Get Your Body Summer Ready

It’s the time of year again when it seems everything is telling you to get your body summer ready. How to train for a summer body, or get beach body ready now, etc. To be fair, most of us want to look and feel good in shorts, a sleeveless top, or a bathing suit. I sure do! I also have all the answers on how to get your body summer ready. But it’s not all about just looking good – it’s about feeling good, too. 

Choose Your Summer Body

Looking and feeling great doesn’t mean you need to be thin, ripped, or shredded. It can be if that’s what you want to achieve, but that’s not the only option. Getting your body summer ready can mean getting stronger, so you can accomplish more in your day or for summer activities. It could be feeling less or no pain for the same reasons. No pain can equal better sleep, which contributes to a better mindset. When you’re stronger, your posture improves, and you carry yourself a little taller with more confidence. Confidence definitely feels good! When you feel good in your body – strong, confident, pain-free, and well-rested – you’ll feel happier from the inside out. Now that’s a summer body we can all have. 

6 Ways to Get Your Body Summer Ready

Your body isn’t just the way you look on the outside, no matter the season. Yes, your skin, muscle definition, and hair are what people see, but your insides are also a part of that same body. And if you want to get your body summer ready, you need to take care of all those things, too! Your brain, organs, muscles, bones, blood, and fascia need attention to keep your body functioning well and looking great from the inside out. 

Here’s how you do it.  

1. Start Any Time. Yup, getting your body summer ready is actually something that you should be working on all year. After all, feeling good shouldn’t be only left for one season! Start any time, and work on consistency year round. There will be ups and downs, but that’s normal. Life happens! When you find yourself off track, just pick up and get going again. 

2. Hydrate. Your body is made up of 45 to 75% water. Water helps with digestion, flushes toxins out through your urine, and lubricates your joints amongst many other important bodily functions. When I don’t get enough water, I notice that I get headaches, look more tired, and have more undereye wrinkles. A great way to start drinking more water is by starting your day with a glass of water before breakfast or while you wait for your coffee to brew. I find I drink more water faster when I use my Starbucks cup with a straw. For more about hydration, check out this blog post by Kelsey Hagen, a Pilates client and registered dietitian. 

3. Create Routines. Creating routines in your life that support your health and fitness goals makes you more likely to reach them. You don’t need to get up at 4am to meditate, journal, and work out before starting the day (unless you want to). But do consider ways you could alter what you’re already doing to make your goals easier. For example, my day feels “easier” when I run the dishwasher at night, then empty it first thing in the morning plus put a load of laundry in before I eat breakfast. I’m also more consistent with my morning workouts when I lay my clothes out the night before. The workout clothes are there… I may as well put them on and get going! I’m also better about working out when I plan my workouts in advance. 

4. Sleep. I’ve always needed a lot of sleep, like 7 ½ to 9 hours is nice! The 9 is rare and super refreshing. We’re all a bit different, but on average adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep. You might think that you are doing great on 5 hours of sleep every night and “that’s all you need”; but the truth is you’re likely sleep deprived and are just used to feeling that way. Some tips to get more sleep are to create a routine here, too. Try going to bed and getting up close to the same time every day. Avoid alcohol and caffeine close to your bedtime. Turn off your screens at least a half hour before bed, and instead read, journal, knit, or do something that clears your mind.

5. Eat a Balanced Diet. This isn’t my expertise, but I have worked in the fitness industry for 30 years now and have seen and heard about all kinds of eating plans and diets. Some work, some do not. Many appear to work but are not sustainable;   depriving yourself never works! Being “perfect” with your eating or using terms like eating clean or having cheat meals just sets you up for failure. Instead of fads and gimmicks, try getting protein at every meal and eat more vegetables and fruits. Whole grains and less processed food are also great. If you’re confused about what you should or shouldn’t be eating, meet with a registered dietitian to set you on the right path. 

6. Move your Body. You may have expected this blog to give you a bunch of exercises to help you get your body summer ready, and while I can tell you all kinds of great exercises, all of the above are just as important. To get the most from your workout you need to be well-rested, fueled, and hydrated. To keep your body moving well, looking good, and feeling great, you need a good foundation to support you. 

Read More: How to Stay in Shape in Summer

This is why I love Pilates! It strengthens muscles you don’t even know you had. It’s deep and controlled. It also improves mobility from your head to your toes! Flexibility comes along with it, and you will definitely work your core. You’ll also become more aware of how you hold yourself and move your body. Whatever other activities you love to do, from running, weight lifting, dancing, golf, pickleball, gardening, etc., Pilates will help. 

If you need a formula to follow, I recommend Pilates 2 to 7 times a week combined with weight training 2 to 3 times a week. I find that I have the most success with programs that are four weeks long, and you progress through the month by adding more weight or reps. Then you move on to a new program to “shock” your body and challenge it with new exercises. I also join the odd fitness class during the week, and I run, cycle, and walk regularly. Moving my body is fun for me! 

Don’t just aim for getting your body summer ready – go for having a strong, fit body all year long. Make it about feeling good and strong consistently, and enjoy the benefits every month of the year.