or playing sports.

Use your vacation time Too many people in this country forget or neglect to use all of their allowed vacation days every year, and getting away can be so good for you! Relaxing on vacation can help lower your blood pressure, heart rate, and stress hormones -- which can affect your weight and heart health.

Go lightly on the alcohol The summer heat is does not bring to mind heavy alcoholic beverages for most people, but lighter more refreshing fare like spritzers instead. In moderation (1 or 2 drinks a day) alcohol can actually be a good thing by helping reduce your risk of heart disease.

Get enough sleep Warm summer nights can make it all too easy to stay up later than you should, but keeping a regular schedule and getting enough sleep can have a positive impact on so many areas of your health and life that it's impossible to even start listing them here. Get your zzzz's!