Does anyone else despise the term #BeachBody?! I mean, I would have absolutely nothing against the pervasive hashtag if say, everyone understood that literally every body is a beach body, but sadly I don’t think that’s ever been a thing. The thing is, the beach is for all people not just people who have achieved their particular decade’s definition of the ideal physique. The idea of a #BeachBody is undoubtedly emotionally, and sometimes physically, harmful. Instead of trying to force our bodies into proportions some of us are not genetically possible of achieving (without surgical help, anyway), we women should instead focus on healthier goals year-round, but especially as the skin-baring summer months come to a close.
Eating more whole foods. Without making any drastic changes to your lifestyle, one super-positive and healthful thing you can do is to simply buy and eat more whole foods. Even if that means you have to learn how to prepare them. If you start eating more fruits and veggies (replacing some of your favorite processed foods) you’ll definitely notice a difference in you how look and how you feel if you stick to it. You could even take a healthy cooking class for a fun summer date night activity!
Staying active. The end of summer doesn’t have to mark the end of your active days. Before the leaves start to fall, spend some time thinking of ways you can keep moving once the days are shorter and chillier. Whether it’s early morning boot camp classes, weekly hikes with friends, post-dinner walks around your neighborhood, or living room dance parties with your kids, try to commit to at least 30 minutes of movement a few times a week. Your best bet for success is finding an activity you actually enjoy, so sticking with it won’t seem like a chore.
Locking down a solid fitness and nutrition plan. If you’re actively trying to lose weight — whether it’s for health reasons or simply because you want to feel a little better in your clothes — but can’t seem to get and stay on the right track, there’s no shame in asking for help! Whether you turn to a personal trainer, nutritionist or a customized weight loss program like the one offered by Noom, having someone else do the initial legwork for you and someone or something to hold you accountable, can be just the push you need to achieve your goals. Noom has a team of virtual coaches specializing in fitness, nutrition, and more who can help hold you accountable at any hour of the day — kind of like a best friend who lives in your pocket.
Minding your mental health. Even if you’re unhappy with your body — maybe especially so — it’s best to find a healthy balance between a hardcore fitness and nutrition plan and prioritizing self-care. There are only so many hours in the day, and if all you do is work, work out, and care for your family, you’re probably going to burn out. So instead of exercising for an hour maybe take 15 of those 60 minutes to meditate or take a hot shower enhanced with essential oils. Make time to read or watch your favorite show, go out for drinks with the girls, or get a massage. Make a goal to do something to fill your own tank every single week, and stick to it. Being healthy extends to mental health too.
Drinking more water. The vast majority of Americans are chronically dehydrated and while we’ve all heard that we should be drinking eight to 10 cups of water per day, it’s pretty darn hard to actually do it. In fact, many physical ailments and discomforts including headaches, fatigue, dry skin, and dizzy spells are actually signs of dehydration and will completely disappear if you up your water intake sufficiently. Use an app to track how much you drink each day or invest in one of those nifty reusable water bottles with measurements printed on them.
Gaining strength. Replace that summer #BeachBody hashtag search with #StrongNotSkinny or #ProgressNotPerfection and start focusing on getting physically stronger and fitter rather than trying to fit into some stereotype created by the photoshopped and filtered images that fill your social media feeds. Chasing after that ever-changing stereotype is a losing battle, but building muscle and gaining strength is something tangible that can be measured so you can actually see and feel the results of your hard work.
Ditching negative self-talk. Lastly, don’t be so hard on yourself! Instead of harping on all of your failures and shortcoming and making mental lists of everything you wish you could change about your body, start taking note of your successes. Replace negative self-talk with positive thoughts and words. You could even try keeping a gratitude journal or writing a list of things you like about yourself that you can turn to when you’re feeling inadequate or insecure. And get off Instagram from time to time — nobody’s perfect, they just know how to use the right filters.
