In Search of The Summer Body

Your Sustainable Summer Body Plan

This post is about weight loss. But I hope that this tone strikes one of gentle consideration that we all deserve when trying to make a change!

It was the first nice day of the year this past week, and with that comes visions of summer. While most people are still in hibernation mode, the time is nigh for building your summer body.

I have already explained why "New Year, New Me" is not necessarily my vibe, but I’ve also shared that over the last five-ish months, I have been on my own weight loss endeavour. Today’s post is meant to both ring the bell on starting your summer body and give you some real tips on how to do it.

Commit to Three Months 

Pick a plan and stick to it for three months. Truly, this is the best advice I could give you because consistency wins the day every time. I chose the animal-based diet and 7k steps with a weighted vest 5-6 days a week, and I have not veered off this path.

While there were a few weeks where I did less — I blame winter hibernation — this is consistently my routine. I’ve added intensity to workouts by going outdoors, adding more weight while wearing the vest, or adding Pilates to the mix, but I stuck to the plan.

If you cannot do your chosen plan for 12 weeks, it’s not the plan.

Pick The Right Diet 

If you don’t like meat, don’t pick an animal-based diet. If you don’t like fish, don’t pick the Mediterranean diet.

The first rule about building your summer body is to pick a diet you can stick to for three months — and beyond. Newsflash: this diet is going to need to become your lifestyle, or you’ll drop the pounds and watch them quickly return, likely in the middle of summer. So instead, put some real thought into what dietary approach is best for you.

I LOVE meat. Always have. So something like the carnivore/animal-based diet worked for me. But there are MANY ways to skin a cat (I talk more and more like my step dad every day). Now while I do believe there are many ways to approach your weight loss, I also believe that animal foods should be a part of it. Nutrient density is important when you are asking your body to shift.

Know How to Cheat 

I started my weight loss journey right before the holidays, which to some is bad timing, but I wanted to do this in the most tempting of times because if I could do it then, I could do it anytime. I also wanted to dive headfirst into the deep end to understand "how" to cheat on a diet.

When it came to alcohol, I chose tequila (almost) every time. It’s a low-sugar option, and when mixed with soda water, lime juice, and vanilla, it’s divine. I had the occasional wine, but the calories and sugar would have thwarted my efforts if I drank it consistently. So I didn’t.

I also made a pact with myself that if I was going to indulge in holiday party fare and drink, I would need to put some rules in place. The first was never on an empty stomach. The second was protein and fat, then fun. If that meant I had to carry cheese and olives in my purse, so be it. And the last rule was food before bed — always…and despite a full holiday social season, I still managed to lose 20 lbs.

Have a Succession Plan 

What is your plan once you reach your goal? It’s easier to lose weight than maintain, so you have to have a plan for when you get to where you want to be. It’s easy to fall into the "I look amazing, and I want to enjoy it" trap — skipping workouts, letting things slip through, and before you know it, the goal jeans are tight again.

Within reason, keep moving the goal so there is always something to strive for. A higher weight when lifting, a more intense Pilates class — whatever it is, keep challenging yourself. This is how you sustain.

Your Three-Month Transformation Timeline

I wanted to create a simple timeline for you to help you get started on your journey. Remember, you don’t have to tackle everything at once—trying to do too much too soon is often why people struggle to stay on track. This schedule is designed to help you plan your transformation step by step, so you can avoid feeling overwhelmed and instead stay motivated and excited about looking and feeling your best this summer season.

Here’s a simple timeline, based on how I did things, (feel free to modify) to help you ease into your transformation without feeling overwhelmed: