As kids, most of us couldn’t wait for the summer; no school, summer camp, and all around fun in the sun. We couldn’t wait to jump into a bathing suit and head outside. Summer was a magical time where we could relax, feel good, cool down and ultimately leave winter behind. Now that we are older, have children, jobs, and a million other responsibilities the summer has lost much of its “magical feeling.” Bathing suit shopping is scary and actually wearing them can mortify! Most of us are self-conscious with the changes our bodies have undergone with time, child birth, stress, and poor eating habits coming full circle back to time. Stop being so uptight America! All Vitamins Plus wants to help YOU to be proactive in getting back those magical feelings of summer and surviving the suit! We have created a challenge for ALL of our customers who want to have a fun, feel-good, and healthy summer this year. Read on for the Surviving the Suit Challenge!

As with all challenges (even though they may seem impossible, most are easy & worth the try,) there are rules…

Rule #1~ Buy a bathing suit that is one size (or two sizes if your up to it) smaller than you are wearing currently.

Then display it on a hanger somewhere very noticeable –next to your mirror, or by your front door-so you’ll be reminded every day of your goal to loose the extra pounds keeping you from enjoying the sunshine. This should be encouraging and trust me-by the time you reach your goal of wiggling into that hot swimsuit, you’ll want to show off what you’ve worked so hard on…yourself!

Rule # 2~ Spend the entire summer shopping only the perimeter of the grocery store.

Think about this. All groceries stores keep the good (for you) stuff around the perimeter. The produce, bakery, meat, and dairy products are not in the middle aisles. These are fresh and usually free of preservatives; artificial flavors and are typically the healthiest for you. The middle aisles are filled with boxes of processed, high caloric, nutrient lacking and FATTENING products. Avoid the aisles, avoid those foods and avoid the need to hide inside!

Rule # 3~ Eat breakfast and fuel your day! There are THOUSANDS of studies that show people have a lower BMI (body mass index) and are healthier than those who don’t.

Even if you are not starving when you wake up, eating breakfast at breakfast time will help your body regulate the snacking and lunch and dinner times. Folks that skip breakfast are not only depriving their brains and bodies of necessary fuel; but are also moving forward lunch and dinner time and are more likely to snack on junk. Eating dinner past 8 pm is one of the worst things you can do for your body; especially if you are trying to shed the extra pounds. P.S. fast food breakfast is NOT recommended!

Rule #4~ Purchase a multivitamin tailored to you and remember to take it everyday!

Multivitamins guarantee you receive the nutrients and minerals that you are probably not getting from diet. Multivitamins improve all body systems, can correct deficiencies and make you feel good in the process. Some folks think why bother, or are taking the same kind for years without really seeing the benefits. Not all of the benefits of multivitamins are readily noticeable; but healthy hair, firm clear skin and a lack of fatigue should indicate the one you are taking is really doing its job. If you don’t notice any of these, give a different brand a try.
Do your research or have us do it for you, to insure the multivitamin you are buying and taking everyday is really the best for YOU.

Rule #5- Recruit A Friend…

Most things in life are better shared-exercise included. Starting an exercise program or actually sticking to it is tough, we know, that’s where the friend comes in. Recruiting a friend benefits not just you, but your friend as well. You will push each other to work harder to reach your goals of surviving the suit. You’ll motivate each other to go further than your goal and having someone to work out with is definitely more fun. The sense of obligation will help to. You will be less likely to skip a workout if you know someone else is counting on you. I am sure someone in your life needs the exercise and is procrastinating for all the same reasons you are. Ask them to join you on a walk, run or a spin class, you may be surprised. If perhaps there really is no one in your life to join forces with-step out of your box and get social. You just never know until you reach out and try. The gal you see waiting to pick up her kids in the car loop line everyday or the guy that buys coffee behind you every Friday might also be looking for a friend and exercising can be a great excuse to start a new relationship.

Surviving this swim-suit season can actually be fun if you are up to the challenge. Start today and you can spend the summer feeling good, and looking good-in that cute new swim-suit!

-Best of luck, from all of us at All Vitamins Plus!

By Tiffany Kelsey & Billie Marie – AVP Staff Contributors