10 Ways To Prep Your Body For Summer So You Can Look & Feel Your Best

Happy FRI-YAY, everyone! It’s full on spring now, which is totally exciting for me because that means we are almost to Summer. I don’t love spring – so I spend the months of February to April basically dreaming of summer and counting down the days until my pool opens up (58 days, in case anyone was wondering). In that 58 days, a lot of things have to happen so I can get ready to look and feel my best when the weather warms up! You should ALWAYS be working hard to keep yourself healthy, but it is around this time of year when everyone realizes they may have eaten one too many Cadbury eggs (I am absolutely raising my hand because that was me. I ate 100 too many Cadbury eggs) and are scrambling to head back to the gym and choke down a green smoothie.

Here are 10 of my favorite ways to prep your body and get ready for SUMMER!

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10 Ways To Prep Your Body For Summer So You Can Look & Feel Your Best

 This post is sponsored by Dr. John Seaberg, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Columbia, MO. All opinions are mine and mine alone.

Bring on the strength training!

If you want to get fit and healthy, it’s time to stop avoiding the gym and hit that treadmill. Start by doing HIIT workouts 3 times a week to get your sweat on and burn the maximum amount of calories. High Intensity Interval Training can also boost metabolism and help your body burn calories for 24-48 hours after your workout. Be sure to do workouts that rotate muscle groups so you can tone your whole body at once. Check out my previous post HERE that talks extensively on why HIIT is an amazing workout.

TIP: Try working out first thing in the morning so your metabolism is boosted all day long!

Fill that water bottle up!

I am trying to drink a gallon of water a day for the rest of forever. It’s almost impossible for me to drink that much, but I’m constantly filling my water bottle up and have set a timer on my phone to remember to drink water every 30 minutes from the time I get up to the time I go to bed. That definitely means I’m using the bathroom way more than normal, but the benefits far outweigh going to the restroom more often.

TIP: Drink your water ICE COLD! You burn more calories because your body is working hard to keep your core temperature up. 

Up your natural diuretic intake.

A few foods that fall into this category are: cucumbers, asparagus, lemon, green tea, and any foods with a higher concentration of magnesium, potassium, and anything that contains vitamin Try eating one of these foods at least once a day if not more.

TIP: add cucumber or lemon slices to your water so you can kill two birds with one stone.

Eat MOST of your calories before 3:00pm.

Research shows that people who eat the majority of their calories during the day before 3:00pm lose weight easier and faster than those who have calorie heavy meals later in the day. Try to make lunch your big meal of the day and opt for lighter meals for dinner like salads with protein, fish fillets with lemon or buddha bowls (find my favorite recipe for them here). 

TIP: Eat at the same time every day so you get into a routine and aren’t tempted to let your lunch slip later into the day!

Don’t forget to stretch.

Wanna know what with majorly set back your workout goals this spring? A serious injury. Instead of jumping right into your workouts, take 10 minutes before and after you workout to stretch each muscle. This increases flexibility, decreases your chance of injury and decreases how sore your body will be after each workout.

TIP: Build these 10 minutes into your workout time so you have no excuse to skip the stretch.

Drink your greens!

That statement up above about choking down a green juice was only kind of a joke…because you really should be drinking as many greens as you can! Try experimenting with different flavors to get one that tastes the LEAST like dirt. 😉 Some combos are actually really delicious and SO good for your body. Many juices include full servings of fruits and veggies so it makes getting your healthy foods fast and easy.

TIP: Include oranges and lemons to mask the dirt taste of green juices. They overpower the taste without overpowering the nutrients!

If you have a little extra skin you just aren’t comfortable with, schedule an appointment with your local plastic surgeon to discuss your options.

If you have lost a significant amount of weight or have had babies, you might have trouble spots that diet and exercise can’t fix—like extra skin and a bulging belly. According to Dr. John Seaberg, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Columbia, MO, a tummy tuck is for men and women who have loose skin and lax abs as a result of weight loss or pregnancy. A tummy tuck can:

· Flatten and firm your stomach

· Tighten weakened or separated abdominal muscles

· Remove excess skin

To learn more about if a tummy tuck or another procedure is right for you, contact Dr. Seaberg online or give his office a call at (573) 443-5500.

TIP: Check out this blog post from Dr. Seaberg on questions to ask yourself if a tummy tuck is truly right for you!

Self-Tan instead of taking a trip to tanning beds.

One reason I love summer is because I am tan and bronze-y. My makeup looks better, my hair looks more blonde and my natural freckles come out to play. However, I also know that I am PALE AS HECK so I burn when I go into the sun. While the burn will fade to a tan fairly quickly, every time I burn I increase my risk for skin cancer. That isn’t a risk I like to take. SO. I have taken to fake tanning to get that glow I love so much! Spray tans have really come a long way since my orange high school prom days – and now I can get a beautiful golden tan without looking like a Cheeto.

TIP: Only go one or two shades darker than your skin tone for a natural sun kissed glow.

Buy swimsuits that actually fit your body!

This is a big one. You won’t look or feel good in something that doesn’t fit you. You will be SO much more comfortable in a suit that fits your body where it’s at right now. When going through your swimsuits from past seasons, try them on and do a couple things to assess: Does it squeeze uncomfortable in my chest or hips? Is it riding up near your thighs or armpit areas?

I just went though my swimsuits from last year and realized a few of them were so tight in my butt that it was actually painful. Instead of trying to fit into them, I bought new ones that actually fit. Even though I did have to go up a size, but they are more flattering and more comfortable when they are my correct size (REGARDLESS of what that number is). 

TIP: Target’s swimsuit section just released their new collection of swimsuits for the year and they are SO cute and SO comfortable!!

Get a facial to prep your skin for the summer sun!

I am a HUGE advocate of facials. They can be pricey, so do your research before scheduling an appointment. If you can swing it, try to get one every other month. Facials can reduce the impact of sun exposure, smoking, and other environmental factors. They are also a great stress reducer, and stress can cause premature aging. By taking good care or your skin and allowing yourself a little me-time, you can keep your skin looking healthy and youthful.

TIP: Find out what kind of specials your local spa runs – often times they will do seasonal discounts!

PIN THIS FOR LATER:

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It doesn’t have to be a headache to look and feel your best for summertime. At the end of the day – if you feel confident looking in the mirror, that is all that matters. 🙂 

Do you have a plan to get back into shape for summer after the winter holidays?! Let me know what your go-to tips and tricks are for looking your very best in the comments below!