SUMMER is the time for feeling and looking good, but it's not always easy to know where to start when it comes to embracing healthier lifestyle habits.
So to help you on your way to a more revitalised you, we spoke to exercise, nutrition and well-being coach Áine Gallagher about simple steps you can take that will make a big difference to the way you feel.
Here Áine reveals her top tips to getting fit for life.
Visit your local farmers' market for fresh seasonal fruits and vegetablesChoose in season local produce
If you want to feel fitter and healthier this summer then eating foods that are locally produced and in season is a fantastic way to start.
They are grown closer to you, harvested and sold at the peak of their season so they haven't had time to lose their essential nutrients in a shipping container for a trip across the ocean.
So head down to your local farmers market to do your next grocery shop to get the best-tasting, healthiest food available.
Foods to look out for are beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, kale, rhubarb and strawberries.
Give your body a vitamin C boost at the start of the dayStart the morning with lemon
Starting your day with a slice of lemon in lukewarm water helps to aid digestion and cleanse your system.
It also helps your body absorb essential nutrients from your food so this is great timing now that eating local, in season produce is so accessible.
Lemons also have high levels of vitamin C to give your immune system a boost.
A slice of lemon in lukewarm water as soon as you wake up is a must to add to your morning routine this summer.
Keep your hand out of the cookie jar and opt for healthier snacks insteadSpring clean your cupboards
To start off the new season on the right foot, a little spring cleaning for your food supply might be in order.
Start with your treat cupboard as this is often the hardest.
Go for it and clear out all sugary snacks, cakes and crisps and replace them healthier options such as unsalted walnuts, cashews, almonds, dried apricots and dates and 85 per cent dark chocolate.
This is where 'out of sight, out of mind' comes in handy.
If the unhealthy food and snacks are no longer in your cupboards then the only choice you will have is to go for the healthier alternatives and your body will love you for it!
Get up and out into the great outdoorsEmbrace the outdoors
Summer is the perfect time of year to embrace the outdoors and enjoy some much-needed sunshine, what better way to get some of that all important vitamin D.
Vitamin D is essential for the regulation of calcium, maintenance of healthy bones and teeth, and helps to fight multiple diseases such as type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis.
So whenever you get some free time why not put on those walking shoes and head outdoors.
Sorting out that dreaded clutter once and for all can be revitalisingFree yourself from clutter
A fantastic way to clear your mind and feel free to do the things you want to do this summer is to clear out unwanted clutter around the house.
Start small by picking one room and commit to doing one thing every day to begin clearing out and organising that room.
This one thing could be as small as organising a drawer or a shelf.
You will be surprised at how revitalised and productive this will make you feel, so go for it and free yourself and your mind from all of that clutter.
Spending time with friends can make you feel happierSpend time with those you love
Making a conscious effort to spend some quality time with those you love is certain to give you a real boost.
Now this might be tricky to begin with but quality time does mean turning phones to silent and switching ipads and laptops off to simply enjoy your family and friends company.
Notice how interesting your conversions will become without the distractions and how your mind and body will feel after taking a break away from technology and the business of everyday life.
Spending time with your friends is also guaranteed to make you smile, which in itself is contagious.
So it won’t just be you that feels amazing but everyone around you too!
Pick a form of exercise that suits you bestFind exercise you enjoy
You can’t beat the way exercise makes you feel and we all know that the health benefits are never ending!
If you are struggling to get into an exercise routine then it might be because you haven’t found a type of exercise that you enjoy.
There are so many forms of exercise, which is fantastic especially if the gym just isn’t for you.
Why not try swimming, dancing, walking, cycling, yoga, badminton or golf?
Whatever it is as long as you are moving in some way you will still be getting the benefits of exercise, feeling great and having fun.
Yoga or meditation can help you switch off from the pressures of every day lifeTake some time out for you
Relaxing the mind and body through meditation or taking a yoga class is the perfect way to take some time out for you this summer.
By engaging with the breath and focusing on poses to improve flexibility and posture, you will be allowing the mind switch off from its everyday chatter.
So whether you lead a busy lifestyle or simply what to help your body and mind to relax and feel more energised you will certainly benefit from giving a yoga class a go.
Or why not download a mediation app and listening to it at anytime during the day.
Áine Gallagher won a Customer Service Award for Sana Vita Healthclub in November 2014.About Áine...
Having opened Sana Vita Healthclub in Edgbaston, Birmingham three years ago exercise, nutrition and well-being coach Áine Gallagher's dream is to get people fit for life.
"I created Sana Vita to be a place where balanced and long-term health could be achieved, without stress or fads," she says.
"My dream is to get people to understand they are much more than a number on the weighing scales.
"It's all about balance and sustainability through regular exercise and healthy eating so you can achieve great health and be proud of your body, whatever your shape."
Born in Birmingham to Irish parents Ricky and Margaret Gallagher, from Cavan and Donegal, Áine spent much of her childhood in Ireland visiting family and competing in Irish dancing competitions.
Áine holds an honours degree in sport, physical education and community studies from University of Birmingham.
She won a Customer Service Award for Sana Vita Healthclub in November 2014.
See More: Birmingham, Britain, Featured, Fitness, Health, Irish, Summer, Well-being
