Summer is around the corner, and before you know it you will be sunbathing in your bikini without a care in the world; or will you? Here are some handy tips to get you ready for a carefree swimsuit season.

Start Moving
Make it a habit to move more: park away from the building and walk, use the stairs, make your phone calls while moving around the office. Exercising is imperative to get your body bikini-ready. Try a Zumba or pilates class, do more push-ups, squats, deadlifts, and rowing.

Cut Calories
Exercising alone is not enough if you don’t reconsider your caloric consumption. You can start with small changes, like replacing fries with a side salad, or having a serving of fruit instead of a chocolate bar.

Fill Up on Protein
Eating food that is rich in protein or fiber will help slow your digestive process, which makes you feel full for a longer time and you won’t have to eat a lot.

Choose your Salads Wisely
Having a salad can help you resist fatty meals and fill you up; however, remember that just because it’s a salad doesn’t mean it’s low in calories. Be smart about your choice of dressings and ingredients in your salad.

Reduce your Chances of Bloating
Sometimes you grow a belly, not because of overweight, but because you are bloated, and that’s surely an unwanted feature when you put on that swimsuit. To decrease your risk of bloating, make sure to:
Boost your fiber consumption, as this prevents constipation; and drink plenty of water along with it.
Skip the salt, as it causes water retention which results in bloating.
Avoid drinking beer, not only because you will grow a beer belly, but also because alcohol in it slows down your ability to burn fat, and you will tend to eat more when drinking alcohol.

Finally, don’t forget to strive for progress, not perfection. Don’t set high unrealistic expectations for yourself in a short period of time. Instead, celebrate the healthy changes you will be able to accomplish and remember to only compare yourself to where you were before, not to other people or photos of fashionistas you see on Instagram.

Christelle Bedrossian
Dietitian-Nutritionist
Beirut, Lebanon