Achieving the body you want isn't just about the calorie burn. The secret to a healthy and happy body, regardless of your size, starts with a more holistic approach including the right mindset, good choices, and a whole lot of motivation!

Step 1: Practice Self-Love

The first and most important step to getting the body you want is to practice self-love. Discover YOUR best body and ditch unrealistic body image ideals or ridiculously high appearance standards. Your body is your body; you only get one. Treat it well and it will be good to you in return. This means nourishing it with healthy foods, challenging it physically, and getting adequate rest. Remember, your body hears everything your mind says. Stay positive. Don't beat yourself up over a less than optimal day of eating or skipping on a workout because your body says "no more."

Step 2: Set S.M.A.R.T Goals

SMART goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time sensitive. Know what you want to do, how much or how often you can do it, and by when. Turn your focus inwards to determine what is the best goal for YOU and what YOU can realistically achieve. You're much more likely to crush your goals this way.

Step 3: Add Resistance

If you're the quintessential cardio fanatic, it's time to switch up your gym routine. Lifting, pushing, and squatting weights builds toned muscles and sheds inches. Whether you're working with your body weight or barbells, resistance training can successfully lead to muscle definition and thus the body you want.

Step 4: Hydrate

Ultimately, your body can't function without water. After pumping iron it's crucial to rehydrate so that muscles can continue to work efficiently and toxins can be flushed. Make the active choice to drink more water so that you get the most out of your workouts. The adequate intake (AI) for men is about 13 cups or 3 liters per day, and it's about 9 cups or 2.2 liters per day for women.

Step 5: Reduce Inflammation

Keep self-care in mind, in addition to self-love. Reduce or eliminate foods in your diet that promote inflammation in the body, like dairy, gluten, fried foods, and refined sugars. Increase foods that fight inflammation, like cinnamon, turmeric, and dark leafy greens. Be good to sore muscles by foam rolling to break up soft tissue and reduce lactic acid build-up from high intensity workouts. Your body will thank you!