Today is Summer Solstice and it marks the first day of Summer, here in the Northern Hemsiphere!

It is the time of year, when people tend to wear less clothing due to the heat of the summer. Being a resident of Arizona, I can honestly attest to that fact! ( Although we have summer weather many months of the year!)

So… “Body Image Issues” can really show up in the summer months. The process of searching for new bathing suits, can really takes its toll on a person (especially women) and we can decide once and for all we MUST DO SOMETHING  TO SHIFT OUR BODY AND OUR HEALTH!

So, here are some Body ShIFt Assist Coaching Tips:

1. Find a partner who you can be accountable to and work out together. Also use eachother as support counselors and perhaps you can create a “healthy competitive spirit” with eachother!!!

2. Get on the scale and take your bodily measurements. Then put the scale in a hard to get to spot and do not get on it for 1 month at a time. Take your measurements more frequently if you like, since they are a better indication of body shifts than the scale. There are too many people who get obsessed with the scale and it can really upset them if their weight fluctuates with water wieght throughout the day or week.

3. IF you are really overweight and out of shape, it is imperative that you get a Complete Physical and maybe even a Stress Test by a Physician or Trained Clinician. After you are given the ‘Go Ahead’ from a clinician, start out slowly with your exercise 10-15 minutes per day and gradually build it up over time,to a minimum of 45 minutes per day. You burn more fat IF you exercise at your Target Heart Rate Zone for more than 35 minutes. You can also exercise twice per day for faster results.

4. Drink lots of good spring water or reverse osmosis water. A minimum of 8-10 8oz glasses per day. Water helps flush your system of all toxins and aids in weight loss. It also hydrates your body, which makes you feel a lot better!

5. Eliminate unhealthy foods that do not have much nutritional value from your cabinets. Also try not to eat or drink too many products with alternative sweetners like Splenda/Sucrilose and Nutrisweet. Studies have shown they are Neurotoxins to your brain and highly addictive substances that can create very negative side effects.

6. Keep a Journal of your food and fluid intake each day, to see where your problem areas are. Be honest with yourself. IF you notice you have food addictions to sweets and carbs, maybe you need to shIFt that and seek counseling or go to a local weight loss center where they can help you figure out why you reach for these foods to feel better. A lot of this type of behavior is deep-seated. 

7. Avoid alcoholic beverages when you are trying to lose weight. Alcohol dehydrates the body and makes your liver work overtime to get rid of the toxins from the alcohol. You liver is one of the main organs that helps your body emulsify fats, so you need it to be free and clear of toxins. Also, your body metabolizes differently when alcohol is consumed. There is no nutritional value to alcohol. (It is also helpful to avoid caffeinated beverages, since caffeine is a diuretic that dehydrates your body too.)

One of my favorite books that I have experienced great success with, in my own body shIFts and clients’ body shIFts from time to time is: The Fat Flush Plan by Ann Louise Gittleman. She really teaches you how to turn your body into a fat burning machine in a very healthy way! I highly recommend it!

Let’s see IF you can take a look at these ShIFt Assist Coaching tips listed above, and take action to help improve your body this summer and manifest these shIFts to improve not just your Fitness Level and Weight Loss, but also improve your Total Body Health to enhance your life.

IF you shIft and accomplish these things I mentioned, you may feel less stressed, you may lose weight/body fat and fit into smaller clothes, you may have more energy and feel a whole lot better!

Good luck shIFting your body and your health and enjoy your summer while you are doing it!

Christina Carpentier

Master ShIFt Coach