5 Ways To Get In Shape For Swimsuit Season

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Bikini: Amazon Viottis One-Shoulder Ruffle (S) – comes in 6 colors! (love this one, similar one-piece)
Shoes: Steve Madden ‘Greece’ Slides (5.5 / run narrow) – also here, wedge option
Bag: Hat Attack ‘Provence’ (old, similar, similar)
Earrings: Baublebar ‘Mazarine’
Lips: Tarte Lip Paint in rose
Sunglasses: Karen Walker ‘Super Duper’

First off, let’s just say that it took a bit of courage for me to post these bikini pictures.  I haven’t rocked a bikini in over 6 years and my body has gone through quite a few changes that I’m still adjusting to since then.  But, this year I shifted to focus more on taking care of myself now that we were past the baby stages of parenting and had the goal of rocking a bikini come summertime!  While I definitely still have some work to do and am not quite as lean as I would like, I’m still proud of the progress I’ve made and am working up the nerve to share these pictures with you all.  Read on for a few of my tips on ways to get in shape and how I’ve been slimming down and getting myself ready for swimsuit season (mentally and physically!).

STOP EATING AFTER DINNER

I usually eat dinner kinda early around 6:30-7pm with the kids and part of me always knew that my post-dinner sweet tooth was derailing my best efforts when it came to seeing results.  I previously had the habit of staying up late to work on the blog and would end up usually find myself snacking on something after a few hours.  Honestly it was a habit leftover from my college years and something that definitely needed to change.  Since then, I’ve been getting into a routine where I’ve been going to bed earlier (usually shortly after I put the kids to sleep with the goal of being asleep by 10pm, if not earlier).  I did have to reset my body to not crave desserts and actually found the Sweet Defeat lozenges to be a huge help.

Sweet Defeat – save 50% with code CUTELITTLE50

I love that Sweet Defeat lozenges are natural and just rely on 5 plant-based ingredients to legit stop sugar cravings (it’s even been clinically proven!).  The lozenge doesn’t have much more than a minty taste and it’s as easy as placing it on my tongue to let it slowly dissolve.  The main gymnema leaf extract ingredient binds to sweet taste receptors so it actually suppresses the sweet signals coming from taste buds and stops the sugar-craving cycle!  Each lozenge comes in its own pouch so I can easily carry a few in my purse and always have one on hand even if we go out to eat!

WORK IN HIGH-INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING (HIIT)

I don’t have hours to spend at the gym and am all about maximizing my workout when I get it in!  High-intensity interval training essentially has you work out in short intervals of all-out effort and it’s amazing for getting your heart rate up so that you keep on burning the calories even long after your workout is finished.  OrangeTheory Fitness classes are my favorite when I have the hour to spare and even on those days when my schedule is crazy, I make a point to fit in this quick 10-minute HIIT workout at home!

CUT OUT REFINED CARBS

Refined carbs include all the processed foods such as breads, crackers, bagels, pasta, and even white rice.  The processing strips away the fiber and results in blood sugar spikes.  When I do choose to eat carbs, I opt for natural foods such as sweet potatoes or my newest favorite, the Japanese purple potato (they’re available at Whole Foods, super high in antioxidants, and like a better version of the sweet potato!).  Another option would be to load up on vegetables and a favorite in our household is actually steamed frozen mixed vegetables as the kids gobble it up and I love that it’s a healthy way to fill up on nutrients!

DRINK MORE WATER

I was talking to a friend a few weeks ago who recently lost over 15 pounds and asked him what his secret was for losing the weight, and he said “drink more water.”  It was a tip that I knew but honestly I had forgotten about how important water really is when it comes to flushing out your system and keeping everything going.  While it may seem counterintuitive, drinking water actually helps fight bloating as well and even stops your body from retaining water.  While it’s not a magic bullet, I’ve found that water does temporarily make me feel fuller and I’ve been working to finish a large 64 oz jug of water that I have at my desk everyday!

GET YOUR ZZZ’S

Just as important as working out and eating right is making sure that you’re getting the rest that your body needs.  I remember personally when I was at my peak of sleep deprivation when I was waking up every 2-3 hours with Dylan as a baby and I felt like I was in survival mode.  My pregnancy weight loss stalled as a result and even worse, I found myself turning to foods that had sugar to get a quick energy boost — so bad!  Now I aim for 7-8 hours of sleep and have noticed a huge difference in my energy levels as well as seeing some of the results of my other weight loss efforts!

Ways to Get in Shape Product Details:

Bikini: Amazon Viottis One-Shoulder Ruffle (S) – comes in 6 colors! (love this one, similar one-piece)
Shoes: Steve Madden ‘Greece’ Slides (5.5 / run narrow) – also here, wedge option
Bag: Hat Attack ‘Provence’ (old, similar, similar)
Earrings: Baublebar ‘Mazarine’
Lips: Tarte Lip Paint in rose
Sunglasses: Karen Walker ‘Super Duper’

And if you do choose to rock that swimsuit you’ve been eyeing this summer, remember that confidence is key!  I love my body for all that it has done for me and even though I still do have more weight-loss goals I’m working towards, I do just want to say that it’s also so important to have acceptance and self-love — and that ultimately is what people will notice! Let me know what you think about these ways to get in shape and share what works for you!

Meanwhile, there’s nothing better for showing off a tan than a white swimsuit!  I’m sharing my favorite bikinis and one-pieces below:

SHOP WHITE BIKINIS

SHOP WHITE ONE-PIECES

 

SHOP SWIM ACCESSORIES

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