By: Laura Posada, life coach and Wonderful Pistachios spokesperson

Ladies (and gentlemen!), summer is coming and we’re just in time to work on our bodies and to feel better about ourselves, physically and mentally. I want to share simple tips on how to achieve that summer body you want:

Regarding food: Be careful with your carbs consumption, especially those that are full of sugars and starches. Please remember that not all carbs are bad for you. There are complex carbs that you can eat; for example spinach, broccoli, zucchini and lentils. These have fiber, protein and are low in sugar, which make them good options to add in your diet. If you want to have a snack in the morning or in the afternoon, have a portion of Wonderful Pistachios. They provide 3 grams of fiber, 6 grams of protein and 13 grams of unsaturated fats (good fats) per serving. Also, try to avoid beverages high in sugar content, this may include sodas and energy drinks. Go for water instead and make sure to drink plenty of it. I always have a bottle handy at all times. 

Regarding exercise: It’s important to increase the time and intensity of cardiovascular exercise (walking, running, cycling, swimming, dancing, etc.), but don’t focus just on that. You should add resistance exercises (with weights) to tone and strengthen specific parts of your body. The idea is to pay attention to the whole body, including the arms, legs, butt and of course the abs. If you want to show off your bikini body, you better work really hard on those abs.

Regarding skin care: We can’t forget to take care of our skin if we want our whole body to look healthy and in a good shape. Put on moisturizer daily, and exfoliate your entire body frequently to help remove all impurities and dead skin cells. Remember that in summer we sweat more and these treatments could help your skin look better, fresher and more radiant.  It’s always important to use a good sunscreen at all times to prevent sun damage and spots on skin.