There’s a good chance that you’ll find yourself in a bathing suit sometime this month.

If you are like most people then that realization will 1) bring a grimace to your face and 2) will motivate you to lose some weight.

While I commend your desire to slim down before baring it all, I’m here to warn you of the 5 myths that most people fall for. Don’t waste your time on these:

Myth #1: Starve the pounds away.

Attempting to lose weight by starving yourself is not only ineffective, it’s also dangerous. It may seem that severe calorie restriction would deliver the quickest weight loss, but your body is complex and by doing so you’ll disrupt your metabolism and slow your results.

Tip: Don’t starve yourself – instead eat healthy small meals throughout the day.

Myth #2: Take diet pills to boost your effort.

The commercials make compelling claims about the power of diet pills, but don’t fall for it.
The ‘magic pill’ has yet to be discovered (it has been discovered – exercise. It’s just not in pill form…).
Diet pills are more likely to damage your health and burn your pocketbook than to slim you down.

Tip: Don’t pop a pill – instead burn fat and stay lean with exercise.

Myth #3: Do extra crunches to flatten your abs.

We all want our midsection to look toned as we stroll down the beach, but excessive crunches aren’t the answer for tight abs.
In order to achieve a lean look you’ll have to focus on burning off the layer of fat that is covering up your abs.

Tip: Don’t obsess about crunches – instead focus on fat burning. Do large, compound exercises with someone else to challenge you and make sure you’re working intensely enough.

Myth #4: Eat packaged diet foods for speedy results.

It is amazing to see the kinds of foods that are packaged as ‘diet’ or ‘weight loss’ aids. More often than not these products are packed with refined sugar and other ingredients that your body doesn’t need.

Tip: Don’t eat packaged diet foods – instead stick with nutritious whole foods.

Myth #5: Avoid all carbohydrates in order to slim down.

Carbohydrates have been given a bad rap, which is unfortunate because you can (and should) eat carbs while losing weight. In fact, you should eat lots of the right vegetables and some fruits. Just not high-glycemic carbs.

Tip: Don’t swear off all carbohydrates – instead stick with wholesome carbs.

Now that you know what not to do in order to look great this summer, it’s time to go over your beach ready game plan. Here’s what you need to know in 3 simple steps:

* Step One: Cut out the junk.

The best way to do this is to start by purging your kitchen. Get rid of sugary, processed and fat-filled foods. Once the junk has been cleared out don’t buy any more of it. Remember that your beach ready abs depend on what you eat – don’t eat junk!

* Step Two: Focus on whole foods.

Replace the junk food in your life with plenty of the following: cooked and raw vegetables, fresh fruits, whole grains, moderate amounts of seeds and nuts, healthy meats and dairy. Clean eating really is that simple.

* Step Three: Come train with us.

This is the most obvious step. You’re ready to get into great shape and We’re in a unique position to make that happen for you. Call or reply to this email to get started on an exercise plan with a personal trainer in Los Angeles that will make you look great on the beach, and all year round. In fact, just fill out the web form at http://www.myogenics.com/#introductory-workout and we will call you back to discuss how we might work together.

It’s Grill Time!

Looking for something delicious to grill that won’t derail your weight loss goals? Look no further than the produce section. Onions, bell peppers, eggplant, asparagus and zucchini are all great options to throw on the grill – and they can all be eaten guilt free.