Like many of you beautiful people out there, I love the warm weather! I'm a Leo, child of the sun, summer baby! I can't get enough of that beautiful sun and warm sand in between my toes.
And those big puffy jackets that you have t0 drag everywhere with you? GOOD RIDDANCE!
But then all of my glorious thoughts of gardening, sun bathing and looking fierce in my leopard bikini come to a screeching halt...eeeeeeeeeee!
WINTER IS OVER. SHORT PANTS, SHORT SLEEVES. I HAVE TO SHOW...SKIN!!I know I'm not the only one with this dilemma. During the winter months, we as human beings become more like the average bear. We stay inside, stay warm, don't shave, eat comfort foods & drink loads of hot chocolate. It's like our own version of
hibernation. I know I make this common mistake. I have the ''It's Winter, no big deal!'' mentality. I'm covered up in my jackets & long pants that it doesn't matter if I got a bit more cellulite on my thighs or I gained a pound or two. What's the big whoop?IT IS A BIG WHOOP! When the sun starts beaming, unfortunately, you can't keep wearing your favorite black skinny jeans. You'll fry! I love short pants or some ripped up summer jeans as much as the next person, but what's the point of wearing it if you don't feel comfortable? Growing up in NYC, I've seen gay men strut their stuff in short pants and flip flops with a bit of a heel on the back, walking along 8th Avenue with a Starbucks iced coffee in the other hand. How does he do it? Because he has confidence! And good for them! They have nicer legs than most women! Meanwhile, I put on a pair of short pants and get paranoid. And I mean, down right anxious! ''What if people see this?''''What if my cellulite is showing?''''God, my thighs keep rubbing up against each other!''''Ugh...my stretch marks are disgusting.''Now whenever I tell someone I could lose a few pounds, they start going into defense mode and keep telling me ''Oh no, you're crazy!'' or ''No, no, dear, you're not fat!''....I never said I thought I was fat, but there is nothing wrong with wanting to lose a few pounds! If it'll make me happier, why do people feel obligated to say I shouldn't? It all sounds so fake. Is this what they tell people who are over-weight or have obesity problems? ''Oh no honey, love yourself! Don't let other people get you down, you're beautiful! Here, have a piece of my homemade cheese cake!''This is not the way to go around it. People shouldn't be afraid to tell the person they care about that they're fat, because it isn't a concern of beauty anymore, it's a health issue! I'm not trying to discourage anyone. If someone is happy with being overweight, good for them! I'm talking about confidence here, people! And I just don't feel comfortable this way.
I thankfully don't have any health problems, and I plan not to have any! I cut down a lot on salty foods, as they really do puff you up. And carbohydrates. I've learned that with my body, it really bloats the most when I eat breads, white flour, white pasta and so on. But as I said, during the winter months, you get so comfortable in your long sweat pants, you completely forget about your weight. And your legs, and your tummy. Then the first flowers of spring start to sprout and my heart drops...I have SPRING-A-PHOBIA! The warmth is taunting me, short pants & no sleeves are out to get me! I'll explain how my Spring-a-phobia started...
It was summer time, July had just ended, and I just turned 13 years old. I was a kid, even though I felt empowered by finally having teen at the end of my age. For all those years, I was a stick. Small and skinny, I could have fit in anyone's pocket if I wanted to. Yeah, that small.
My older sister is 10 years older than me, she was a freshly-turned woman when I was just a sprouting bud. I would grab her small tummy rolls when she sat down and giggled. Mom & I would giggle about how much junk in the trunk she had. Yeah, it's all fun & games...until someone goes in puberty. It was practically overnight, I'm a lady now? I wake up one morning and there they are: those hips, that waist, those thick thighs and...
Where did this all come from!? Why me!? So, either it was karma giving me a kick in my newly-formed ass, or it was just meant for me. Genetics...why!? Though, I can't blame it all on genetics. Sure, I was a size 7 out of f**king no where, but how did I become an 8? A 9? Eventually 10?? It wasn't all the genetics, no...it must have been some of that late-night Chinese Food. Damn it. So, because I began to sprout like a well-watered plant, I suppose my skin didn't have enough time to stretch properly. Can you really be surprised? I went from being a size 1-2, to a freakin' 7 practically overnight! I kid you not. So I was condemned to horrible, ugly stretch marks at the age of only 13. Can you imagine how horribly embarrassing and how much of a self-esteem killer that was? During my summer vacation days in Croatia, where most girls along the coast were slim, slender and had great body structure, they would practically gawk at my stretch marks (which were outside my thighs, on my inner thighs and some areas on my legs.) In the beginning, they were red, purple, blue...it was so vivid & DISGUSTING! Now thankfully, most of them have blended into my skin. But you can still see the scars from up close, and it's a sound reminder of how permanent it is. As the years went on, I began to gain more weight. My thighs got bigger. I didn't involve myself in sports, so all my laziness formed cellulite. I could go on and on...but I was never motivated enough to diet or exercise. I would sulk and complain about my body to my fiance. HELLO, MORON!? YOU HAVE A WEDDING COMING UP!Then I start to panic & hyperventilate even more. Holy pig s**t Batman, my wedding is only 5 months & 27 days away! Now, what better motivation for a woman then her big day? I know this made me think over. It was the great push I needed. I want to feel sexy, I want to fit perfectly in my dress, I want to feel beautiful, I want to be happy with myself!What could your motivation be? A big dance, a birthday, a tropical vacation? Or how about the greatest of all, wanting to feel good about yourself!This could all be done with an extra push, some care & support! It IS possible! You can see results! I know I'm a curvy girl, and I'll probably always stay that way. But I get confidence from thinking perhaps one day I could fit into my size 7 pants again, or I could pull off the no-sleeve shirts! I want to finally be able to look at myself in the mirror with my bikini on and SMILE! DRINK WATER, EAT LIGHT & EXERCISE! 1. WATER, WATER, WATER!
I can't stress this enough! Please, take it from someone who landed in the emergency room because of dehydration: DRINK WATER. Throw out your Gatorade, sodas, coffee mugs, whatever! And drink WATER! Doesn't matter what time of the day it is, your body needs water constantly! It gets rid of your toxins, it replenishes your body, and if you're dieting, you especially need water! 2. Breakfast: 
THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY!My regular routine would be a cup of coffee and a cigarette. Sound like a healthy breakfast? Now, I munch on some delicious low-calorie, whole-grain cereal called 'FITNESS'. Have a cup of green tea, and you're ready to start your day, THE RIGHT WAY!3. Light lunch:
Lunch is also important! It keeps your body running. But just because it's lunch time & you ate a light breakfast, doesn't mean you should go running to the burger joint for the special! Take it from me, I've been there plenty of times. You should have something lean that'll keep you satisfied for the day. How about a dark-bread sandwich with tomato & mozzarella? Or some chicken with a side of rice & beans, or my favorite, a chicken salad with fruits & veggies! This will get you full, but won't pack on the pounds!4. Snack:
Let's pretend DINNER is non-existent. And it should be, in the dieting world. When people pack up on dinner food, which I'm sure is heftier than lunch meals, all they're doing is packing in unnecessary calories! Eating late at night is a diet killer! People should generally just stop eating by 8PM. If you feel like you're tummy is grumbling for some munchies, just drink WATER! You usually mistake your thirst for hunger. But if you really want to snack, have some non-salted mixed nuts & a cup of tea! It'll satisfy you without the unneeded calories!Remember, none of this can work properly if you don't have a drive to do it! Don't force yourself. Are you ready to lose weight? Are you ready to change your lifestyle?Kick spring-a-phobia in the butt with self-confidence & a new outlook on life! You'll feel & look fantastic by summer! :)-Tanja xo
