Hey Style Sistas! 

That time of year is here. Yes- swimsuit season! Eeeeek. Are you cringing? Are you ready to make a few tweaks to your diet & fitness program so you feel your best when strutting in those shorts, tank tops and swimsuits? I have heard a few girlfriends already discussing having to chase the kids around the neighborhood pool or the fitness goals they’ve set to look their best at the family vacay to the beach. It’s a sensitive subject and we all have those panicky moments when it comes to shedding the sarong and slipping into the pool. Here are 6 doable goals to set & attain. Start today: 

1) LAY OFF STARCHY CARBS

Pasta, crackers, rolls, bagels, some cereals, cookies, waffles- oh my! I got hungry just writing those out, but when you are planning to lose a few pounds and increase lean muscle mass- it’s smart to reduce your starch intake. Some of the starchy carbs actually have a higher glycemic index than straight sugar. They quickly begin to break down into sugar the moment you take the first bite.  We need carbs for energy and there are several whole grain alternatives. Since I’m not a dietician, I prefer sharing Dr. Oz’s wisdom on the subject, here!

 

2) LOAD UP ON DARK LEAFY GREENS 

Seriously, this should be part of your daily diet, not just for swimsuit season! Kale, bok choy, collard greens, spinach, broccoli, cabbage and Swiss chard have great detox benefits. They are crucial to strengthening the immune system, improved circulation (which helps with cellulite), promotion of healthy intestinal flora, increased energy, detoxification through improved liver, gall bladder functions and kidney function. All of this adds up to a healthy metabolism! 

 

3) MORE WATER, LESS WINE 

For those of you sistas who enjoy a nice glass of wine (or two) every night, try cutting back to just a few nights a week while on this program. Despite the obvious reason, like the additional sugar intake, alcohol changes the digestive process which will change or slow down your metabolism. When the body is focused on processing alcohol, it is not able to properly break down foods containing carbohydrates and fat. Therefore, these calories are converted into body fat and are carried away for permanent storage on your body. Alcohol is also a diuretic, meaning that it causes water loss and dehydration. Along with this water loss you lose important minerals, such as magnesium, potassium, calcium and zinc. These minerals are vital to the maintenance of fluid balance, chemical reactions, and muscle contraction and relaxation. [via Spark People] Load up on extra water instead to keep the body hydrated and to ensure effective workouts. Plus, it rids the body of extra toxins. 

 

4) SWEAT IT OUT WITH HOT YOGA

Speaking of getting rid of extra toxins, I am loving my new hot yoga workout program! If you live in Texas in the Greater DFW area or Austin areas, I highly recommend Sunstone Yoga. They offer several classes with various levels of heat and for someone who does not sweat easily when I workout- I love the detox & cleansing aspect of this type of yoga. I have always wished I could sweat more and in hot yoga you don’t have a choice! I love it! Not only are you lengthening and strengthening your body to fit into that bikini, you are helping with the circulation in the skin which in turn smooths out cellulite. Sunstone offers a FREE week to newbies! Make sure to tell them you heard it from me! 

 

5) TIGHTEN THE TINY MUSCLES 

Gwyneth Paltrow swears by working the “accessory muscles” (the small muscle groups) for redefining her body after two babies. Her trainer, Tracy Anderson, has several free videos on YouTube which you can do in the privacy of your own home. Tracy recommends high impact dance style aerobics along with her high rep, low weight program. “The overall mission of Tracy’s method is to strengthen the smaller muscle groups so that these muscles can pull in the larger muscles – which results in a lean figure that is not bulky.” Of course, for swimsuit season we need to focus most on the two spots that a bikini highlights- the butt & abs!

 

6) PREP, TONE & TAN THE SKIN

Our skin goes through torture during the winter between freezing weather and drying heaters. You may have clogged pores (even on your bootie & thighs) which causes those little bumps so exfoliating is the first step. Dry brushing is not only wonderful for the texture of your skin, it’s effective at cleansing the lymphatic system. Before you jump in the shower, simply go over your entire body with a dry brush focusing on your abs, butt and thighs. After showering, apply a firming lotion like Clinique’s Turnaround Body Smoothing Cream. Marie Claire says, “If you are one of the many embarking on a summer fitness regime, then Clinique’s Turnaround Body Smoothing Cream could be the perfect companion to your body overhaul. A new formula, it helps strip away dead surface cells to reveal fresh, vibrant and smoother skin.” Ba-bye dry patches! If you’ve read my blog for a while, you know I rave about the Neutrogena Micro-Mist Spray Tan, but I decided to try something new last week as I started wearing more skirts. The Banana Boat Summer Color Self-Tanning Lotion in Deep Dark from Target blew my mind! I cannot believe I’ve never tried it. I applied it before I went to bed and woke up with the most beautiful color and absolutely NO SMELL! 

Summer is a time for swimsuits, sundresses, vacations and making memories so don’t allow your fear of that tiny little lycra item to steal your summer fun! May is here and I’m going to get ready myself! 

As always, set your intentions for the beginning of the month. What changes do you need to make? How do you want the month to look? 

If you need help with how to set intentions, make sure to grab my FREE ebook by joining the mailing list at www.tiffanyhendra.com!

Enjoy.

Love, Tiff