June has finally arrived! If you've been following me for a while, you know this is my favourite month … my birthday month and the beginning of summer.

Although life for most looks different than previous summers, the desire to eat BBQ foods, drink swizzle and socialise with friends is high – and very likely to be done.

It's really an exciting time. Sun, beach, boating, memories to be made and food to be consumed. I get it and fully endorse enjoying life.

For some of us it also means showing off all of the hard work we put in this past winter, looking leaner, tighter, fitter; for others it means putting fitness and wellness on the bench.

It doesn’t have to be that way though. Fitness and wellness is a lifestyle and you can still maintain your fitness and healthy eating throughout what will be an amazing summer.

Have a read of my annual reminder of how to survive and thrive through the summer months.

It’s not as hard as we make it out to be.

In fact, if you follow three simple steps you may even lose weight during this warm, beach and swizzle-filled season.

Step 1: Decide

Choose an accountability partner, someone to work out with and help keep you on track, even if only from June to September.

Decide what your weekly workout schedule will be.

Boating on Sunday? Go for a brisk pedal bike ride at 7am so you make it to the dock for 11am. Friday sunset happy hour? Suck it up and get that workout completed at 6am.

You will have to make some tough choices and sacrifices.

Decide which barbecues or gatherings you will attend – and when you will pass on the second cup of swizzle or third burger. Find your balance!

Try to remove the misconception that a good time means eating lots of food or that refilling your cup equates a good time.

In all reality, good company makes for a good time.

Step 2: Commit

Commit to each other. Do not let each other stray or else you are defeating the purpose of having an accountability partner.

Encourage each other, motivate each other and be a positive voice for each other when you are tempted to skip a session or overindulge.

Commit to your weekly schedule.

You have planned ahead, decided when you will work out and your partner is ready to go so the old excuse of I don’t have time is null and void.

You have time because you decided on a time. Commit to it. Commit to your party choice. Do not get stressed.

If you end up at a party you did not plan for, be mindful of what you are eating, do not overindulge and remember your holiday goals and you will …

Step 3: Succeed

That’s pretty much it. Having made your plans and committed, you have no reason not to be successful.

Keep weekly tabs on how successful the two of you were and use this to motivate you the following week.

Start a fitness journal if need be.

It may seem cruel to lay out guidelines for anyone during the summer months – after all, it is the best time to be in Bermuda. You should be enjoying yourself.

However, if you have decided that you’re serious about your goal to maintain your weight and fitness or maybe even successfully lose weight or improve your fitness levels, you need to commit – only then will you be successful.

Decide. Commit. Succeed. Happy summer!

Dre Hinds is a retired track and field athlete who is now a personal trainer, aerobic and yoga instructor and fitness “addict”. Contact her on: absbydre@gmail.com, 599-0412 or @Absbydre on Facebook and Instagram