As the sun starts to heat up the beaches and the frozen yogurt stores open for business, the dreaded bathing suit season begins.

This season can drive people to extreme dieting and excessive exercising, but there are better ways to get a healthy body and ultimately be happier as the summer approaches. Different exercises, foods, and even stress levels can greatly affect how much fat your body loses and muscle it gains.

Many exercises can strengthen your muscles as long as you do the exercises correctly. Many people looking to lose weight will exercise on a daily basis. According to Women’s Health, it is better to do the same exercise every other day, so the certain muscles being used have a day to recover and rebuild strength.

One mistake I have made in the past is obsessing over weight loss. Obsessing over reaching a certain weight or being a certain size will only end in disappointment because you will want instant gratification, which is not possible when it comes to losing weight.

Setting realistic goals for yourself is a major part of losing weight successfully and keeping the weight off.  Instead of taking all unhealthy foods out of your diet and exercising excessively every day, slowly phase out the unhealthy foods you wish to avoid and gradually intensify your exercise regimen.

Slowly phasing out bad foods is better than quitting cold turkey because your body will not crave the food as much if it is a gradual change rather than a quick one. Slowly intensifying your exercise regimen helps muscles by giving them a chance to recover and rebuild, while also slightly challenging them.

While having an attractive and healthy body can make you feel more confident during swim suit season, losing weight should not be your main goal. Living a healthier and happier lifestyle should be and will ultimately result in your losing weight.

Ashley Beyer is a Lifestyles Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.