I read the mainstream fashion mags, that have their recommendations for summer/spring: the crash diets for those where ten pounds can make a visible different, dresses that would never fit me at hilariously high prices, and of course the perfectly valid advice of sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen no matter what color you are. There aren’t many plussies with the courage to plan for bikinis, but there are things we can do to make increased summer activity a lot easier.
Since I live in Minnesota, my summer prep starts in a vitamin pill bottle. This way I can prepare for the state bird (the mosquito). By increasing my intake of B6 and B12, I become a lot less tasty to the miniature vampires. I only add this supplement in the summer, and I don’t take B complex supplements because the complex just doesn’t do the trick with the skeeters. Also, those B-laced “stress tabs?” They increase stress! Yikes!
I also add neem, a fabulous Indian herb that boosts your immune system and prevents the North American bug bite from swelling. This way, in June when the small brown winged clouds gather, I can walk through them relatively unscathed. Do NOT take neem if you are nursing, pregnant, or trying to get pregnant. Also, do not let your partner take neem if you are trying to get pregnant.
I also start my workout program in March. This is partly because my annual visit to my allergist is in April, and I always fool myself into thinking that weighing less than previous visits will spare me any lecture (although he never has – he just looks at my bloodwork, and based on that, has nothing to say). For me, this means recording a program I like on FitTV, and doing it 4-5 days a week, and taking frequent breaks to go for walks. The point is just to get outside and be part of the environment – I’ve noticed that air conditioners in the summer don’t just condition air, they condition me to keep my butt planted inside in perfectly good weather.
Note: I am NOT a medical professional, and I have yet to acquire herbal certification. This is not to be construed as medical advice, just what works for me. Always consult a professional before using chemicals, whether the chemical is an herb or vitamin or some unpronounceable synthetic.
I also do small lifestyle adjustments, and obtain a few things to make the summer go more easily on me.
This year, this is my life-adjustment shopping list:
Smaller ice cube trays. When it gets sweltering, I want a quick and easy cool-down. Rather than going for a Dairy Queen blizzard – which has anywhere from 750-1600 calories in it, I pop a bite sized chip of ice in my mouth and it has the same cooling, satisfying effect. The small cubes also have the benefit of cutting down on food cravings, so if you decide to start a diet, they can help transition you past that oral-gratification phase.
A Mexican blanket – It’s nice to have a picnic blanket, even if I’m not picnicking . Since I live in an urban coop, I do have a courtyard where I can go outside and read, but if kids are playing soccer, I’m going to have to go to a public park like every other apartment-dweller. Having something to spread on the ground – or stack to raise myself slightly off of it – makes life a whole lot more comfortable when all the good park benches are occupado.
A picnic basket – My boyfriend’s in grad school, and I’ve just started a business, so we don’t have a lot of money for the fancy restaurants or even the summer movies and theater we love. At the same time, Minneapolis loves its summers and offers up a plethora of free concerts, outdoor festivals, and public lakes, and lovely public gardens to enjoy – so for the cost of getting there and for whatever we put together, we can enjoy a lovely night.
A scarf – I like keeping the top of my head covered from direct sun, because the skin on your scalp burns more easily than I always expect.
Along with these new things, I’ll have my four summer beauty companions nearby:
A water sipper – nothing gives you clear skin like drinking your daily water allowance
Sunscreen – because I’d like to get away with lying about my age for as long as I can (not that I do)
Blotting paper – an old-school beauty remedy that absorbs excess oil and sweat without leaving powder to clog my pores
Lip balm – lips are the first tell of age, and one of the first places infection can enter the body. Keeping them luscious keeps me gorgeous – and healthy.
I’m looking forward to summer, and prepping for it inside and out. What are you doing to get ready?
