We have a lot of expectations and goals surrounding the summer months. Getting the perfect beach body, having the coolest summer travel plans and insta-friendly vacation pictures are a few of these. As I’ve entered my thirties, I have learned a few things that I’d like to share with you.

Let’s be real, weightloss after a certain age is not as easy as when you are in your early twenties. Now I’m not saying it can’t be done because lifestyle changes, food habits and moving your body regularly will help. However, personally I struggle with motivating myself to go to a fitness center after a long day at work, and netflix takes a lot less energy then and there. These last few months I have tried to prioritize my health, and the way I do that is following some simple steps. First, I didn’t make any drastic changes which I couldn’t follow through on and secondly, no crash dieting or extreme measures. I am changing my eating habits slowly by focusing on eating fresh produce and foods that haven’t been ultraprocessed or have a lot of sugar in them. I have tried a lot of different things to not eat more than my body needs, including intermittent fasting and counting calories. These did not work for me long term. Surprisingly, what has given me the best result on my weightloss journey is not eating after dinner which normally I will have eaten between 5 and 6 pm. I find that after dinner I have had a tendency to snack. Giving my digestive system time to rest as well as not eating more calories than my body can burn has been key. Though, if I once in a while do eat after dinner in for example social settings, I do not beat myself up and just make sure that 80% of the time I follow this goal I have set for myself.

In my twenties I would look at Instagram and other social media platforms and dream of having the bodies of the models or celebrities. It is sad how much we compare oursels to others and I am so glad that my childhood was not shaped by social media the same ways as it is for the new generations. It has been quite a learning and loving process where I have grown to appreciate and even love my body the way that it is. I do believe in trying to be the healthiest version of myself, but I also accept that I don’t have as much time and flexibility as when I was a student. Instead of focusing on getting to the same weight as I was at my lowest, I am focusing on building strength and endurance so that I can be proud of my body and what it can do. Self love is so important, and having a positive internal dialogue and surrounding yourself with people who give you energy can really help your confidence and empowerment.

Summer is a time for renewed energy, fun and rest. Take those instapictures on the beach this summer wearing that summer dress or sunhat that makes you feel confident and have fun with it. Confidence is not how you look in a swimsuit, it is what comes from within and shines through in the way you carry yourself and speak to others. Wearing something you feel good about yourself in will also spark that confidence.

Lastly, you might not be able to afford those trips to expensive resorts or travel to cool faraway destinations, but figure out what you can do locally. For example participate in music festivals or concerts, visit a local vinyard, go to the beach with a partner or friends or try out new food experiences. I think you will be surprised by how many affordable possibilities there are in your area.

Thanks for reading and happy summer!