Summer is approaching. Yes, it is only March, but now is the time to get in shape for the summer! Now is the time to make some new choices about food and exercise. Now is the time to create some new healthy habits so that you can look and feel your best when Summer suddenly appears!

So what are these new choices? Should you go on a diet? Start running? What the heck should you do?

I personally believe, and a million others too, that diets don’t work at all. Yes, you lose weight but when you are DONE with your diet, it all comes back and then some.

The best practice that I have discovered to lose weight is to simply teach yourself to eat less. Make a commitment that at every meal you will leave 20% of your food on your plate and stick to it. Over the course of a week, you will be surprised how much weight you will lose without taking away the foods you love to eat. And you will feel satisfied too. Try it. Simply leave 20% on your plate.

What is the best practice for exercise? The key here is: What do you like to do? As a matter of fact, what do you LOVE to do?

Choose an exercise method that you love, because then the odds are so much better that you will actually do it. If you love the to bike, commit to a spin class, or get out on the road in the early AM. If you like to jog, join a runner’s group and make it happen, but choose something you love!

If you are at a loss as to what to do, hire a personal trainer who can lead you in the right direction in terms of exercise and weight loss options. Personal Trainers keep you accountable to your goals which is huge especially if you are really busy in your life. Being accountable will keep you on track. Often left to our own devices, we get caught up in the urgent tasks in life and the important tasks like exercise often get pushed aside. Hiring a Personal Trainer will keep you on track.

So Summer is almost here. Make some choices now about your diet and exercise plans and you will have the best Summer ever!