The Summer Countdown… Preparing Your Mind, Body and Soul – tips to come out of hibernation and spring into summer.
It is Spring, the weather is warming up, you just realized that you are nowhere close to ready to wear a bathing suit, or even a summery dress… What now!?
Luckily, you are not alone. The impact of Covid restrictions and the threat of the virus have made many of us hermits hiding in our homes, couch potatoes bingeing on junk food. So, many people find themselves wanting to get in better shape and in a better mind-set in time for the summer months and holiday season. But where do you start?
Here are some tips to get Summer ready, mentally and physically :
1. Don’t delay!
The biggest mistake people make is waiting until the last possible moment to start eating and living healthy. As the famous saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” This is especially true for getting healthy and in good physical shape.
2. Have a Mantra:
The first and only rule for having a ‘beach body’ is to have a body and head to the beach. Let’s make this our mantra. Being beautiful is all about feeling beautiful, and we do not need to stick to unrealistic stereotypes. Make every effort to be healthy and an improved version of yourself, but do not set unrealistic goals.
3. Make a Personal Plan:
It’s important to make a personal plan of what you want to achieve and by when. Make sure to be realistic, it takes longer than you might think to really change your body and your lifestyle… it won’t just happen on day 1!
4. Keep Up (or start) an Exercise Routine:
Whether it is walking, pilates, zumba or gym. When it comes to preparing the body for summer, exercise is an important part of toning your body and improving wellbeing. If you are already active, switch it up a bit to keep it interesting. If you are not active, decide what you would enjoy and set it into motion. Be sure to build up the intensity slowly according to your fitness level.
5. Try Something New
Sunny skies and summer days can make us feel more inspired, creative and daring. So start something new! Always wanted to surf, go biking or do skateboarding? It is never too late!
6. Set goals and Track progress:
Whether it is for fitness, body shape, weight or mental or physical wellbeing…set goals. It’s also a good idea to track your progress when starting a new activity or challenge, so you are encouraged as you start to reach your goals. Be it reaching a new personal best in running, or surprising yourself by overcoming your fears and trying a new activity, this is a great way to stay motivated and focused.
7. Tackle Insecurities
We all have our insecurities… Aspects of our bodies or personalities that we don’t feel comfortable with. This is the perfect time to include exercises and activities that can help us feel good about ourselves. If you are insecure about your body and self-conscious about putting on a bathing suit, start focusing now on what you can do to address that. Actively tackling what we consider ‘trouble areas’ can increase our sense of accomplishment and calm feelings of anxiety stemming from not addressing our problems head-on.
8. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! :
If you do nothing else new, do this…. Drink more water!
During warmer days, with increased perspiration, our need to stay hydrated increases. Drinking plenty of water is important, so make hydration more delicious with flavoured water that you can create yourself at home. (see TLC recipes for ideas)
9. Make Changes:
When seasons change so should we. It’s the perfect time to adapt not only what we wear, but also our surroundings and the areas we spend most of our time in.
As a positive step, clean out your wardrobe: Mark a day in your diary to clean out, giving away what is just taking up space and hasn’t been used in the past year; this is a good rule of thumb to decide what should stay and what should go.
10. Live in the Present… and Relive It
Summertime usually means vacations and holiday celebrations with friends and family. We have spend all year craving a little extra time to spend with our loved ones, and this is especially true after the restrictions imposed by Covid. Don’t just photograph and ‘selfie’ your way through summer this year. Soak in the moments, and build memories.
11.The crucial element… The Diet:
A key element to all aspects of getting summer ready, in body, mind and soul, is the correct diet. Eating correctly will improve so many aspects of your life, including your look, your self image, your energy levels, and your overall wellbeing. But it can be very difficult to know what to eat to achieve optimum health and wellbeing. And that is where a proven, scientifically formulated, medically approved eating and lifestyle plan is essential… bring on the TLC-Program! Formulated to provide your body the correct quantities and combinations to achieve your goals in health and wellbeing quickly and safely.
Act now…. The count-down to Summer has started!!