Before you rock your bikini and expose more skin than usual, it's natural to feel a little nervous. If you can relate to this sentiment, then forget what everyone else will be thinking and start focusing on how you want to be feeling. Looking good in a bikini doesn't necessarily mean having a rock-hard body — it's all about your confidence! If you're tired of being in a cover-up all Summer long, then take these tips to heart the next time you slip your suit on.

Your Suit

While almost no one loves to go swimsuit shopping, it doesn't have to be such a painful process. Bring a close confidant or trusted friend along for advice, and take a few moments to touch up your hair, shave your legs, and add a little self-tanner. If you feel comfortable in your appearance from the start of this shopping trip, then it will be easier to keep up your confidence once the street clothes come off. Once you're in the store, grab a variety of suits in tons of sizes and styles to find the best bathing suit for your body [1]. This will not be a quick in-and-out trip; you're going to need to spend a decent amount of time trying things on to find out what feels best.

Your Diet

A strict, unwavering diet is not sustainable for continued success. Even nutritionist Heidi Skolnik says there's "nothing pretty [about] looking four pounds thinner because [you] starved yourself the week before." Instead of keeping a rigid list of foods you can't have before you sport a bikini, focus on what you can (and should) enjoy all the time: clean, unprocessed whole foods. If you're one day out from the beach and in a bind, then try our one-day debloating meal plan [2] full of fresh, satisfying recipes. You can't make a huge change overnight, but choosing foods that serve your body will help you feel lighter the next day.

Your Posture

Good posture is not only essential for your spine's health, but it can also help you look 10 pounds thinner [3]. If you know you tend to slouch, then visualize your new posture not like the letter "C" but more like the letter "S." Untuck your pelvis, engage your abs, and drop your shoulders back and away from your ears. This physical shift in your stance is a great tip not only for wearing a bikini but also for looking and feeling more confident wherever you are!

Your Attitude

If you're committed to seeing big changes in your body, then start an exercise regimen at least six weeks out. But when you're not trying to take off extra pounds, that's cool, too! Bikini season is full of certain stresses, but remember that it's also a blast. So many months out of the year we're bundled up indoors, doing our best to stay warm. Summer is all about sunshine, warm weather, and taking time to relax. With so much pressure to look perfect in a bikini, the best thing you can do is take a step back and chill. Recognize that while outside sources are sending specific messages, you are the only person who can change the way you feel about your body.