Every year as summer rolls around the panic to get beach ready begins, and of course, this year is no different. With summer just around the corner, most of us are starting to focus on the best ways to get in shape but are we taking the best approach for long-lasting results?

Alexa Towersey says “women are now coming to me and instead of asking for a quick body fix, they want to build muscle and get a lean, toned physique. This is music to my ears because it’s a much better approach to fitness than the aim to lose weight fast, which isn’t always a very healthy process.”

So how do we get a healthy, fit body? Alexa lets us in on her simple tips for adopting a healthy lifestyle, not just for summer but all year round.

• Be prepared and set goals

How can you expect to work towards your goal, if you don’t know what it is? You need to work out exactly what it is you want from your new diet and fitness regime.

You also need to be ready to work hard and wait for results – getting fitter and stronger simply doesn’t happen overnight but if you take the right approach the rewards over time can be long-lasting.

Remember, every person is different with different hormones, body type and genetics, which means something that worked for your friend might not work for you. Book a session with a PT and Nutritionist to get you started as they will be able to help ensure you’re taking the most effective, personal approach.

• Make it work around your lifestyle

Some people say it’s better to work out first thing in the morning, but realistically, not all of us can find the time to do that. If you have children then you’ll know how busy the mornings can be! You need to make your healthy lifestyle work around you and find the times and locations that are most convenient. If you make it too complicated for you to do, you just won’t do it.

However, where possible try and schedule workouts. The best way to do this is to join classes where you feel responsible to attend. It’s also better if you join with a friend as you then feel like you don’t want to let each other down and are more likely to stick to the schedule. If it’s the same time each week then you’ll find it easier to organise someone to watch the kids or persuade your hubby to stay home. It’s all about routine.

• Find healthy food swaps

A healthy lifestyle starts with a healthy diet. You won’t reach your goals with exercise alone.

Start small by choosing healthier substitutions for snacks or meals you love. For example, switch spaghetti for thinly sliced and lightly steamed zucchini. Eating more nutrient-rich food will help give you sustained energy that lasts throughout the day and allows your body and digestion to function at its peak performance.

It can be tricky if you eat the same meals as your little ones, but it certainly won’t do them anything but good to also eat natural, healthy meals. Over time you’ll find the healthy foods that they also like and you can build these into your meals too. Be creative!

• Switch it up!

So many people sign up to a gym, try a few machines and decide that they don’t enjoy exercising. Different people enjoy different types of workouts and once you find what works for you, exercising stops being a chore and becomes something you really look forward to. As a parent, it’s important that you make time for yourself, so wouldn’t it be great if your ‘me time’ also helped you get fit?

My advice is to try as many different work outs as you can – think yoga to joining a running group to hip hop dancing. There’s definitely a workout style to suit everyone. If you’ve been going to a regular class for 3 weeks and don’t love it, don’t give up altogether, just try something else! There are so many options out there now.

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