Get Healthy By Summer With These Tips From A Top Wellness Coach

It's officially spring (if you haven't noticed), and it looks like the winter is finally behind us. Now on the minds of the beach-bound is how to "spring clean" that body and remove all that extra winter weight. Getting into shape isn't easy, but with the right attitude and strategy (and some discipline) you will see results instantaneously (alright...almost instantaneously).

The Daily Meal consulted with Carey Peters, co-founder of the Health Coach Institute, an online learning platform that teaches individuals how to turn their passion for holistic living into a career as a health coach, to discuss the best ways to adopt a healthy lifestyle in time for summer.

The Daily Meal: What are some tips for people who haven't exercised all winter, but want to have that beach body ready for summer?

Carey Peters: Don't go from 0 to 60 with exercise. If you've been sitting around all winter, then the BEST thing you can do to get beach ready is to book five to seven private sessions with a personal trainer. The trainer can help you strengthen weak areas and set you up with a cardio and workout plan that will jumpstart you safely, so you're not limping and groaning all summer from injuries.

Can a detox diet or juice cleanse help "spring clean" your body?

Yes! It doesn't have to be fancy or expensive though. You can do a simple version of the 14-day cleanse we teach in our "Become A Health Coach" program. Here's how to do it. Remove the 5 top food allergens — wheat, dairy, eggs, corn and soy — from your diet for 14 days, and you'll be shocked at how much better you feel and how much weight you drop. Want even better results? Increase the time of this detox to 28 days.

What are some easily adoptable healthy habits that will help people lose weight?

One of the simplest healthy habits to adopt is to try to add in vegetables or fruit with every meal. If you're crowding your plate with those precious antioxidants and nutrient powerhouses, you're less likely to want to eat junk. And you won't feel deprived!

Do you adhere to a specific diet (low carb, vegan, etc.)?

My diet changes as my body changes. Right now, after having a baby at age 41, my body feels completely turned off by animal protein. So for the time being, I'm vegan and gluten-free, with a big emphasis on fresh vegetable juices, raw fruits, and raw dark leafy greens.