Every summer the pages of women's magazines fill up with features telling us how to get the prefect bikini body in time for our holidays. If it was as easy as they all make out then surely we'd all look great on a beach and wouldn't need all these how-to guides, so what is the best way to get the perfect beach body?
The best way to do it, health-wise, is to keep fit and active all year round whilst sticking to a sensible diet. However, experience tells us that this isn't the easiest of tasks and work, social activities and other obligations often get in the way of the arguably more important tasks in life.
Although you can take it for granted that the models used in the magazine pieces have a very strict diet and exercise regime, with a genuine will to lose weight you can easily achieve your target too.
First, work out how long you have to meet your target weight. In a diary or calendar, mark out points along the way where you will have smaller goals. By breaking down your weight loss programme into smaller sectors makes it easier to achieve and gives you motivation to keep going. This strategy is used in many other areas of life – such as business and sales – as it helps keep a positive state of mind, something that is vital when you're trying to lose weight.
The first thing to look at is your diet. Some fads tell you to starve yourself but this is more harmful than helpful and any weight you do lose is likely to be water weight and quick to return. Instead make sensible cutbacks. Remove the snacks from your diet and stop eating foods – the chips, pizzas and burgers in your diet – that you know are bad for you. One easy way to do this is to empty your cupboards and freezers of this kind of food to remove the temptation to munch on them. Use it as a time to experiment with your cooking and try a new vegetable or two.
As well as watching what you eat, you'll need to take up some form of exercise. The 'e' word strikes fear into many people but it's easy to make it fun. If there's a sport you enjoy, make the effort to join a class or get playing regularly with a friend. You can always take up new classes – in dancing, for example – or if you want to shed serious pounds think about joining a gym class such as spinning. If you go to a gym you can also think about using the other facilities they offer and many will let you speak to a trainer who will be able to give you a personalised workout.
To make sure you look good in bikinis this year, keep well hydrated (try cutting out drinks like coffee and alcohol) by drinking water instead. This will not only help you lose weight but will also improve your skin's complexion, meaning you'll look even better in those holiday snaps, for a special event or even for your wedding day.
Jennifer Adams writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.