It might be the middle of summer already, but that doesn't mean that you can't take action toward achieving your dream "summer body." Choosing a lifestyle of staying healthy and active will positively affect your mental health, your physical health, and will give you that extra boost of confidence that you might be looking for. For whatever your goal may be, it's definitely not a change that's magically going to occur overnight. Determination and motivation are two key elements that are needed in order to apply these five simple tips to your lifestyle.

1. Exercise.

It doesn’t matter if your goal is to lose weight or to simply feel less sluggish. Working out is a great way to boost your energy and overall attitude on a day-to-day basis. Doing an easy cardio exercise for 30 minutes a day 3 to 5 times a week is a great start for any fitness newbie. If you don’t have a gym membership, try implementing walks or jogs into your day.

2. Clean eating.

As tragic as it may be, a steady diet of pizza rolls and Doritos isn’t going to get you anywhere when it comes to a healthy lifestyle. Try to cut out as many processed foods as you can from your diet. If you can’t even pronounce 2 or more of the ingredients listed on the label, it probably isn’t good for you! Whole grains, fruits, veggies, and lean meats are a great start to clean eating.

3. Water.

Water is critical to cleansing toxins out of your body and making you feel rejuvenated on a daily basis. While the occasional glass(es) of wine and other beverages are okay once in awhile, water is the key to success.

4. Keeping a log.

Keeping track of your routine can make it a lot easier to make it a part of your long-term daily life. There are a ton of apps where you can log your calorie count and exercise for the day. If you want to keep a physical journal, there are a bunch of planners and motivational notebooks available on Amazon.com and in drugstores for you to write down your goals, inspirations, and more.

5. Commitment.

Going to the gym and maintaining a balanced diet is often easy -- at first. A lot of people tend to drop the gym and slip back into their unhealthy eating patterns after a short period of time. The most difficult part of the entire process is keeping the initial determination for the long run. If you want to change your life, you have to keep up with it; so what are you waiting for? Remember -- everybody has to start somewhere.