Get Your Body Summer-Ready

The days of thinking that just one body type is perfect and acceptable to be seen on the beach are over, and we are stepping into a time when you can look however you want. This, of course, doesn’t mean that you can’t work to have visible abs and a toned body or to enhance a certain part of yourself. So whether your preparations are exercise, tanning, waxing, or picking out a new bikini, here’s how to make sure you’re ready for the beach on the first sunny day of the year.

Start working well in advance.

If you want your body to look a certain way for summer, there’s one thing you can be completely sure of: you can’t get it in a week. Any “get slim fast” commercial you see is just a fad at best or a dangerous health risk at worst. Regular exercise and a good diet are the best way to change the shape of your body and even though they take some time, they're results that will last and that you’ll feel good about having achieved. If you want to be slimmer, then a variety of different exercises or a class like CrossFit will definitely help you get there. On the other hand, if you want to get some extra muscle in some areas, training with weights or your own body weight will allow you to really shape those muscles and show them off. And if you want lean, sculpted muscles, then yoga is the way to go, since it is mild, yet builds up strength. Another issue can be energy, since going to the beach and playing volleyball, swimming, and running around can be exhausting, and you want to be able to keep up. Light stamina training like jogging or swimming will help you build up stamina.

Choose what you want.

There are a lot of trends that go back and forth, and it’s important not to religiously follow all of them since some of them require dangerous and life-lasting consequences. However, if you know what kind of body you want and you’re set on it, it’s perfectly fine to try and achieve it through any means you want. Especially in places like Australia, where it’s warm weather most of the year and people love spending time on the beach, it can get frustrating to constantly upkeep your body and put it on display, so women often choose to get some professional body contouring in Sydney to help them get the appearance they want. It’s important to find a good doctor that will prescribe the best course of action for you personally and who will never take it too far. Ask for opinions from previous patients and do your research before deciding on a clinic.

Get the hair off.

If you choose to remove your body hair, it’s important to know when to do it, depending on the method you’re using. If you’re just shaving it off, do it the night before to give any cuts the chance to heal and the redness to come down. If you’re opting for waxing, then a few days in advance should do the trick (but be careful with waxing mid-season, because it will also take off a part of your tan), and if you’re going through something like laser removal, you should ask your cosmetician about the procedure to make sure how far in advance you should do it. Remember that no matter what, you moisturize your skin daily so that it will be smooth and shiny, and that if you want to leave your hair natural, a lot of women are doing that around the world and it’s your own prerogative.

Remember that feeling good on the beach is more about the mindset than it is about the body itself, and if you learn to be comfortable around your body, you’ll have a much better time when you’re out and about. If you’re feeling self-conscious, just remember that it’s completely normal, but also that nobody is looking at your body and judging it, everyone’s just there to have fun. So grab an icy-pop, jump into the water, and have some fun with friends and family, because your body is there exactly for that reason—to allow you to get places and have fun.