The following is a guest post by Ling Cai, a New York-based wellness enthusiast & blogger. You can find Ling’s blog here.

As soon as the weather warms up, we’re inevitably bombarded with weight loss tips and tricks  on our social media feeds and in the pages of print magazines. It seems like there’s always a new plant-based diet or workout regime that’s finally going to help us shed 10 pounds and flaunt taut abs.

Instead of succumbing to diet mentality this summer, why not embrace yourself exactly as you are. Ditch the scale and focus on these 4 things: 

Nourish your body with nutrient-dense foods 

Instead of eliminating certain foods from your diet in order to shed weight quickly, shift your attention to nourishing yourself with nutrient-dense, health-supportive foods such as rainbow-colored salads, sauteed vegetables, grilled fish fillets or lean protein, fermented vegetables and kombucha. Filling yourself up with a well-rounded meal will provide your body with the nutrients it needs to thrive. 

Treat yourself (yup, you read that right!)

Let yourself enjoy your favorite treats! This will prevent you from binging on them later. Remember, eating a scoop of ice cream won’t make you fat just like eating one salad won’t help you lose weight. It’s about keeping a healthy mindset and maintaining a healthy balance. 

Workout to get stronger not skinnier

It can be easy to get caught up with how many pounds and inches you’ve lost after committing to a new workout routine. Instead of focusing on those points of references, try tracking your strength. For example, jot down the number of push ups or bicep curls you can do in a minute and compare your progress on a weekly basis. Realizing your strength will give you a whole new appreciation for your body and will shift your focus from losing pounds to increasing repetitions.

Follow body-positive Instagram accounts: 

Instagram is a great place to draw fitness inspiration from. Victoria Secret model Izabel Goulart and fitness maven Kayla Itsines are strong, beautiful and inspirational but may have physiques that are unattainable to some. Following a wide array of women in different shapes and sizes can help foster a more positive self image. Not sure where to start? Check out Hannah Bronfman, Chinae Alexander and Mia Kang.

Today's blog is written by our very own Daina Trout, MS, MPH

Daina is not just our Co-Founder, she is also a nutritionist that has spent her adult life dedicated to finding and sharing health and wellness through food. With 2 masters' degrees in nutritional biochemistry and public health, Daina has called upon her education often while leading the way at Health-Ade - from how we make every batch of kombucha, to how we talk about gut health to consumers, to even how healthy our employee workplace is! She even writes a few blogs here and there. Happy reading! :)