5 ways to look fabulous in your swimsuit

It’s May and that means many of us are already donning tank tops, shorts, and yes, swimsuits. As temperatures rise and layers of clothing are peeled off, how swimsuit ready are you? If you are feeling insecure or hesitant on being seen in a bikini or swim trunks anytime soon, no need to worry. There’s still time to work on making your body a body you rock at the beach. 

There are many ways to get yourself in shape for the summer but there are five exceptional ways of making your body look its best when a lot of skin is showing.  Being consistent and faithful in following these suggestions will pay off in more toned, tight muscles and smooth looking skin with little hesitation of how you look whether at the pool or beach.

1.     Do weight training and barre exercises

Weight or strength training is a no-brainer as the benefits are well-documented.  Both men and women should regularly lift weights to improve their bodies but also to improve the quality of life. 

Lifting weights will improve the looks of your body by:

·      Improving tone and definition of your muscles.

·      Strengthening connective tissue, muscles and tendons leading to better balance, stability and ease of movement.

·      Preventing age-related muscle mass known as sarcopenia.  Lean muscle mass will decrease as we age so if we don’t do strength training, its goodbye muscle and hello fat. 

       Have you ever wanted to have the look of a dancer’s body?  It’s achievable by signing up for

      barre classes.  Barre classes inspired by ballet, uses a ballet barre incorporating 

      Pilates, dance, and yoga and is one of the best ways to sculpt, slim, and stretch your entire

      body.  Barre workouts will be one of the best workouts you’ve ever done for the following

      reasons:

·      It’s hard on muscles but kind on joints.

·      You don’t have to have taken dance lessons in the past so no experienced required.

·      You will be worked from head to toe.

·      The workouts are designed to exhaust the muscles forcing them to tone.

·      Exercises can be modified to fit whether you’re a beginner or a pro.

·      Increases flexibility while targeting core muscles for a greater range of motion.

·      You get rapid results.

2.     Increase protein to 25-30 grams at each meal

Skimping on protein is not a good idea if you are looking for an effective weight-loss tool.  Women, unlike men, often perceive protein rich foods as fattening or high in calories but that isn’t the case.  When lean cuts of meat, poultry, and fish are chosen and portion sizes are a reasonable 3-4 ounces, these are some of the best food choices to achieve adequate amounts of protein of 25-30 grams per meal without increasing weight gain.  

Proteins’ power comes from making you feel less hungry and fuller sooner for a longer amount of time.  This is because high-protein foods take more work to digest, metabolize, and use which has a double bonus of burning more calories doing so.  In fact a study showed dieters who increased their protein intake to 30 percent of their diet ate nearly 450 fewer calories a day and lost about 11 pounds over 12 weeks.      

      Many foods contain protein but not all proteins are created equal.  Plant-based proteins like

      nuts, whole grains, and veggies do not contain all nine of the essential amino acids your

      body needs to build lean muscle.  Animal sources of protein – skinless chicken, lean beef,

      pork tenderloin, and seafood, do contain all nine amino acids making them known as

      complete proteins. 

      Include healthy sources of protein at each meal to get your body swimsuit ready.

3.     Exfoliate and moisturize your skin

When you step out in public for the first time this season wearing your swimsuit, a large amount of the largest organ of your body will be on display – your skin.  If your skin looks dull, uneven, and scaly, it won’t matter how toned your body is.  Skin looking radiant, healthy and smooth along with being toned and fit, will make you a knockout at the poolside. 

This is where exfoliating and moisturizing your skin regularly pays off.  Exfoliation is the removal of dead skin cells on the skin’s surface.  It can be performed mechanically by using abrasive scrubs or used chemically to remove dead skin cells without scrubbing.  If you don’t exfoliate, your skin will look dull, rough, and dry.  The buildup of dead skin cells can also result in excess oil and clogged pores, leading to blemishes and acne.  Exfoliation should be done on the entire body either on your own or with the help of a skin specialist such as an aesthetician or esthetician.

Moisturizing is a must to prevent and treat dry skin, improve skin tone and texture, hold in water in the outermost layer of skin and to protect the outer layer of skin from the harmful effects of sun and wind.

The best time to apply a moisturizer is right after taking a bath or shower while the skin is still moist. Apply moisturizer from head to toe (don’t forget your feet and heels) and always moisturize your hands every time you wash them.  When cleansing your face, apply the appropriate moisturizer for your skin type.   Depending on your type of skin – normal, dry, oily, sensitive, or mature – will determine which type of moisturizer is best to use on the face and the rest of your body.      

4.  Cut back on highly processed foods

To get your butt and belly back in shape, cut way back on highly processed foods.  Highly processed foods are foods that are far removed from what Mother Nature provides – cookies, cakes, pies, desserts, candy, French fries, fried foods, etc.  Most of these foods are loaded with extra sodium that can contribute to water retention and bloating.  Opt instead for more whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans and whole wheat pastas.

5.  Practice standing up straight

Today, begin paying more attention to your posture.  Most people do not practice standing up straight, but what a difference in makes in your appearance.  When you stand up tall and straight, you are engaging your core muscles.  Think of it like tucking your hips underneath and tightening up your stomach as if you were going to be punched.  Plus, improving your posture instantly makes you look thinner and will train your body to hold everything in once you’re in a swimsuit.  Good posture doesn’t come automatically – every 15 minutes, set an alarm for a “posture check” to train your body.  If you’re standing, stand up straight and hold everything in.  If you’re sitting, pull shoulders back and engage your stomach muscles.