As summer quickly approaches, almost everyone has the same goal: get in shape for the upcoming summer months. With the warm weather comes shorts, tank tops and bathing suits, but also insecurity, comparison and fluctuating self-esteem levels. Throughout my teenage years, I was definitely guilty of each of these things, especially during the summer. It's so easy to compare yourself to a girl you see at the pool or beach, and think of what you need to do to look just as good as her. We all do it. We also know that this is unhealthy, and that comparing ourselves does nothing but harm our self-esteem. Instead of wondering what that girl at the pool does to look so good, take it upon yourself to get as healthy as you can, just in time for summer.
Many women are unsure as to how to get fit, and instead of trying to get healthier, they choose to do nothing at all. This is very normal—fitness and health can be complex! But with a few basic steps that actually make fitness fun, you'll be bikini-bod ready in no time.
1. Get some type of physical activity almost every day.
I know what you're thinking, "Go to the gym every single day???" No, that's not what I'm saying at all! Physical activity does not require you to spend hours in the gym each day running miles and lifting weights. If you want to do that, great! But getting physical activity does not have to mean doing an intense workout. This is a very common misconception about fitness, and it drives so many people away from wanting to get in shape. Going for a brisk walk with a friend, riding your bike around campus or going jogging at the Riverwalk are all easy ways to get your heart rate up. You'll be surprised how good you feel after even walking a few blocks to a friend's house or to class.
2. Don't just take the easy way out.
By this, I mean go out of your way to do the activity that's slightly more difficult. These can be the smallest of activities: walking to class instead of getting dropped off, taking the stairs instead of the elevator or walking to get dinner on The Strip instead of driving. These all sound irrelevant to one's overall fitness levels, but you'd be surprised by how much they really add up. If you slowly make these changes to your lifestyle, you'll feel much more in control of your fitness.
3. Make time to exercise.
We all have schedules that are packed with classes, work, extracurriculars and social events. One thing that sets those truly dedicated to fitness apart from those who aren't is that the dedicated ones always make time. Believe me, I have zero free time during the week, but I sit down each night and find time in my schedule to work out the next day, because it's a priority to me. So many people don't exercise because they're too busy, but if you're committed to getting fit, I promise you can make time. It doesn't have to be every day, either. If you exercise four to five times per week, you'll be there in no time.
4. Get into a routine.
In addition to setting aside time for exercise in your schedule, getting into a fitness routine will help you stay committed to your fitness goals. Every day, I go to the gym at a certain time. I do my cardio first, then I go to the weight room. It's a routine that my body automatically follows because it's trained to exercise first thing in the morning. As you start working out at a certain time each day, you will become accustomed to doing so, and your body will naturally encourage you to get up and exercise. It's a beautiful thing—even when I feel like I want no part of working out, my body is trained to get up anyway.
5, Be mindful of what you eat.
Notice I used the word "mindful." That's because I'm not going to tell you to cut out any food groups, go on a crazy diet or drive yourself crazy over tracking your meals. Trust me, I've been there, and it's a vicious habit to get into. Too many people fall into the trap of cutting out entire food groups, which typically leads to some kind of deficiency such as lack of energy, protein or nutrients. If you're mindful of what you eat, you don't need to worry about completely removing foods from your diet. You simply think about what your body needs for nourishment before you make decisions about what you're going to eat. Instead of going for fast food just because it will taste good, think about if that's what's best for your body.
6. Make healthy eating a habit.
Healthy eating can be complicated. With today's food industry, we are often plagued with lies from companies about what's healthy and what's not. Many packaged foods are believed to be nutritious, but are actually filled with added sugars and provide little nutrition, making it difficult to understand what we really should and shouldn't be eating. After finally discovering what's healthy for me to eat, I've been in the habit of eating many of the same healthy meals every day for the past year or so. These foods have become many of my favorites, and there are so many variations of each to keep them fun. The main thing that I try to remember is that if you keep healthy food in your house, you will eat healthy food. Even though I love ice cream and all things chocolate, I know that if I keep them in my refrigerator, I'll eat them every day.
7. Don't diet or limit yourself from eating.
The problem with dieting, cutting foods out or not allowing yourself to eat is that it often forces you to binge eat at the end of the day. If you don't let yourself eat for a whole day, by the time 10:00 p.m. rolls around, you'll be so hungry that you'll eat everything in sight, completely canceling out whatever it was that you were trying to achieve by not eating. I'm guilty of doing this with any and all forms of chocolate desserts (especially ice cream). I absolutely love chocolate ice cream, but I rarely allow myself to have it. So, when I am around it, I'll have multiple bowls of it (if I'm not eating it straight out of the carton) complete with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, you name it. Bottom line: make room for these treats in your daily diet. If you crave a burger and fries or a cup of ice cream one day, go get them and eat them without feeling guilty. Just remember that moderation is key. As long as you really only eat that one McDonald's burger or one bowl of ice cream (so hard for me to limit it to one) and don't make it a habit, you have nothing to worry about. If you're craving a treat, let yourself have it. It's better to allow yourself to have them than to completely limit yourself and then binge on them.
8. Drink water!
This is an obvious one. You've been hearing that you need to drink more water for probably as long as you can remember. And it's true. Water works wonders on your body, promoting health in every which way. I've always been a pretty avid water drinker (I've never drunk soda), but with the addition of even more water to my life, I've noticed a serious change. It's so easy to forget about water until you're truly thirsty, but making a conscious effort to stay more hydrated can make a world of a difference. Not only does it hydrate your cells, but it increases weight loss, keeps organs healthy and makes your skin glow. Carry a water bottle around with you to class to increase your hydration... you'll be surprised how much you drink when you're just sitting in class!
9. Sleep more.
As college students, we often skimp out on perhaps the most crucial need that our body has: sleep. Whether you're staying up late at the library, the bar or just sitting at home on social media, you're keeping your body from recharging. I almost never go to bed before midnight, and when I do, it's like I'm a whole new person. We all know that getting the proper amount of sleep is good for us, but in terms of health and fitness, it's especially important. Not only does getting a good night's sleep make you feel more energized and prepared to take on your day, it makes you more prepared and excited for your workout, too. Studies have proven that those who skimp on sleep often overeat the next day. So, don't wreck your fitness goals by not getting enough sleep. Go to bed a little earlier each night, get your (at least) six hours and feel ready to take on the day.
10. Have fun with your fitness journey!
Too frequently, people talk about fitness and health negatively. So many people get caught up in the idea of trying to look absolutely perfect that they lose focus on the long-term benefits of a healthy lifestyle. You don't need to spend every day in the gym or completely cut out the foods that you love. With summer coming up, spend more time outside with walks or jogs on the beach or by the river, go swimming with friends or go for a hike to one of the nearby parks. Eat an ice cream cone every once in a while, and enjoy being able to exercise outside. Focus on you, not on the girls you see at the pool. Confidence is key, especially during bikini season, and it radiates to those around you. Embrace your best self, and don't compare yourself to others. Make exercising and healthy eating fun, summer is the perfect time do to just that!
