Can You Turn Heads When Wearing Your Bikini?

By Kevin Andrews

This article is not about wearing a Bikini, but it is about being in-shape enough to wear one well.  I hear all the time “I want to get into shape for summer!”  This is just another way of saying that “I have let myself go for 9 months and I want to make short-term corrections to look good for the next 3!”  What a ludicrous statement!  If you aren’t in shape for 9 months, how are going to make all the corrections you need and change your body in 3 months? 

Being in shape is not a 3-month job—it is a 12-month job!  If you cannot “turn heads,” (looking good, not bad) at the end of January, you will not be able to do it in the beginning of April—so please don’t try!  Those that truly are getting in great shape for summer, stay in good shape all year-round and make minor adjustments only.  I personally never let my body fat get above 10%.  If I want to do pictures, I then get it down to 7%.  Your year-round eating patterns and workouts need to stay structured around the above principles.  If you have any question as to whether you “look good” or are in-shape enough to wear your bikini well, do not ask a friend and never ask your spouse!  Follow the below guidelines to effectively stay in good shape all year-round.

• Measure your body fat % (men 10-15% maximum—women 17-23% maximum).
• Track your body fat% and your fat-tree mass to see what areas are increasing and what areas are decreasing.  Ootherwise, how can you make adjustments if you don’t know what is happening?  (Contact a professional if you need help with this)
• Take pictures—your spouse, significant other or a friend can do this.  Compare your picture to those seen in fitness magazines for those your height and age.
• Be objective—don’t compare yourself to the average person—the average person is overfat and a large % of the population is obese.
• Don’t let your idea of what is acceptable become skewed based on the average citizen—the average citizen is way out-of-shape.
• Maintain a prudent diet specific your body-type all year round based on the above criteria.
• Physically track your progress with charts and graphs to see your results.
• NO FAD DIETS.
• Do not be concerned about actual weight; be concerned about body fat %.
• Be honest with yourself (quit trying to come up with pretty words to feel better about yourself).  If you are fat (>30% body fat for women and 25% for men), accept this and then do something about it—do not justify your weight and do not blame it on someone or something else.
• Remember, the first step to change is acceptance!
• Eat multiple, small meals every day and learn to stay on track and quit making exceptions
• Your body is a reflection of your past attitudes, behaviors and habits—to effect a change of your body, you must change your attitudes, behaviors and habits!

Follow the above guidelines and with time, your body will start to take shape and you will be able to wear your bikini well.  Remember, it is a woman’s muscle mass that gives her nice curves as well as body fat, but the proportions need to be correct.  If you waste away the muscle with fad diets and short-term solutions, even if your weight is in acceptable parameters for your height, you will look like a bag of luggage in your bikini.  Do things slowly and systematically.  After all, the out-of-shape appearance did not happen overnight and if you try to correct it overnight, you will get an overnight bag appearance!