Designing Your Swimsuit Strategy: Part Two

You've taken the first step, read part one of our swimsuit strategy series (if you missed it, read it here) and have thought about your plan.

Now, let's discuss your diet.

By diet, we don't mean a crash or fad diet. Your diet is what you eat each day without starving yourself. It's a nutritionally balanced daily intake and does not include pills, laxatives or all-meat. Most importantly, because you're starting early, you have plenty of time to design a plan that works best for you before hitting the pool on Memorial Day.

If trying to lose weight, you can do so at a healthy rate of one to three pounds per week. Weight loss isn't rocket science - it's a simple equation: burn more calories than you take in and you'll lose weight. Simple!

As often as possible, prepare your own meals. Take-out meals are full of preservatives and added calories you don't need. Preparing your own food will also force you to pay attention to what you're putting in your body - every little bit counts! Some easy tips include:

• Eat several small meals versus three large meals per day
• Eat two pieces of fresh fruit each day (apples, oranges, bananas, etc.)
• Try to consume more whole grains and fiber by replacing white starches with whole grain alternatives
• When possible, add a salad to your meal. Skip the ranch dressing and use vinaigrette.
• Eliminate all carbonated beverages and replace with water.

Now that we've tackled the plan and simple changes you can make to your diet, we'll cover the final part of your strategy next time - exercise!