While your calendar is being filled with BBQs and pre-Christmas holiday plans and engagements, the extra hours of daylight mean just one thing … summer is approaching!

November is the perfect time to develop healthy new habits to carry into summer and into the new year, too. Here are a few ideas to get you on your way to saying ‘hello’ to being fit this summer.

• Michelle Bridges: get fit, not fat this Christmas
• Common lunchbox items with more sugar than Coke
• The 10-minute workouts that are worth your time

Lay down a realistic game plan and schedule

The pre-summer period is crazy busy so setting out what you want to achieve and how you want to succeed is going to be key for success. It’s important that your plan fits with your lifestyle and schedule, and you can execute it with military precision.

Michelle Bridges gets real.

Start small and simple

Include rewards for when you do great work. With the extra hours in the day at the moment, and through summer, there should be time to pound the pavement, pump out some weights in the gym or go for a dip in the pool. If possible, even try training at lunch. It’s a good way to fit exercise into your busy day – and even better if you can get some colleagues involved too.

Action your plan

I’d suggest focusing on sections of the body on different weeks. While some overall exercises are awesome and necessary throughout (try burpees and squat jumps), concentrating week-on-week can be great to keep you focused and toned.

• Week 1: Legs and thighs – Side lunges and standing calf raises

• Week 2: Tone that Tummy – Bicycle crunches and oblique crunches

• Week 3: Bottoms Up! – Squats and lunges; squats and lunges

• Week 4: Arms – Chair dips and bicep curls

• Week 5: The Core – Plank and bridge

• Week 6: Sexy Back – Back extension and side plank

Eat healthy and keep hydrated

Creative salads recipes are abundant and summer fruits are in season so keep these ingredients close by. Planning healthy meals for the week coming up. Buying ingredients ahead of time so you aren’t tempted by an unhealthy quick fix which derails your hard work is one of the secrets to success.

In the lead up to summer, our calendars are filled with social occasions; Christmas parties, summer catch ups, and general busyness before we’re all off on holidays. Make healthy things that don’t take too long to prepare on the days you know you’ll be tight on time. And if you are visiting friends or enjoying a picnic, bring your own healthy treats that are still fun and easy. And remember – breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, dinner light at night!

Drink plenty of water

Working out in the warmer weather can play sneaky tricks. It’s so important to stay hydrated and you’ll really notice the difference in your body and your skin.

It’s great to set goals and be motivated by them, but understand that you do not need to be constantly motivated or even have set goals to work out.

Be consistent and you will achieve. No bells and whistles, no hype. Consistency means being stable, solid and dedicated all the way through.

Take the emotion out, go into autopilot, and do it – JFDI!!!

See you on the sand!