When the weather is chilly, most people are not quite as concerned about their body image. A few extra pounds can be disguised by a bulky sweater, and any stomach rolls or suspiciously loose skin can be hidden by a high-waisted pair of jeans or a carefully cut coat. The effects of those extra Christmas cookies and endless, rich casseroles become harder to hide when the world warms up and the layers start coming off. Spring is still often cool enough for long pants and light layers to hide love handles and a few extra, unwanted squishy inches on a person’s thighs. The first few days that inch into the 80’s, however, have most people panicking about how they will look in shorts, skirts and, worst of all, bathing suits. So, as summer begins, so do an awful lot of diets. From simple refusals to eat ice cream until a desired weight has been reached to massive lifestyle overhauls, people throw themselves at the challenge of attaining a perfect beach body in as few weeks as possible.
Meeting often ambitious, if downright impossible, goals by the time bathing suit season begins in earnest requires both regular exercise and a diet composed of the right things. Here are four foods to eat before bathing suit season in order to reach that beach body by the time the pools open.