Beach body confidence: shedding pounds for sunny days in Florida

Many women at the beach wish they had someone else’s body, but I want to give you some tips to love your own body and feel 100 % confident. In Florida, 28% of adults are obese and about 36% are overweight, they might not feel ready for summer either. There are three paths you can take to get ready for the summer; physical, mental and medical. Let's discover them and see which one fits you the most to shed those pounds !

Have The Right Mindset

Sara Riehm, a registered dietitian and certified weight-management specialist with Orlando Health in Florida, says “Without the right mindset, your weight loss journey will be more difficult to start, and your goals will be more difficult to achieve,”. The first step to shedding pounds is doing it with a smile. Shedding pounds for the summer shouldn't be a constraint, it should just be a challenge you set yourself to improve your health. If you're setting yourself this challenge, you should have the right mindset, but which one is it ?

Take it slowly, don’t count how many days until sunny days start because the secret is to have the right pace. Be patient and persistent as you advance in your weight loss journey, be sure to set realistic goals. Be positive and clarify your motivation to lose weight, don’t tell yourself “I want to lose weight because I am fat”, say “I want to lose weight to be healthier for me and my family”.  All these efforts don’t just apply for summer, if you start this journey, invest your time so that these short term habits become long-term. Here are some tips you should keep in mind during your weight loss journey :

● Define your goals

● Positive affirmations

● Focus on health, not just weight

● Celebrate small victories

● Visualize success

● Stay consistent

● Be kind to yourself

● Don’t skip meals

Move Your Body

Along the mental tips we talked about above, you can combine it with physical activities. Florida has the chance to have so many beautiful spots to go for a walk, if you prefer being inside, don’t give up and go to the gym. The department program of Florida is focused on creating healthier environments to encourage people to go out for a run or a walk. Going to the lake district for fitness activities is a great way to get out of the city and enjoy fresh air.

 When doing cardio, it is recommended to do it on empty stomach to be more effective. During exercise, your body requires energy from a source, if your stomach is empty it will take it from the fat reserves instead. Remember we talked about the right pace ? Well, if your goal is doing one hour and a half of cardio, it's better to split it and do 45 min in the morning and 45 min again in the evening.

The hardest part of doing sports might not be the cardio or the running part, but being able to control your eating temptation. After exercising, many people have sugar cravings due to low energy stores. To conquer your post-workout cravings, stay well hydrated and try planning your post-workout meal. Here are some exercises you can easily do at home with no equipment :

● Squats

● Burpees

● Plank

● Bicycle crunches

● Superman

● Mountain climbers

● Lunges

Speak To Your Doctor

The number of obese persons in America has been increasing in the last decades  and more than 40% of Americans are obese according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Obesity can have severe consequences on your health, but it can be challenging to overcome only through exercise and diet.

There’s been a lot of innovations in recent years. Behavioral therapy, for example, is an obesity treatment option that helps obese people reach their health goals through psychology. Other new non-surgical procedures have also recently been approved by the FDA. One example is adjustable gastric balloons, which are inserted into the stomach without surgery and can be adjusted to the patient’s stomach to ensure higher success rates. Several gastric balloon clinics in the U.S. already offer these kinds of treatments.

Speak to your doctor to identify the best solution for you. The right medical solution will depend on many factors, such as your goals, pre-existing conditions, and personal preferences.

Starting your weight loss journey is a big step that takes a lot of courage! But with the right mindset, a bit of physical activity, and sometimes the support of health professionals, you will be ready for summer with no doubt. Stay confident and results will come!