As the days get longer, summer is right around the corner. After the wintertime lull, getting back into shape seems like a big undertaking, but there are tons of ways to tone up your body for summer.

Not every diet and exercise plan works for everyone, so there are many options that can be mixed and matched. Knowing what foods will help keep the body energized and healthy will allow extra pounds to burn off and lean muscle to build.

According to Self Magazine, there are superfoods that help maintain a healthy body weight, like salmon, apples, steak, eggs, olive oil, yogurt, kiwis, sweet potatoes, avocados, oats, and blueberries. These foods help build lean muscle and curb cravings.

Besides eating superfoods, you should count calories. In order to lose one pound, a person must burn 3,500 calories. Your daily caloric intake depends on body weight, age, and activity level. To calculate your daily recommended caloric intake, there are metabolism calculators online at reliable websites like WebMD.

According to WebMD, however, calorie counting shouldn’t just be about the quantity of the calories, but the quality. While a calorie from a fruit is the same as a calorie from a potato chip, not eating the right types of food is not beneficial to being healthy.

There are multitudes of methods to burn calories and tone muscles by working out.  Sports are a great way to exercise without really noticing because the object of the game distracts you from burning calories and building muscle.

Without sports, it’s possible to enjoy working out.  Joining a gym offers many types of exercise equipment. Planet Fitness, The Y, The Arena Club, and The Bel Air Athletic Club are all places that offer memberships.

Fitness Magazine lists some of the best workout videos if you would prefer exercising at home. My personal favorite is “The 30 Day Shred” by Jillian Michaels, which is a 20-minute total-body workout with interval training.

Last but not least, an easy way to exercise is walking your dog or running around the neighborhood. It’s right outside the front door, it’s free, and over time it will become something you look forward to. The best way to build an exercise routine is to make it a habit. The same holds true for eating well.  Eventually you will get used to the foods your body really needs.

Trying to be healthy and in shape all year round is difficult, and usually motivation to do so comes from the days filled with poolside lounging. However, making healthy dieting and exercising a part of your daily routine can help extend this lifestyle through summer and beyond.

Stephanie Meadowcroft is a Lifestyles Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.