Summer is upon us and the holidays are here.
Many people want to go into summer in the best shape they have ever been, but unfortunately can’t turn themselves into the svelte dreamboats they were hoping for in time.
Never fear. We’ve put together some great tips to ensure that you approach the summer with positivity and a smile, and in the best shape you’ve ever been, emotionally at least!
Of course you can always be a bit fitter. Even if you didn’t manage to stick to an exercise regime in the months leading up to the summer, remember that it is never too late to start. If you start now and make small changes to your exercise habits, you will be much more likely to stick to them than you ever will when you make New Years’ resolutions.
Depending on your age, you might want to mix up the types of exercise you get. Serious exercise fanatics may opt for cardio and strength sessions, but you can mix this up with gentler sessions of yoga, Pilates or even Zumba. A brisk walk in the park at lunchtime is equally as good for you though (and free!), so take the pressure off yourself and just aim to increase the amount of time you spend exercising outdoors.
You’ll feel so much better if you alter your eating habits. Put aside all your sweet treats, pastries and bread, and opt instead for salad, vegetables and fruit. Add legumes and good quality carbs, lean meat and tasty dairy. At this time of the year your body is crying out for fresh and healthy treats, so don’t deny it. Also, ditch the coffee and fizzy drinks and ice cream and opt for water. Cool water from your tap in your own fridge, and carry it in a bottle wherever you go. Eating and drinking fresh should also mean recycling or avoiding waste products such as packaging and plastic bottles as far as possible.
Along with coffee, sweets, sugar and processed food, you should avoid excess alcohol, cigarettes, drugs and anything that is an artificial stimulant. Unfortunately, almost all of these will give you a temporary high or buzz, before sending you crashing down to earth again. You’ll feel fatigued and jaded and your skin will look poor. Not a great look for summer!
You are heading into summer with the body you are blessed with, whether you have been working out and dieting for the past six months or not. One thing that will make everyone look great though, and feel so much better, is if you pamper your feet. Get a professional pedicure at the very least, or consider visiting a chiropodist. Have all the dead skin cut off, and start a regime of moisturising and caring for your feet. After a hard day grafting, soak them. Keep the nails trimmed and if you feel inclined, get your nails painted.
Now is the time to add some new interest to your wardrobe. Make sure your winter clothes are clean and fresh and store them for next winter. In the meantime, get out all your summer clothes and freshen them up. Fix anything that needs fixing, and if you’re not likely to do so, get rid of it. If you can afford to buy a few new pieces to add to your wardrobe do so. Don’t forget to check out charity shops – you never know what bargains you can find.
Regardless of what the fashion industry is doing, there will be certain colours that appeal to you during the summer months. Some people prefer pastels, while others opt for bright colours, or all white. It’s entirely up to you. Change your make up shades too, and your hair colour if that appeals.
If you have a tendency to dread the end of the summer, because of the onslaught of the cold season, then it may be an idea to set yourself some sort of summer goal. Something that you want to achieve by September for example. This could be something as simple as remodelling your living room, so that it is cosy for the longer nights, or you may want to learn surfing or get yourself fit enough to run a marathon. By the end of the summer you’ll have a great sense of achievement if you’ve met your goal, or even gone some way towards it, and then you can set a new goal up to see you though the summer. Go for it!
Yes, summer is here, but this is just the start of the rest of your life. Aim for small consistent changes rather than everything at once and feeling defeated if you don’t manage to achieve what you set out to do. Enjoy the sunshine while you have it, because the short days are not far behind.
There’s a mountain of advice about foods you shouldn’t eat when you’re trying to lose some kilos. Biscuits, cakes, pastries and sweets are all best avoided: they’re high in calories and don’t offer much in the way of nutritional value.
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