Happy with Your Bikini Body?

With summer approaching, NHS Choices asked people if they were happy with their beach body, 86% of women and 50% of men said no. The survey also revealed that:

• the majority of men (81%) and women (66%) feel least confident about their stomach,
• women also lacked confidence when it came to their thighs (25%),
• while men lacked confidence with their arms (9%).

To help combat fitness fatigue, and get people back on track and ready to flaunt their figures on the beach, NHS Choices is inviting the nation to Get Ready for Summer. Participants can visit the NHS Healthy Living Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/nhshealthyliving) where they can share their personal health goals and join groups, which provide ongoing motivation and tips from health and fitness experts.

Anna Sutton, Live Well editor for NHS Choices, said; “Another recent survey has revealed that social networks – friends, partners and even work colleagues – are the most important motivator for people trying to stick to diet and fitness plans, but their good intentions often trailed off when that support was no longer available. With Facebook and weekly email advice we think we are giving people the tools to succeed.”

Anyone who wants to shape up for summer can also visit http://www.nhs.uk/summer to get involved by choosing from one of four free email health and fitness plans – losing weight, healthy eating, getting fit, or training to run 5k.

Jeanette Kwakye, 2012 Olympic runner, advises, “It takes discipline and hard work to achieve fitness goals, but getting started is the hardest part. Running is a great way to lose weight and get that beach body that everyone wants. The Get Ready for Summer plan is designed for anyone – I’ll be signing my mum up to the Couch to 5K plan, so she can appreciate the buzz and excitement of running for herself!”

Make this summer your best yet, visit NHS Healthy Living to share your summer health goal and join NHS Choices Facebook groups.