How Can You Shape Up for Summer?

Summer! When you think of summer what comes to mind? Maybe it is warm, sunny weather. Flowers blooming on landscapes creating a great color collage to look at. It could also be a nice ocean breeze or the smell of a swimming pool.

For some of us, it is time we enjoy because we get to spend more time with our family. Going on vacations or just enjoying more time outdoors. Summer is the time when the weather seems to hit the highest degrees and we are forced to get our summer clothes out; shorts, tanks and bathing suits.

This is a season some of us absolutely dread. Maybe we don't like the hot weather. For most of us, we just don't feel that we are in the best of shape.

How can you shape yourself up for the summer?

1. Setting goals - start out with a small, obtainable goal that you really feel that you can reach. You need to start now.....don't put it off till Monday! Most of us like to say we will start it when the week starts. Don't do that. It will only delay you into taking action.

2. Reward yourself for reaching your goal - this is important because it will boost your confidence and build your belief that you can finish goals if you work at them!

3. Exercise - you should be working out 2-3 times a week for at least 30 minutes. You want to make it fun! Do things that you enjoy doing. Maybe it's walking, swimming or doing aerobics. If you do something you don't enjoy, like dragging yourself to the gym every day and working out on a machine that you hate...then you are likely not to keep exercising.

4. Eating good nutrition - 6 small meals a day. You need to be fueling your body so that it can keep your metabolism going. You want to include fruit and veggies into your meals. Make sure that your eating whole grain, good protein which has low saturated fat and your essential fatty acids. Also take a high quality nutritional supplement.

5. Avoid processed foods - this will slow down your body and your health.

6. Rest - make sure that you take time out of your schedule to rest your body. Your body needs to repair itself. This also gives you the opportunity to reflect on all your hard work that you have done.

7. Change up your routine - if you keep doing the same things everyday, over and over again for months, you will begin to feel bored, hate what you are doing and not continue with it. This in turn will lead you back to your old habits that are not serving you as well.

8. Get a partner - this is key! You need someone to hold you accountable. Someone to cheer you on when you might not being having such a great day and one to congratulate you on all of your hard work.

These tips are a great start to getting you in shape both physically and mentally. It is up to you to do it, so grab your partner and get started. What are you waiting for? You will feel so much better.