Life Hack: 3 Steps to Always Feeling Good in a Bathing Suit

Ever since we moved to Philadelphia, I've faced the blessing and (slight) curse of access to the beautiful pool bordering my husband's office building. It's hard to resist the lure of the pool, even on days where I don't feel my best. My son is at the age where taking him too far from home is not often feasible. He's 2 and  loves a very basic routine. Even my 5-year-old can still happily do the EXACT same thing everyday, or at least watch the same movie. (Right now, that's Wreck-It Ralph. I'm actually genuinely excited for the sequel out in theaters soon, if only to change the story up at least a little bit!) That's why, on a sunny day, we nearly always walk over to the pool for a few hours of fresh air and sunshine.

I also still don't know many people in Philadelphia, so that's another reason I've ended up at the pool so often. It's a great way to get out and meet people, but it was often hard to overcome my self-consciousness about my body after having my second baby and very slowly losing the 70 lbs. I'd gained with him. Because it was a constant, daily struggle to bolster my self-esteem, I happened to stumble upon three steps that always help me have a good time instead of being self-conscious about the way I look. I thought I'd share them with you guys, as they really are a game-changer! Keep in mind, this is NOT about changing the scale or other people's judgments. It's about feeling good from the inside out. I laugh now when I think about, back in the day, when I worked as a model before I had kids, how I'd be invited to pool parties but not want to go because I felt fat. Confidence does not come from any number: not your age or your weight. I have so much more confidence now than when I was a skinny minnie in New York City. These three steps really have changed the way I feel about the horror nearly every woman feels at the thought of displaying her body and helped me finally have fun in the sun! I hope they help anyone else seeking to grow that confidence from within themselves!

1. Find a One-Piece that Makes You Feel Beautiful

I was so happy to find a one-piece for those days where I don't feel like sucking it in. What I love about the one pictured above is that the black is slimming and the side detail adds another distracting element without feeling too revealing. It's available now in all sizes here at https://shopbaiae.com/. My cropped pants are excellent for those days you want extra coverage as they're thin enough to keep you quite cool. I love the way they pair with this suit. They're by Lacausa and also available here. Use my code "IsaBaiae20" and enjoy 20% off your whole order! 

2. Before You Suit Up Do a Version of this 15-minute Body-Toning Workout

This workout has been my (nearly) daily go-to ever since I had my second child. The only way to burn belly fat is with a high intensity workout, but I don't always have the time or energy for one of those intense sessions. So, before taking my kids to the pool, I began doing this exact workout. I just happened to find it on Instagram one day, and I couldn't believe how much better I felt in my skin after doing such a short routine. I think I also saw a difference after a few weeks, but anything that makes you feel like a badass is going to help you stand up taller. And good posture is the key to confidence.

With this workout, depending on my schedule, I'll sometimes cut out bits or add in 100 jumping jacks to get my heart rate up before I start with a few tadasanas and pliés peppered throughout the moves below-- both of those exercises particularly aid your posture and incorporate a meditative aspect that will help your inner confidence blossom. For a tadasana, simply stand with your big toes together, heels slightly apart. Tuck in your tailbone and firm your gut. Drop your shoulders and stand tall through your spine and neck. Then drop your chin slightly and take five deep breaths with your hands relaxed by your side, palms facing outward.

Try this workout and let me know if you agree: fifteen minutes goes by in a flash! And you're guaranteed to feel 15 million times better after doing even this quick of a routine. Let me know if you try it and get as hooked on the high as I am!

 3. Try a Temporary Tanner

Because I love to exercise so much, I'm not actually a fan of spray-on tans. I don't love the idea of sweating and opening my pores up to whatever chemicals are in those things. While most of the products I now use are organic, this makeup spray by Sally Hansen has been such a life-saver, I haven't delved into switching it up yet. While modeling, I learned to spray on makeup by Sally Hansen to cover up any areas I felt self-conscious about like my scarily pale legs, and it's still one of my favorite products. While my legs never get as tan as the rest of me, I now dab it wherever I feel I need extra coverage. Pro tip: spray it onto your hands and mix it with your favorite lotion. It goes on smoother that way! Then pat yourself down with a towel, so any excess product is removed. I find that the lighter shades look more natural. In the pics above, I'm wearing this shade in "fairest". Best of all, it looks natural and washes right off! Although fair warning, I usually put my suit on first and then work around it. Because I have two screaming kids waiting on me, I can 100% guarantee this routine takes no time to accomplish at all. 

That's my 20-minute life hack for feeling good at the pool no matter what! Do you have any confidence-builders of your own to share with me? What has helped you learned to have a more body positive image?