This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Dr. Pepper Snapple Group but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #TENways http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV
Living in Miami means that it's pretty much ALWAYS bathing suit season! Although, we can usually get away with a few extra pounds during the "Winter" because everyone is so busy during the holidays that they don't have time for pool parties and lazy days on the beach.
Well, Winter is officially over and we've already had our first weekend on the water! As I was packing for out weekend in Key West last week, I went to grab my bikini and thought I better try it on beforehand...let's just say that I'm glad I did! It seems I haven't lost all of the holiday weight yet, and I was stuck squeezing into my trusty old one piece bathing suit. Even that wasn't as flattering as it usually is! Le Sigh.
With two Caribbean cruises coming up in the next month, and a teenage daughter already begging for trips to the beach, it's time for me to get back into shape and shed the last few Winter pounds. While I don't have a lot of weight to lose, it can sometimes be harder to lose those few last pounds than it is to lose a large amount of weight.
Luckily, there are some tips and tricks to help me, and I am going to share the ones that have worked best for me!
5 Tips for Getting Ready for Bathing Suit Season
1. Remember That Slow and Steady Wins the Race. Crash diets might help you lose ten pounds in two weeks, but guess what? Unless you're doing a medically necessary crash diet prescribed by a doctor to prepare for a surgery, crash diets are bad for you and those results won't last. Most doctors recommend losing 1-2 pounds a week, though it might be more based on your total body weight. I worked with weight loss doctors in 2012 and early 2013 to lose 30+ pounds, and I found that making changes in my diet and exercise that helped me gradually lose the weight worked best. While the rewards aren't immediate, losing the weight slowly over time means that it's more likely to stay off.
2. Save the Sweets for Your Cheat Day. If you want to lose weight, you have to make better choices when it comes to what you eat. Yes, I want to eat cookies every day - of course I do! But if I eat cookies every day, my thighs pay the price. So I don't buy them very often! Once I stopped buying junk food on a regular basis, it was much easier to eat healthy. Save sweets and high calorie foods for occasional indulgences, like when you go out to eat or for a weekly trip to the ice cream parlor. As strange as it sounds, giving myself those "cheat days" once a week, where I go buy an ice cream, or bake a batch of cookies, makes it easier to stay on track because I know that my goodies are coming - I just have to wait for the right time to enjoy them!
3. Look for Low Calorie Indulgences. One of the biggest ways we waste calories is by drinking soda, juices and other sugary drinks. An average glass of soda is 140 calories, and most people who drink soda drink several glasses a day. I drink a ton of water and unsweetened tea to stay hydrated and not to drink empty calories, but that gets really, really boring. When I want a break from water without wasting calories, I reach for one of the new Four Ten Calorie DPSG products like 7UP, Sunkist, A&W Rootbeer and Canada Dry. They only have TEN calories a serving and have the same full flavor of their regular counterparts.
No, really, I am serious. They don't taste like "diet" sodas at all! And with just TEN calories, well, that's about the same as a glass of unsweetened tea, but tastes a whole lot better! I especially love the TEN Calorie A&W Rootbeer - it's even flavored with vanilla!
I picked up the TEN calorie 7UP, Sunkist, Canada Dry and A&W Rootbeer at my local Walmart, they're right there in between the regular sodas and the diet sodas.
Save on Ten Calorie DPSG Products!
Right now, you can save $0.50 off of the purchase of either two 2 Liter bottles or two4-pack cans of 7UP TEN, A&W TEN, Canada Dry TEN, RC TEN or Sunkist TEN soda. If you share the digital coupon with your friends using the clickable share feature on the website, through email, Facebook or Twitter, your coupon will actually be for $1.50 instead of .50! You can get your coupon here, just keep in mind that this coupon is available March 27 through April 17, or while supplies last.
4. You MUST Exercise to Lose Weight and Get in Shape. I will be the first to admit that exercise SUCKS. But it is a necessary evil in the battle of the muffin top. You do not have to join a gym or run marathons to exercise, believe me, I certainly don't do any of that stuff! Of course, you will lose more weight by burning more calories through vigorous exercise, but I just don't have the will power to make myself work out that hard. I do crunches on my balance ball (you can buy one for about $20 at any mass market retailer, like Walmart) every morning to help flatten my stomach, and I try to do 20 minutes on my elliptical (which I also bought at Walmart, for $99) a few times a week. Not only does exercise help boost our metabolism so that we burn more calories, but it helps tone your muscles so you don't get all flabby while you're losing weight. You can even walk your dogs, work out using YouTube or at-home exercise videos, play tag with your kids in the backyard - the point is, MOVE YOUR BODY.
5. Buy Clothes that Flatter the Body You Have, Not the One You Want. One of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to lose weight is to buy clothes that don't fit, in hopes that it will motivate them to lose weight. What happens when you don't reach your goals and that new bathing suit doesn't fit? For me, it begins a vicious cycle of desperation eating...which really doesn't help matters. While you are losing weight, buy clothes that make you look good and feel good - even if you haven't lost as much weight as you intended, you deserve to feel confident after all of your efforts!
You can find out more about the Four TEN Calorie DPSG Products on Walmart.com/TEN, and make sure to follow DPSG on Twitter and like their Facebook page too so that you can stay up to date on new product offerings and promotions!
Robin (Masshole Mommy)
I am going to California in 3 weeks and I am SO not ready for a bathing suit. We usually don't bust them out here in MA until Memorial Day or even June, so I am scrambling to eat right and workout as much as possible before I leave.
Shell
I have to find treats that are low calorie- if I try to completely deprive myself, I end up sabotaging myself. I've also found that buying the right size makes all the difference. It's better to buy the bigger size that fits right than the smaller one that I'm squeezing into.
Amy
I really really want to cut back on sodas! We drink way too much mountain dew around here!
Louida
I currently in need of getting in shape myself. I cut down on carbs and lost 5lbs and now I need to start getting into exercising and eating better.
Lynne
I am never happy with my swimsuits, but #5 is so true. you have to buy the suit that flatters (and fits correctly!) you and does the best job at concealing your problem areas, or else you will never be comfortable!
Hanan
Great tips! I am dreading a bathing suit this Summer, mostly because of my legs. I need to lose a bunch of weight after this baby is born. I gave up soda a couple of years ago, but sadly I've been drinking it here and there throughout this pregnancy (I don't know why!). I'll have to try these instead!
Shop with Me Mama (Kim)
You look great Jenn! I can't wait to get in shape again. My Brazil Butt Lift is coming in the mail next week, LOL, so excited! Thanks for these great tips!
Karen
Great tips! I am so not ready for bathing suit season yet. I'm glad I still have a couple of more months!
Krystal
I didn't know you were in Miami! I'm on the coast in the SWFL area! Great tips.
Beth
I say to myself nothing tastes as good as skinny feels. I hope someday that will work for me. But the Sunkist might be something I will have to try.
Cassie
A lot of people think that if they diet and not exercise that they'll lose weight (or vice versa). People need to remember that you have to do both and not in excess.
Brett
Summer schmummer! 19 again this morning!!
I need to get on the workout track again. I'm still wiped from strep
Kecia
We don't drink a lot of carbonated beverages. However, it's nice to know we have more low-calorie options when we want to splurge!!
Mitch
A&W, Sunkist with 10 calories? This is a dream come true! I love cream soda and all the Sunkist flavors, and my son loves Root Beer! i could get ready for a swim suit with these low cal alternatives!
thanks!
Mitch
Pauline Cabrera
It’s really tough to get in shape nowadays especially with all the food that we have. We need to get picky with what we put in our mouth. In addition to this, get the right amount of exercise. A combination of exercise and diet modification will most likely give you the desired result. Thumbs up to all your tips!
Aimee Smith
These are great tips. I need to be better at slow and steady, I always do great for a week or two and then loose my motivation!
valmg
I completely agree! And you make a great point about buying for the body you have and not the one you want,a lot of people don't do that.
Rosey
I didn't know there was a 10-calorie line out. That's cool! We've still got snow on the ground, I've probably got lots of time to get swimsuit ready (sigh).
Tracey
These are great tips! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Ashley Morton
These tips are great: dress for the body you want, not the body you have; exercise is a must; and slow and steady wins the race. I have the worst time with slow and steady. I never crash diet but I do try to lose a lot of weight in a little time through exercise and it isn't possible. I also can't stay away from the soda but maybe I'll try these lower cal options!
Melissa
These are really great tips. I've been losing weight by eating better but I need to start working out more. You look great!
Jennifer
Unfortunately, it's already the beginning of swimsuit season for us in Florida but by the time it gets REALLY hot I hope everyone will cut me some slack since I would have just had a baby a couple of months before. I'll definitely buy the 10 soda instead of regular soda so I can get back into shape faster!
Krissy
I just ordered a really cute bathing suit in my normal size, and sigh - it's just a big snug and uncomfortable. I've gotten off track the past few weeks with sick kids and tons of work to get done - thanks for sharing about the 10 calorie drinks. Pop is my weakness and I HATE diet!
Dina
you look great in a suit! I need to lose about 30lbs. Ugh!
Janet W.
On the days that the weather cooperates, I've been getting out and walking in my neighborhood for exercise. I'm hoping to be bathing suit ready by this summer when we go to FL!
Christina S
I love the slow and steady. Everyone's so into fad diets right now. Problem is- as soon as you stop them, you gain it back just as quick. You need to actually learn to eat healthy and exercise.
Angela Barrett
Wonderful tips for bathing suit season! I personally HATE bathing suite season haha, but this year I've been working out more and eating better so maybe I'll like it this year!
Theresa
I don't like to drink my calories, so I am always on the lookout or low calorie options. These sodas sound like a great option for when I want something sweet but don't want to sacrifice flavor!
Toni
Great tips. I joined a gym becasue I am more motivated when I take classes (and burn a lot more calories). I won't be where I want to be when I go on my cruise but hopefully will be there (or close) by the time my kids get out for summer.
Melissa
Some good tips for bathing suit season. I love the season, the bathing suit not so much, but love the pool. I love the 7up and the Canada Dry 10 products! I hate drinking extra empty calories, so these are a tasty option!
Brandy
All great tips for bathing suite season and you rock a bathing suit. I cannot ever find the right style here in NH, drives me bonkers so I simply end up in an old bathing suit with shorts on... I hope some day I can get back into style with a bathing suit.
Kendra
I love the tips. I keep coming back to number 5 but when shopping, I somehow forget it. 🙂 I have to get that ingrained in my life.