It’s May now, and summer is quickly approaching, so what’s the latest fad on almost every social media platform? “Ways to get a hot summer bod in just 2 weeks,” “How to burn belly fat fast before swim season,” and all other advertisements of the sort. Obviously, these sayings and promises can be very appealing, but why put in all that extra work days before your trip to paradise just to see results that are minor at best? The truth is, fitness is not magic and changing your body for the better may not be fast, but it all doesn’t have to be so hard.

We’ve all seen the “strictly liquid juice cleanse,” the, “cut all carbs whatsoever plan,” and the “absolutely sugar-free don’t eat anything diet.” If you’re like me, you’ve also probably tried one or more of them and know they’re nearly impossible. Rather trying fast, extreme diets that are hard and even sometimes dangerous, start eating better all the time- you’ll start looking and feeling better without all the torture. Here are some easy food guidelines to live a healthier lifestyle and NOT just diet.

• You need to eat. Your body burns calories in every daily activity you perform, so it’s important that you’re putting some back in.
• Figure out about how many calories you should be eating daily even if you’re not counting. It’s good to know how much food is enough, too much, or not enough for you.
• Carbs are for quick energy, proteins and good fats are for sustained energy. Change up what you’re eating depending on what you’re fueling your body for.
• Treat yourself sometimes to avoid cravings but do it in ways your body can handle. A little dark chocolate won’t hurt you, but a Black Tap Freakshake after every meal might.

Along with insane diets, just plain weird workouts start showing up in the summer season as well. Yes, exercise is an important aspect of healthy living, but if an exercise doesn’t feel like it’s doing anything for you, it’s probably not. Like my food tips, here are some exercise tips to get you exercising in a way that actually helps you.

• Make an effort to start exercising. Starting can be the biggest challenge, but once you get going you won’t want to stop.
• As a general rule, use light weight and high reps for lean definition, and high weight with low reps to bulk.
• Always try and get some cardio in. It’s everyone’s least favorite thing to do, but it’s oh so good for your heart, body, and mind.
• Change it up a little and always be on the lookout for new and exciting workouts if you’re looking for new and exciting results.

Take these tips but remember, I am just another opinion. In the long run what really matters is doing what’s best for YOU.