We love May at Brum Towers! Longer, warmer days are a sign that summer is on its way and (hopefully) a chance to jet off for a much-needed holiday. We feature some great swimwear in our Style pages this month – now we need to make sure that what we slip into our new finery looks the part too…

How confident do you feel when the temperature rises and it’s time to think about exposing that milky white bod of yours? Truth is that most of us are a tad shy when the sun shines. But it needn’t be that way. A few simple lifestyle changes and a clear focus on the do’s and don’ts of exercise can help you attain that dream beach look. Here’s a low-down on slimming down and toning up.

Be prepared to put in the work – Getting in to shape doesn’t come easy. Be prepared to be disciplined with what you eat and drink and to exercise at least three times per week.

Nutrition is key – There’s no need to cut out everything you enjoy, you just need to eat right 80 per cent of the time and the other 20 per cent won’t hurt your progression too much. Reduce your carb intake (especially in the evening) cut down the alcohol and eat plenty of meat, fish and veg. If you must snack, snack healthy – so fruit, nuts, seeds and raw veg.

Treat yourself – That’s right… if you find it too hard cutting everything out in one go give yourself a healthy challenge. Eat right Monday to Friday, don’t drink and stay away from the sweets and chocolates. Come Saturday and Sunday you can reward yourself with some of the things you enjoy. Don’t overdo it though, you don’t want to cancel out all of that previous hard work.

Short but sweet – There’s no need to pound away on the treadmill and cross-trainer. With the right advice you can get a far more beneficial workout done and dusted in 45 minutes. Don’t get us wrong, it won’t be an easy 45 minutes but going at it hard will speed your metabolism up, meaning you burn calories when you’re not even at the gym.

Don’t avoid the weights – The stronger your muscles are the more efficient your body will be at burning fat. If you’re concerned about getting too bulky, don’t fret as weights will not necessarily make you bigger, just give you a nice shape. This is especially true for women as you don’t usually have enough testosterone in your bodies to be able to build masses of muscle. Make sure you get advice from a trainer before you start though to avoid causing yourself any injuries.

Get help – Personal trainers and fitness coaches are there for your benefit and can really help you reach your goals faster and safer. Personal training doesn’t have to be expensive and not only will you see the physical benefits you will undertake a lifestyle change to ensure you don’t revert back to your old ways after the summer.

Picture perfect – Snap a before selfie in the mirror and keep it accessible (on your phone or tablet) so you can see it daily. When you feel like having that glass of wine or chocolate, look at the picture and remind yourself why you shouldn’t cave in just yet. If you can find a picture of yourself in the past with the body shape you were happy with, keep it handy too. This will help you stay focused – if you have been there before you know you can get there again!

TAKE-FIVE QUICK-FIT PLAN

1. CARDIO: 30 minutes of interval training. Try doing one-minute fast run on the treadmill followed by one-minute walking. Ensure your fast run is enough to make you want to stop at the one-minute mark.

2. RESISTANCE: Do big compound exercises such as squats, deadlifts and press-ups. These will burn more calories than the bicep curl and tricep extensions and speed up your metabolism meaning you’ll burn calories faster.

3. STRETCH: Regular stretching will aid your workouts. You will feel stronger, your exercises will feel safer and your aches and pains will be reduced.

4. TRY A CLASS: Classes such as spinning, bootcamp and body pump are sure-fire ways to hit it hard and eat away at those calories. If you are looking for a bit of fun, try zumba to get you in the mood for summer.

5. REST: This is the most important point. No matter how hard you push yourself, your body will not change unless it gets the rest it requires. Alternating your workout days with a rest day is the best way to train meaning you come back strong and hit each workout at 110 per cent.