Okay, so spring break somehow flew by and you still didn't manage to get that body you were aiming for. Now, you have a few more weeks until summer officially hits and it's time to grind. But how will you do it? There are tons of options out there to achieve your ultimate goal, but some are definitely more suitable than others.
Before you start your next exercise adventure or cleanse, here are a few things to keep in mind about each "summer body" method:
1. Juice cleanses and detoxes
Juice cleanses and detoxes can be a lot of fun. They give you the opportunity to flush out lots of toxins, get a load of fruits and veggies in your system, and kick start your new, healthy lifestyle. However, doing a juice cleanse or full detox that is too long can negatively impact your health. You'll rarely feel full and you won't lose much weight because you won't be taking in enough protein to keep yourself healthy.
If you're looking for a nice cleanse, you should start here and here and put a few little detox drinks in your healthy diet to help you feel clean and fresh every day. Some natural detox teas are also beneficial and can be found in almost any grocery store. Long story short, you can detox every day without starving yourself. Add juices and teas into your healthy diet, but don't swap them out for the main course.
2. Fad diets
There is a reason that we see so many crazy fad diets go through our media every day. It's because most of them don't work. These diets may make you "lose 10 pounds in 10 days" but they don't promote a healthy lifestyle and they don't result in long-term weight loss.
Weight loss is difficult, but if you're being sold a product that tells you it'll come "quick and easy" with "no exercise needed," then it's not good for you. Also, these radical diets are dangerous. They can impact your health in more ways than just causing you to overeat. Neurologically, hormonally, and biologically, these diets are bad news.
3. Diet pills
Honestly, just don't. Like fad diets, diet pills may help you lose weight fast, but it's unnatural, unsafe, and can permanently harm you. Diet pills have been linked to several cases of liver dysfunction and failure along with increased heart rate, jitters, digestive problems, and dry mouth.
4. Exercise "challenges" and plans
My vote: YES!
Nothing is more fun than an exciting, little 30 day yoga challenge or 12 week fitness plan. These are interactive and can help you to find out what you enjoy in the wide world of exercise. The best way to do these is to get involved with friends or find a fun plan to commit to that will keep you accountable. One of my personal favorites is Tone It Up with Karena and Katrina. These ladies totally know how to get you that body of your dreams the healthy way.
5. Meal prepping
It sounds terribly boring, but honestly, don't knock it 'til you try it.
Meal prepping is a great way to help you eat all the right foods and get healthy while staying organized. You can workout out all you want, but if you aren't eating right, you won't see your dream results. For most of us, it can be hard to commit to cooking a full meal after a long day, because it would be so much easier to just order a pizza. With meal prepping, there's nothing to worry about! Prep one day each week and enjoy the rest. Also, there is something incredibly satisfying about seeing all of the cute little Tupperware containers stacked in your fridge, stuffed with your favorite healthy dishes.
The only thing to keep in mind is that it can get expensive. Prepping for seven days isn't cheap, so be sure to commit to your meals every day or you'll be throwing your money away!
When it's all said and done, committing to a healthy lifestyle isn't easy and you won't see results right away. However, with the right dedication and patience, time will make everything worth it and you'll look and feel better than ever before! But remember, no matter the diet or exercise plan, you need to take care of yourself first. Stay healthy, and love yourself, because you are beautifully unique and created with purpose, no matter what the scale or media says.
Now go crush that bikini body workout, you magical human.
