"It wore an itsy, bitsy, teenie, weenie, yellow polka-dot bikini; that she wore for the first time today." -Brian Hyland

Last week when I was reading through the blogs I follow, something caught my eye. The sentence "Bathing suit season is here, ready or not." Unless you are a swimsuit model, just about every girl's answer is going to be "not". Another common reaction; "I need to lose about 20 lbs... fast!". Losing 20 lbs at the beginning of the season by mid-summer isn't doable, and that can frustrate all womankind. I'm here to change your perception. Look at the picture of the model next to the paragraph. Do you find her gorgeous? She is a plus sized model, aka U.S size 12 (L) and up. The key to looking great in a swimsuit is your skin's complexion, not your size. If you have glowing and smooth skin, you are guaranteed to feel confident in your suit.

Stretchmarks:

How did those get there? Those are those pale blue, purple, or washed cream ripples on your thighs, breasts, underarms or buttocks. If you are a teenager, you are often going through growth spurts. During these spurts, your weight often fluctuates. This is totally normal and in fact a good thing. But since you are growing so rapidly, marks form as the result of skin pulling. This happens on the under layers of your skin, but shows up on the top layer. Especially common ages 14-20 then again as you mature, they are quite a hassle to put up with. There are treatments available to laser them off, but home remedies are safer and proven. Remember that whatever treatment you use is absorbing directly into the skin and into your body. Plus, results can be seen in as little as a month.

How to fade them: Fade them with beans. ...Put down the burrito slowly. Not from Taco Bell, silly. The Cocoa bean in the form of cocoa butter. This crazy stuff is extracted from the cocoa pod as beans. This means it is classified as a fruit since the pod contains seeds. Cocoa butter is a fat taken from the actual cocoa bean. The butter contains natural antioxidants that are amazing for your skin. It also packs a powerful punch of emollients (the stuff that moisturizes). The butter is so strong that it can penetrate to the second layer of your skin (the dermis). And as we know, stretchmarks only appear at the top layer of skin but form underneath. This is why the cocoa bean is so affective at fading stretchmarks. If you're looking for a good brand, try Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lotion.

Cellulite:

What the heck is this stuff?: Cottage cheese. Craters. Dimples. Lumps. The alternative words they have for 'cellulite' make it sound so taboo. But about 90% of women have cellulite somewhere on the bodies. It is commonly found on the thighs, back of legs, and buttocks. Cellulite happens when fat hugs up against connective tissue. Then a coating can form over those lumps that can make them hard to get rid of. Sitting for a long time in school or wearing tight nylons can attribute to cellulite. Cellulite is harder to change without minimizing the fat that started out your cellulite in the first place. But now that we've gotten down to the scientific explanation of it, we can find a way to minimize it. Fat builds up by lack of exercise, or circulation. Circulation can knock down that coating over the fat. This will send at least half your cellulite right out the door.

Here's how to get your circulation going: Prep the area with a skin body brush or loofa. Rub in circular motions for a good 5-10 minutes. Don't do it enough to irritate your skin, just enough so your skin feels tingly. Massage in lotion for another 5 minutes. Find a lotion with a high content of rosemary or peppermint to stimulate your skin further. Another option is a lotion or gel just for cellulite, usually high in caffeine. This also provides circulation of the blood. Last, make sure to go on frequent walks. Walk your dog to the park. Play a game of basketball or soccer after class. Jump rope in your yard. Anything to get your legs moving. Do all these steps twice daily, and you are guaranteed a decrease in cellulite within a month.

Here's an exercise video just for your lower half:

Rather than losing weight in an unhealthy way and time period, isn't it easier to get beautiful, healthy, glowing skin? If you want to lose some weight for next swimsuit season, start your healthy diet plans in the Fall in preparation for 2011 swimsuit season!

Extra Skin Smoothing Tips:

• Brown rice, bell peppers, and dark leafy veggies support skin fiber and collagen levels. Eat plenty of these year round.
• For an extra round of cellulite circulation, use a body scrub on the area.
• If you want a tan, don't go to a salon. Try a tanning lotion after you've used a body scrub.