Looking and Feeling Great in Your Summer Clothes Even with a Few Extra Pounds

The sun is shining, the mornings are warm and the afternoons border on downright muggy. You've already had the air conditioning running once or twice. All around you, spring is giving way to summer, and the signs are abundant. But the one you notice most is the bare skin and bodies on display all around you. The season of short skirts, tank tops, spaghetti straps and tiny tees is here.

It seems like just yesterday you were huddled in to ward off winter's biting cold, bringing in the New Year with a glass of champagne and a promise to yourself that this would be the year that you become fit and trim. How did the months fly by so quickly?

Maybe you're well on your way to meeting your weight-loss or body-toning goals, but just not quite as far along as you'd have wished. Or maybe our winter tendencies to snuggle in, eat fatty foods and lay around doing lots of nothing got the best of you and you packed on rather than lost a few pounds.

Whatever your scenario, there's nothing that puts us more at odds with our extra baggage than the first time we rummage into our closets and drag out last years tank tops and summer dresses, only to find them a little too tight. For those who are unhappy with their current weight or body shape, that first summer shopping excursion can be painful.

But for better or worse, summer is here. No more hiding under coats and sweaters, at least not for a while. If you aren't where you want to be weight-wise, the temptation to hunker down in your air conditioning and not emerge until long sleeves and covered bellies are once again the norm can be overwhelming. But chances are you can't do that, because you've got work and family obligations. Besides, you'd just be cheating yourself out of one of the most fun and social times of the year.

If you let it, summer can be the best time to get motivated to lose the weight, tone the flab, and look and feel your best. That's encouraging, but it doesn't take away the disappointment of not being able to squeeze into that cute sundress to kick off this year's outdoor parties. Even so, with a few tips and tricks you can look and feel great while you're working and playing in the summer sun, even as you continue fighting to shed that extra baggage.

Don't lose sight of your long term goals, but make the most of how you look and feel today by doing the following:

1. Smile

I know, I know. I'm just as guilty of wanting to smack people who say "smile and the world smiles with you" as you are. Sometimes, I'd rather just sulk.

But I have to admit, there's some truth to the saying when it comes to looking good. Maybe at this point in your life you aren't the girl who looks the best in her skimpy summer wardrobe. But whether your goal is to succeed at work, charm your guy, or meet new people, you can keep yourself in the game with a bright, friendly smile.

Smiling and laughing and generally projecting a positive outlook make people want to be around you. A genuine smile and a true laugh can draw people to you. Maybe they want to feel happy themselves and figure you must have the secret to getting there. A smile makes others smile back, and that will feed both your ego and your attitude in a good way.

2. Stretch

A body in motion is a happy body. Start and end your days with a good stretch, and make sure you keep yourself in motion throughout the day even if you're mostly chained to a desk. A little movement can go a long way, as long as you do it frequently. Stretching increases your flexibility and gets your blood flowing. It can improve your posture and replace a lumbering, cramped gait with a confident, graceful glide without you even realizing it.

We look better when we feel better, and stretching improves the way we feel. An un-cramped body carries itself better, and projects more confidence and joy in life.

3. Don't be a stuffed sausage

I'm a firm believer that women of all sizes, from thin to large, should wear what they want to wear when they want to wear it. But when you want to look and feel your best, choose options that accentuate your good points rather than highlight areas you'd rather conceal.

Clothes that are too small and cling in the wrong areas can make even a relatively thin and toned woman take on the "stuffed sausage" look. If your tight short shorts give you back fat you normally don't have because they have to rearrange your butt to get up over it, keep them in the closet. If the belly that hangs between your short clinging tee and your skirt reminds you of a smaller version of Uncle Bob's beer gut, leave that getup alone for now too.

Clothes that don't fit well cramp our bodies, rearrange our padding in ways that usually end up being flat-out unattractive, and in the long run just make us more self-conscious anyway. Use the too-small items you love as motivation. Pull them out and try them on every once in a while to see how your weight loss or toning efforts are working. But don't wear them out in public until they're form-fitting without being too clingy or tight. Have you ever known a happy, confident sausage? I haven't.

4. Don't be the bag lady, either

The other extreme in clothing is to decide you have to hide every bit of extra padding behind oversized, baggy clothes. It is tempting to think that a huge tee-shirt or baggy pants will make you look and feel smaller. The truth is, buying your clothes too big just makes you look bigger. So unless that's your goal, you should avoid this tactic as rigorously as you shun the sausage look.

You'll look and feel your best if your clothes are the right size. Go for form-fitting without clinging. Accentuate curves you want to show off, without squishing them. Tuck away areas you'd rather hide without burying them in layers of oversized fabric.

The right colors, patterns, combinations and fits can help slenderize your look. Avoid shirts that are too short or too long, and go for skirts and pants that fit well around the middle without being baggy in other areas.

5. Stand tall

Not feeling good about our bodies can impact our posture without us even realizing it. There's a subconscious temptation to slouch and cower, to slump in our seats or stare at the ground when we walk. We attempt to make ourselves fade into the background by hunching over.

Avoid this at all costs. Slouching doesn't make you go unnoticed. It just makes you look like a slouch. It cramps your muscles, slumps and pooches your belly, and stoops your shoulders, none of which feels good or looks attractive.

Stand straight and tall. Hold your head high and walk with your shoulders straight. Walk with a deliberate, purposeful and confident stride. Make eye contact. Take deep breaths and practice holding in your tummy when you're sitting or moving. This not only improves your appearance, but also gives those stomach muscles a bit of exercise.

6. Beat the heat with water

Warm weather naturally increases your thirst. Put away the sodas and cream-laden coffee and start chugging water instead. Anyone who's ever researched dieting knows that water helps you feel full and can aid in shedding pounds. But keeping yourself hydrated also helps you feel good and want to be more active, and helps keep your skin and the rest of you looking refreshed and healthy too.

7. Take advantage of summer's bounty

We can't help it. There's something about winter that cries for heavy soups, sweets and pasta dishes. We use warm food to comfort both our bodies and our souls in the bitter cold months, and all that holiday snacking doesn't help either.

If you let it, summer can have the opposite effect. Our bodies crave lighter meals when the air is hot and humid. Fresh fruit and veggies are readily available, and grill season is in full swing.

Stock up on healthy choices, and replace heavy meals with salads, steamed veggies and fresh fruits. Fire up the grill, but throw on some chicken or fish rather than the old summer standby hamburgers and hot dogs. You'll not only be making choices that help you lose weight, you'll be fueling your body with vitamins and increasing your energy.

8. Get moving

It's the time of year for being outside. So get out there. Weight loss and body toning can be a nightmare for those who hate regimented exercise or the hassles of going to the gym. Make sure you don't have to do much of either by taking advantage of summer's variety of opportunities to be active. Get out in the mornings or evenings for brisk walks. Find a pool and dive in for a swim. Work in your yard. Take the kids on an exploration of local parks.

The exercise and fresh air will do good things for your attitude and energy levels now, and believe it or not the way we feel does reflect in the way we look. And if you stick to it, the long-term effects will show in how your body fits into your favorite summer clothes.

9. Get girly

There's nothing like being a girly-girl to make you feel and look better. So, you wish you were ten pounds lighter. You'll get there. In the meantime, that doesn't mean you can't get a sassy summer haircut and highlights or paint your toenails in a bight summery shade and accentuate them with some cute strappy sandals.

10. Get involved

The most attractive people in the world are those who are animated, lively, and impassioned about whatever it is that they do. So find your passion, dive in, and let it bring out the life in you and showcase your inner beauty. Whether your thing is a writing club, a yoga class, a sailing group, solitary gardening or checking out the local hot spots, figure out what it is that brings you to life and immerse yourself in it.

Starting the summer with a bit of extra baggage is frustrating. But it doesn't have to stop you from looking and feeling great and enjoying all the warm weather has to offer. By living in the moment and making sure you look and feel great today, you'll just increase your motivation to be in even better shape tomorrow.