Summer is on its way and that means swimsuits, bare legs, and bare arms. During the winter, we tend to eat more and skip some steps in our fitness routine. British scientists discovered that gaining weight when the weather is cold is actually part of the survival instinct inherited from our ancestors.
We collected 8 tips to help you get your body in perfect shape for the summer.
1. Facial skin
In winter the facial skin is most vulnerable — it is affected by frost, winds, and temperature changes. So before summer comes, take care of your skin. Forget about the intensive scrubs or any procedures that can harm your already exhausted skin.
Instead, use homemade tonics and lotions to clean your face. To cleanse oily skin, use decoctions of cornflower, parsley, or rosemary. If you have dry skin, then a decoction made from chamomile will be best.
2. Body skin
Low temperatures and inside heating make our skin really dry and dehydrated. Make sure to always moisturize your skin so it looks smooth and healthy when you wear skirts, dresses, and shorts. If you don’t already have a favorite lotion, coconut oil is a great natural moisturizer.
3. Bikini line
Wearing a swimsuit means that everyone will be able to see your bikini line. The easiest and cheapest way to get rid of hair in this area is to shave. Unfortunately, it can be itchy when the hair grows back after shaving. Also if you have thick or dark hair, then the black dots are almost always visible even after a fresh shave.
The other option to get a perfect bikini line is to wax. Waxing can be done once every 1-2 months depending on your hair growth speed. To avoid ingrown hair after waxing, it’s recommended to exfoliate your bikini line at least 2 times a week.
To eliminate dark areas in your bikini line you should always moisturize after showering. You can use special lotions that’ll prevent ingrown hairs as they will help deal with the dark areas, as well.
4. Armpits
If you want your underarms to look lighter and also slow down hair growth in this area, you can try this simple organic homemade whitening cream:
Recipe:
- 2 tsp of turmeric powder
- 1 tsp of baking soda
- 3 tsp of honey
- juice of 1/2 lime or lemon
Mix the ingredients together to form a thick paste. Before applying this cream make sure that your underarms are properly cleaned. Once applied, leave the treatment on for 20 minutes to dry, and then wash it off. Lastly, moisturize your skin.
5. Flat belly
Having a flat belly is key to looking great in a swimsuit. It’ll be worth it to pay extra attention to this area during your workouts.
One of the most effective exercises is the “ball exchange.” Lay on your back with your legs straight and put your arms above your head. Start by holding the ball above your head. Hold it over your chest and bring your legs up to meet the ball. Place the ball between your ankles and bring it back to the floor while keeping your legs straight.
Repeat this exercise 10 to 12 times. Try to keep the lower back pressed to the floor when doing the ball exchange.
Boxing is also a really great way to lose extra inches from your waist. Add it to your cardio routine.
6. Muffin tops
To get rid of muffin tops you can follow these simple exercises that can be done at home.
Dead Bug
Lie on your back with your arms in the air, perpendicular to the floor. Bring your legs to a tabletop position at an angle of 90°. Slowly place your left arm behind your head and simultaneously straighten your right leg but make sure it doesn’t touch the floor. Return to the starting position and repeat the exercise on the other side.
Repeat the exercise 10 times on each side.
Double criss-cross
Lie on your back with your knees bent to the chest and your hands behind your head. Press your left knee to the chest while straightening your right leg parallel to the floor and turning your right shoulder toward your knee. Bring the shoulder and the knee closer together 2 times and return to the initial position.
Repeat the exercise 20 times on both sides.
7. Glutes
The glutes are the biggest muscle group in the body. Working out these muscles will not only make your bottom nice and fit but will help you lose weight faster in general. Squats are a simple and effective exercise, but this move works the glutes from only one angle.
You can try out the single-leg glute bridge or rainbows, for example.
8. Diet
Along with working out, a healthy diet is also an important part of getting your body in perfect shape. Make sure to drink enough water. You should drink at least half your weight in ounces every day.
Increase the intake of natural diuretics such as cucumbers, lemon, green tea, etc. Try to decrease the amount of processed carbohydrates such as bread and pasta. Also, reduce alcohol intake because alcoholic beverages are actually very high in calories.
Bonus: Take a moment and appreciate your body.
Remember that every person has insecurities and no one is perfect. Focus on what you have and appreciate the work your body does for you. Learn to accept yourself physically and mentally, and stop focusing on your flaws.
