Here are 5 reasons why you DON\u2019T need a summer body\u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
No one\u2019s talking about getting the perfect \u201cwinter body\u201d or \u201cspring body\u201d or \u201cautumn body\u201d. But the concept of getting a \u201csummer body\u201d or \u201cbikini body\u201d is pushed down our throats all the time! I get that it feels great to have people rate you as a 10, but you don\u2019t need their validation to make you feel amazing\u2026 you can do that on your own! That said, here\u2019s why you should stop this unhealthy pursuit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1) It can lead to anxiety and depression<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s all fun in the beginning, right? Your motivation is through the roof (you still have several months to go \u2013 you can do it!<\/em>). You start dieting and enroll yourself in the gym. But after a week or so, you start \u2018cheating\u2019 and slowly go back to your old ways. After a couple of months, you stop completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And the dark thoughts come \u2013 you\u2019re a loser, you\u2019re never going to get that hourglass figure like Jennifer Lopez or Kim Kardashian<\/em>. Or if you\u2019re a guy, chiseled abs like Chris Hemsworth\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, stop right there! Comparing yourself to celebrities is setting yourself up for failure. They\u2019re paid to look good and they pay good money to keep looking the way they do. So, unless you have the same resources as them, you\u2019re better off loving your body just the way it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But what does science say about it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n According to one study, depressed people with higher BMI (being overweight or obese) are largely dissatisfied with their body image, which can cause them to develop unhealthy eating habits (1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another study found that body image dissatisfaction isn\u2019t exclusive to females, even men experience this too. Researchers say there is a likely association between anxiety, depression, and body dissatisfaction (2).<\/p>\n\n\n\n That said, find out how taking probiotics can help alleviate your anxiety and depression<\/a><\/strong>! <\/p>\n\n\n Did you know that in 2018, the US weight loss industry was worth $72 billion (3)? That\u2019s a lot of money spent by people wanting to get fit – think meal replacements, weight loss pills, fad diet plans, and even weight loss surgeries \u2013 all to look good and achieve a bikini body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now imagine what will happen if everyone had high self-esteem and accepted their body as it is (yes, even the excess fat, extra curves, and unsightly wrinkles<\/em>)\u2026 this industry will go poof<\/em> overnight!<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019re probably not going to get a supermodel physique in half a year unless you\u2019re genetically blessed with the right build and only need to shed a few pounds. But if you\u2019re like most folks, you\u2019ll need to do a LOT of work to achieve your ideal summer body. This means going on tough diets and working out religiously \u2013 for a few years!<\/p>\n\n\n\n People with enviable physiques watch what they eat. No matter how good they look now, if they eat more calories than they burn in a day, they\u2019re going to be gaining weight. It\u2019s just a fact of life (check out other nutrition facts here<\/a><\/strong>). So, counting your macros is an absolute must.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And what about the toned muscles? Well, you don\u2019t get those by sitting on the couch all day! You have to put in the work. That means hours upon hours in the gym. Ask for help from a personal trainer so you can target the right areas and don\u2019t injure yourself in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, as you can see, getting a supermodel physique will take time, effort, and money. And good genes, yes, which you can\u2019t buy and will need to be born with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people think it\u2019s okay to not be fit when summer ends\u2026 well, it absolutely isn\u2019t! Your body deserves plenty of TLC year-round. Just because you\u2019re covered from head to foot during non-summer months doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s okay to revert back to an unhealthy lifestyle. Good health should last the entire year. In fact, if you want to live a long life, it\u2019s highly advisable to stick to a healthy lifestyle<\/strong> your entire life (4).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Related article: Healthy Eating: Why Is Nutrition Important?<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n With a hard deadline coming up, a lot of people are forced to take shortcuts. For example, in their quest to lose weight quickly, they\u2019d be more prone to go on fad diets (cabbage soup diet, anyone?). Some of these fad diets do work in the short-term, but as soon as you stop, you\u2019re right back to where you started!<\/p>\n\n\n\n And for those who can afford it, there\u2019s an even faster \u2013 albeit a more risky \u2013 option. People go under the knife to have their physique sculpted. They get liposuction, tummy tuck, upper\/lower body lift, arm lift, etc. These body contouring surgeries can cost thousands of dollars, so it\u2019s not for lightweight wallets (5).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Enough with the concept of \u201csummer body\u201d already! Here are a few tried and tested tips to help you get a fit and healthy body that you can be comfortable in no matter the time of year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aim for small goals at first. It\u2019s far easier to reach goals when they\u2019re more realistic and attainable. For example, instead of aiming to have a 6-pack in 6 months, how about you start by aiming for 15 sit-ups a day? The next week you double that and aim for 30 sit-ups with a 10-minute plank every day. As you gain more strength, you can add more reps and\/or other routines. Before you know it, you\u2019ll have the abs of your dreams!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Related article: Practical Weight Loss Tips For Women: Avoid These 9 Mistakes!<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"featured](\"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/probiotics-the-ultimate-supplement-guide-13.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n2) You\u2019re supporting a billion-dollar industry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3) Getting a supermodel physique isn\u2019t easy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4) Aiming for a summer body can lead to a poor mindset about fitness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5) It can be unhealthy and risky<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"3](\"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/3-01.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow to be fit and healthy year-round<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1) Set realistic goals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2) Follow a habit change approach<\/h3>\n\n\n\n