Summer is quickly approaching! You want to look and feel your best to feel confident in your summer clothes and have the energy to enjoy all the adventures that lie ahead! As women, we typically have two main areas of focus that we want to improve: our core and our upper body.

We often feel our upper body is lacking strength, especially as we get older. And I have so many clients who have not felt strong in their core since having their children! These exercises will help define your arms and build your core and give you the strength you need to sling a bag of mulch or two in the garden. 

Summer Arms Routine

Start with 5-15 reps of 2-4 sets! Remember to start slow, listen to your body and build up from there! 

There are so many fun variations on push-ups that can help you build your upper body strength as well as get rid of that extra flab behind your arms! If you already think that you can’t do a push up, think again! Everyone can start with these push-ups on the wall.

As you get stronger, progress to a lower and lower surface, such as wall to countertop to back of the sofa, seat of the chair, and finally down to the floor. Be sure to keep your body in line like a plank and tighten your core, that’s a two-for-one and keeps your body safe! Check out these push-up variations:

Working on Your Core

Building up our core muscles is a goal for most women. Oftentimes our core muscles have been neglected for too long. Our core muscles not only help us to feel more confident in our summer clothes, but they also help us to improve our balance, power, and stability in all of our muscles!

Before starting a core routine, be sure you know how to properly engage your core. Check out this video here for the best technique:

Once you understand how to engage your core properly, you can get started with some quick and effective core exercises. 

Feeling confident around your core and your midsection is not only about the muscles, but so many factors go into those extra pounds or extra wiggle around our midsection.

Get Your Sleep

Sleep is so important for our body’s ability to regulate hormones such as cortisol and leptin, both of which can affect our midlines. Not getting adequate sleep can cause increased cravings for carbohydrates, reduces the level of growth hormone which regulates how our body regulates the proportion of fat and muscle.

Get yourself into a good settling down routine at around the same time each evening with some gentle stretches and breathing and reduce screen time before bed. 

Manage Stress

This past year we have all been through a lot of stress. Be sure you know how to best cope with stress. Find the method that works for you to help you reduce your cortisol levels and keep your midline trim. Make a small list of things you can do when you are feeling stressed: make a cup of herbal tea, take a walk, call a friend, journal, or do some stretching and breathing. 

Eat Your Greens and Nutrients

Getting enough protein to fuel your body, fill your belly, and reduce cravings is so important for a healthy midline. And if you want to keep that midline trim, you need fresh greens and veggies that are full of fiber and nutrients. 

With these workouts and tips, you should be feeling stronger and more confident this summer with a consistent routine in place! Set yourself a calendar alert and add these exercises into your routine a few times a week.

For more tips on building and restoring your core, download my free restore your core guide.

Do you think you can do more to get fit this summer? Which body areas need your attention the most? Have you been doing exercises for your arms and core? Which ones are the most difficult for you? Do you get support from friends and family? Please share with the community!

As women get older, society tries to sap them of their confidence. Unfair! If you’re a confident woman in your 40s, 50s, 60s – really, whatever age you are – then you deserve to celebrate it in the way you dress. And if you feel like you’re lacking some of the confident edge you once had, these tips can help you bring it back into your style, even in little ways.

Be Unique

Nothing exudes confidence like a unique outfit. It doesn’t have to be loud or shocking – just unique. And nothing is more unique than a handmade or custom-made garment.

You’ll never see someone out and about wearing the same cardigan as you if you ordered it from a custom designer. And thanks to online boutique shops, you don’t have to break the bank to get a unique piece.

Follow Trends

As women get older, they may feel societal pressure to stick to simple, conservative attire. Some people believe trendy styles are best left to the younger crowd.

And that nonsense is why you’ll stand out as more confident than most when – as a mature, stylish woman – you rock the latest trends. Looking for some inspiration? Social media is a treasure trove of confident, mature ladies standing out in all the right ways in today’s fashion trends.

Go Bold

Bold and confident are often synonymous. After all, a bold choice in attire doesn’t just casually attract attention – it demands it. Here are some examples:

Color

Bright, standout colors draw in the eye, look amazing, and declare your confidence to the world. While many people think of red as the stereotypically boldest hue, there are lots of color choices you can make to express a confident streak.

Cut/Fit

A plunging neckline, a short hem, an open shoulder – these are the bold styles that blend your feminine form with your impressive confidence. There’s no shame in looking great!

Accessories

From headwear to footwear, you can stun the world with your bold choices in fashion accessories. A stylish hat, an eye-catching necklace, a chunky bracelet, and a uniquely designed wedge are all easy examples.

Stick to a Uniform

Sometimes, monotony in your style choices can be a huge sign of confidence. Many successful women seem to agree – like Sophia Coppola, Arianna Huffington, Angelina Jolie, and Vera Wang. They’re all well known for having what amounts to a work uniform: a simple, easy to dress up or down outfit that they wear day in and day out.

Sticking to one standard uniform look showcases a confident knowledge of who you are, what looks good on you, and that you matter more than your clothing does. You don’t have to box yourself into just one color or designer – but keeping most of your daily outfits very similar shows that you know what you like and you’re not afraid to wear it every day.

Standout with a Signature Touch

A small but signature touch you add to all your outfits reveals thoughtfulness, creativity, and confidence. Maybe you always wear a small red bow – in your hair, pinned on your blouse, or on your shoes. Perhaps it’s a color, like never leaving the house without something blue.

This little touch makes an outfit your own – it doesn’t lock you in to always looking the same. Much like sticking to a personal uniform, creating a signature touch that goes with all your outfits makes you instantly stand out from the crowd. You are your confident self, not just another somebody.

What is your unique style? How do you maintain it? Do you have a signature touch that is easily recognizable as your own? Or do you have a uniform-like style? Please share how you maintain your personal style unique!