Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
placeholder article
placeholder article

My Body, My Health: The Bikini Body Handbook Pt. 1

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Mass Amherst chapter.
It’s almost time for summer and we all know what that means: tight tanks, short shorts, and yes the dreaded bikini. Luckily, there is still time to get the body you’ve always wanted and be able to strut your stuff at the beach come June. The Bikini Body Handbook will guide you through workouts for each part of your body. Every week will provide you with toning workouts for a specific bikini body zone. Plus every chapter offer you nutrition tips and recipes to try! Use workouts from the handbook along with the healthy diet tips and prepare to step into that bikini and work it all summer long!

THIS WEEK, let’s take it from the top.

Chapter 1: The mind

Before starting any type of workout and diet regimen, it’s best to be calm and reasonable with yourself. Setting a goal is a great way to shape up or lose weight, but make sure these goals are do-able so you don’t strain yourself.

Do the math.

Losing 20 pounds in 2 weeks is not only impossible, but attempting to do this can be very dangerous for your body and mental health.

Use your mind to figure out this simple math equation:

  • There are 3500 calories in a pound.
  • There are 7 days in a week.
  • 3500/7=500 calories

SO, if you burn just 250 calories a day and eat 250 calories less, then you can lose about a pound a week without too much strain on your body.

Be calm. Think positive.

Negative body talk can wreak havoc on your self-esteem. When you’re trying to drop a size or tone up, you will have the most success if you stay positive and be patient with yourself.

It’s helpful, when starting a new diet and/or working out routine, to incorporate yoga and meditation into your day, even for just 5 minutes. This may also help you in other facets of your life such as dealing with stress from school and friends.

Stress has been known to cause weight gain. It can make you gain whether you eat because of stress and emotions or it can cause weight gain due to increased cortisol in the blood stream. The hormone cortisol has been linked to the increase of belly fat, which as we very well know, does NOT look good in a bikini. So stay relaxed ladies!

Week 1 diet tip and recipe:

Yogurt has probiotics, which can help keep your stomach calm and reduce bloating.

In the DC make a yogurt parfait.

  • Add one cup of plain yogurt
  • Add a tablespoon of honey
  • Add some chopped up fruit
  • Sprinkle on some nuts on top. *Nuts help with brain function and can stabilize your mood *

At home make a smoothie

  • Add one cup of yogurt
  • Add about 1 cup of ice
  • Add fruit *STAY COOL*

These yummy breakfasts or snacks paired with peace of mind will get you BIKINI BODY READY!

Caroline Bagby is a senior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst majoring in Journalism and minoring in Spanish. She spent her summer interning at Kiss FM for Boston's #1 hit radio show and getting owned by the restaurant where she waited tables. She is now double interning for Her Campus and for ABC40 in Springfield, MA where she is working as a broadcast news intern. Caroline hopes to one day make a name for herself in the production industry. She enjoys spending the money she doesn't have, bubbletinis, watching movies, writing, and surrounding herself with friends and family.