Good, good, good, good preparations

Lolita Harper

The temperature is rising. And although your beloved pair of well-worn

jeans and favorite college sweatshirt offer comfort and cover, they must

come off.

As the mercury rises, skirt lengths shorten, and suddenly you have

more skin exposed. To get ready for the unveiling, Newport-Mesa fitness,

skin and tanning experts offer some key words of advice.

Losing the extra layer of clothing often prompts a desire to shed some

extra pounds or firm up some “problem areas.” Greg Beilfuss, a personal

trainer and co-owner of LA Boxing in Costa Mesa, said the best way to get

in shape is to have fun.

“Exercise has to be fun or you won’t do it,” said Beilfuss, 34.

Too many people view working out as a chore, but it doesn’t have to

be, he said. Beilfuss said you can take enjoyable, active pastimes and

turn them into workouts by doing them twice as hard or fast.

Most of Beilfuss’ clients at LA Boxing delight in kicking and punching

heavy bags, sparring or training on hand pads. Of course, these intense

sessions burn serious calories, but less vigorous exercises can also

produce favorable results.

For example, those who like to take leisurely bike rides on the

boardwalk can increase their results by riding twice as far or pedaling

really fast for a few hundred yards intermittently, Beilfuss said. Enjoy

walking? Throw in about 20 lunges or sprints every other block or so to

intensify the workout.

Whether you kick gluteus maximus or pound the pavement, exercise

should be done at least four times a week for at least 30 minutes,

Beilfuss said. And don’t sabotage your efforts by eating unhealthy food,

he added.

A simple rule to follow for the summer -- and beyond -- is eat twice

as much good food as bad, Beilfuss said. If you eat fast food at one

meal, make sure your other two are healthy and loaded with fruits and

vegetables.

Proper nutrition is not only important in maintaining a good physique,

it is imperative to maintaining glowing skin, experts said. And skin care

is extremely important in the summer months, when the sun -- your skin’s

worst enemy -- is in full force.

Stephanie Sisco, owner of Skin Revival in Costa Mesa, has two key

words for the summer: sun and block.

It is crucial to protect skin from the sun to prevent excessive drying

and permanent damage, Sisco said, and it is best to avoid the sun

entirely between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when it delivers the strongest rays.

Realistically during the summer in a beach town, that is when most

people will want to be in the sun. So, if you must frolic under the most

intense rays, you should wear sunscreen with 15 SPF or higher on all

areas of the body that are exposed, she said. Sisco recommends products

that contain zinc oxide or titanium oxide, such as Epicuren skin care

products, because those ingredients block ultraviolet-A and ultraviolet-B

rays.

“And don’t forget your lips,” she said. “They are just as important,

and they do burn.”

Although most sunscreen products are waterproof, Sisco recommends

reapplying the product every 90 minutes for maximum protection.

Blocking the sun’s rays may prove beneficial for your skin, but it can

really put a damper on getting a good tan. Not to fear, said Jason

Hallam, operations manager at Atomic Tan in Costa Mesa. Tanning beds,

once considered extremely damaging, now offer bronzing solutions that are

safer for your skin than natural sunlight.

The best -- and safest tan -- is delivered by the Mystic machine,

Hallam said.

“It is the best form of tanning on the market right now,” Hallam said.

“It gives you a golden brown color, and it only takes 60 seconds to do.

And it is better for you than the sun.”

The Mystic is completely free of ultraviolet rays and includes a self

tanner and a bronzer. You simply disrobe, enter the booth and a fine mist

of tanning solution and moisturizer coats the body evenly, Hallam

explained.

The self tanner fully activates itself within hours, and the bronzer

adds an extra richness to the color.

With a firm body, glowing skin and a golden tan, you will be ready to

shed those winter layers and strut your stuff in the summer sun.