F*ck the Summer Body - Live in Your Best Body All Year Round

As we approach a time when many are frantically thinking about “getting their summer body ready,” I want to urge you to take a moment and rethink what that means. Instead of striving for some fleeting, season-specific ideal, let’s aim for something that serves you year-round: living in your best body, always. The truth is, your body is far more than just something to be "fixed" or "toned" in time for bikini season. It’s an intricate, dynamic system that thrives on consistent nourishment, balanced practices, and the kind of long-term care that promotes true health and longevity.

Consistent Nourishment for Longevity > Quick Fixes

We’ve been conditioned to think of our bodies in terms of short-term goals. How many times have you set a goal to look a certain way for summer, a wedding, or a big event? The problem with these types of goals is that they usually come with drastic dietary restrictions or intense exercise routines that are not sustainable. They might get you a "beach body" temporarily, but they often lead to hopping on and off the wellness wagon. You’re either eating "perfectly" during the week and binging on the weekends or pushing yourself to extremes to achieve a temporary physique. This cycle is exhausting—mentally and physically.

In actuality, you should view your health as a pendulum. Your goal is to keep the pendulum swing in balance, with consistent nourishment, which lays the foundation for long-term health. Rather than focusing on a specific body type or size for the summer, why not focus on nourishing your body every day for a lifetime? The research supports this suggestion. Studies show that individuals who consistently make small, health-conscious decisions rather than drastic changes are far more likely to achieve sustainable weight loss and improve their health markers in the long run (r).

The Pendulum Swing of Health: Bringing Balance Back

The pendulum swing in health is a natural phenomenon, and it's not necessarily a bad thing. Many of us have experienced times when we feel like we're on track with our eating habits and lifestyle routines, keeping our pendulum in a delicate balance, only to feel thrown off when we overindulge or neglect our healthy habits. The key is to adopt tools and practices we can implement to bring our health pendulum back into equilibrium.

When we approach health with an "all-or-nothing" mindset, we set ourselves up for a stressful cycle of extremes—being "good" one day and "bad" the next. This constant push-and-pull can lead to metabolic and hormonal disruptions, like insulin resistance, cortisol dysregulation, and gut imbalance (r). But health doesn’t need to be perfect all the time; it’s about learning to navigate these swings in a way that supports long-term well-being.

Rather than expecting to be perfect with our habits, we can use tools and practices to bring the pendulum back into balance when it veers too far in one direction. Whether that means incorporating more nourishing meals after a weekend of indulgence, practicing restorative movement or meditation after periods of high stress, or allowing yourself grace and flexibility in your routines—these strategies help recalibrate the body and mind.

Health is not about keeping our pendulum perfectly steady, but about creating practices that help us bring the swing back to a balanced, sustainable place. This is how we make health a lifelong practice. It’s not about perfection—it’s about consistency, self-awareness, and the ability to restore equilibrium when we feel out of sync. And with this approach, your body can remain in balance all year long, no matter the season.

Health Is a Lifelong Practice, Not Seasonal

Health is not something you achieve or complete in a single season. Just as you wouldn’t expect a flower to bloom fully overnight, your body requires time, consistency, and care to thrive. This idea of "getting in shape" for the summer has us focusing only on the short-term. But what if we reimagined health as a lifelong practice, something we show up for every single day?

From a scientific standpoint, our bodies thrive on consistency (r). The body’s metabolic pathways, gut health, immune system, and hormonal balance require daily attention (r)—not just during certain times of the year. Research supports the idea of forming consistent habits rather than fluctuating between extremes (r). Whether it’s getting enough sleep, fueling your body with nutrient-dense food, staying hydrated, or managing stress, each of these small habits contributes to your long-term health.

Bringing Your Body into Equilibrium with Nourishing, High-Vibration Foods

What does it mean to bring your body into equilibrium? It’s about nourishing your organs, tissues, and energy pathways with high-vibration food. High-vibration foods are nutrient-dense, vibrant, plant-based foods that fuel every aspect of your body, not just your aesthetic goals. When you nourish your body with foods that are rich in antioxidants, healthy fats, fiber, and minerals, you provide it with the tools it needs to function optimally.

Research shows that plant-based diets—rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats—are linked to reduced risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes (r). These foods, which are vibrant and full of life, provide the body with the nutrients it needs to support cellular function, improve gut health, and regulate metabolism. When we feed our bodies these high-vibration foods, we support a state of balance that extends far beyond temporary results.

On a cellular level, nutrient dense foods help reduce inflammation, balance hormones, and boost immunity (r). Your body’s detoxification pathways—such as the liver, kidneys, and lymphatic system—thrive on the nourishment provided by whole, plant-based foods. They help clear out toxins, balance blood sugar, and improve energy levels, allowing your body to remain in a state of harmony.

The Science of Nourishment: A Holistic Approach to Health

Nourishing your body with plants is more than just a fad—it’s backed by science. For example, studies have shown that eating a plant-based diet can improve gut microbiota diversity, leading to better digestion (r). Additionally, high-fiber foods play a crucial role in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, reducing inflammation, and promoting heart health (r). Essential fatty acids, found in foods like avocado, nuts, seeds, and olive oil, support brain health, hormonal balance, and skin vitality (r).

Furthermore, consuming a variety of colorful vegetables and fruits can increase the intake of antioxidants, which protect cells from oxidative stress and support longevity (r). By focusing on eating foods that are high in these nutrients, you’re giving your body the tools it needs to fight off illness, maintain balance, and ultimately feel your best, all year round.

Let’s stop chasing a summer body and start living in our best body, every day. When we approach health with balance, consistency, and nourishment, we create a lasting foundation for longevity and well-being. Rather than jumping on and off the "wellness wagon," let's make health a lifelong practice—a practice that nourishes not just the body, but also the mind and spirit. This, my friends, is the real path to living your best life. And it’s not seasonal—it’s eternal.