Starling Fitness: Daily writings on Fitness, Diet, and Health

Each week, I will give you step by step instructions on how to get into a swimsuit this summer. If you’re short on time, scroll down to the end and read “The Short Version” to get your weekly tips.

If you haven’t been following along with the program, there is still time to get into that swimsuit this summer. Go back to Week 1 and get started there:

• Starling Fitness » Get Into That Swimsuit This Summer: Week 1

If you HAVE been following along, your job last week was to wear your swimsuit while you cleaned house.

How did that work? Did anything fall out? Did your sarong stay on? Do you trust the swimming suit’s ability to stay on your body during extreme work conditions? If not, buy a different one. If so, move on to this week’s challenge.

Wear Your Swim Suit in a Swimming Pool

I know it’s a radical departure, but at some point, you are going to have to test the suit out at a pool. My recommendation is to go to a pool on the other side of town or even at a hotel in your own town. You are less likely to see anyone you know at those places and you can test your suit in relative privacy.

Go Alone

This isn’t about having fun with the family. If you need to, get a sitter. This is YOUR time this week and you only need to be gone for an hour or two. You deserve two hours to yourself out of the 168 hours in a week. If you can’t take two hours to yourself in a week, you have bigger problems than swimsuit issues. Get help from friends, family or services so you can spend two hours to yourself.

Don’t Use The Gym Pool

This isn’t about exercise. This is about learning how to relax and enjoy yourself in your swimsuit. Don’t use the gym pool, even though it’s free. It’s better to get the adrenaline rush from sneaking into a hotel pool than to test your newly beloved swim suit at the gym. The BEST option would be to actually check into a hotel for an entire night of solitude and enjoyment, but if that’s not an option for you, make sure you go somewhere that feels as relaxing as it can be.

This is the week to really test drive your suit, so enjoy your hour or two in the pool.

The Short Version:

• Evaluate your current swim suit. Do you trust it to stay on your body? If not, buy a different one. If so, move on to this week’s challenge.

• Wear your swim suit in a swimming pool.

• Go alone.

• Don’t use the gym pool. Find a place that feels luxurious and relaxing.