FOR MOST WOMEN, BATHING SUIT SHOPPING IS ONE OF THE MOST DREADED TASKS OF THE SUMMER.

To change the way you feel about your beach wear, its necessary to change the way you feel about your body. These steps can give you the confidence you need to rock every trip to the beach this year.

1. FOCUS ON HEALTHY FOODS

Summer brings an avalanche of refined, processed temptations like ice cream, corn dogs and funnel cakes. Eating these foods wreaks havoc on your body inside and out. Opt instead for foods that support health and make you feel vibrant.

Choose brightly colored fruits and vegetables, unprocessed whole grains, fiber-rich legumes and the healthy fats in nuts, seeds and avocados. These foods help you maintain the natural weight for your height and give you energy rather than leaving you feeling heavy and sluggish.

2. GET MOVING

To develop a physique that makes you feel more confident, get involved in a fitness program that balances cardiovascular exercise with strength training.

Busting it out on the treadmill every day can actually have a negative impact on your body. Adding weights to your regimen increases lean muscle mass and helps to burn fat. Together with a reasonable about of cardio, this makes your body stronger and your muscles more visible to create a truly lean appearance.

3. TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN

If youre not comfortable in your skin, you wont be confident in your beach wear. Wash regularly with soaps and cleansers that contain oils from natural sources.

Coconut, avocado and olive are particularly nourishing. Choose a gentle exfoliating product such as a sugar scrub to lift away dead skin cells once a week. Wearing sunscreen whenever youre outside, including while youre driving, protects your skin from damage and keeps it looking young.

4. FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE

Its time to stop looking in the mirror and telling yourself theres something wrong with your body. Every figure has its unique features, and if all you focus on is what you hate, youll never see how much there is to love.

Take a mental step back and allow yourself to discover all the best aspects of your body. If youve been eating right, exercising and treating your skin well, it shouldnt be hard to find a whole list of things that make you feel more confident.

5. CHOOSE THE RIGHT STYLE

Anyone will look bad in clothes that arent right for their body shape, so dont buy a bathing suit just because you wish you looked good in it.

Shop around for colors and styles that flatter your figure and play up your favorite features. If this means spending a little more than you had planned, consider making the investment in a well-fitting swimsuit can be worn for many years.

When you treat your body well, youll feel comfortable no matter what youre wearing. Being healthy and banishing negative thoughts about body image automatically boosts your confidence and gets you ready to hit the beach any time you want.