Let me start off by saying I am so proud of you for making this decision to make a change because it’s not easy. This is a journey where you’ll learn more about yourself than you have in your entire life. You’ll finally understand what torture is when you have a pint of ice cream chilling (pun intended) in your freezer and you know you don’t have enough self-control for just one spoonful. There will be days when you want to quit, but you’ve already come so far.

Let’s clarify one thing: bikini bodies are not perfect bodies. Your body is perfect just the way it is.

I know that is an extremely cliche thing to say but it’s a fact no one tends to consider. It’s incredibly easy to doubt yourself and lose motivation. But don’t lose that light and shine because YOU GOT THIS. The goal that you’re achieving is solely for you, not for anybody else. The physical and mental changes that you will go through during this process will make you feel empowered to put in that extra set of squats or planks.

Let’s be real here, we both know that making a change to your body is more than spending two or more hours dedicated to exercising. You know the “Summer Body” must be achieved by a proper diet AND exercise. Skipping meals or practicing other unhealthy ways to lose weight should not be an option. The dieting options are endless, so make sure to try different eating habits and pay close attention to your body. If something doesn’t feel right or you don’t notice a difference, it’s OK to change it up. Find what works best for you and keep rocking it.

Another thing to keep in mind: this change will not happen overnight.

You know that healthy and fit bodies are developed over time, not over the course of a few weeks. While there may be small improvements as you progress through the journey, it will take a handful of weeks before that happens. There will be times when you ask yourself why you’re working extremely hard in the first place, and you’ll want to quit several times. But those moments when you look in the mirror and notice your waist is a teeny bit smaller and your energy is flying through the roof, it will push you to keep working towards your goal.

One more thing: You are not alone on this journey.

You might feel alone, but you would be surprised by the number of people who want to achieve the same goal. Merely bringing it up will have people interested to join you. This will make it easier and a little more fun, but remember this is all for YOU and it is up to YOU to stay consistent even after you reach your goal.