Summer's here and you know what that means... like a caterpillar emerging from its cozy cocoon, it's time to shed the hoodies and parkas and replace them with tank tops and swimsuits! Don't be one out of three Americans who are shy about their bods this year, so spread your beautiful wings and make it a fit summer!

Do you ever find yourself espousing a "woe is me" mentality? If so, you may be channeling the aura of one of Winnie-the-Pooh's most famous friends, Eeyore -- the sad, grey donkey who had a chronic case of the blues. With his head hung low, a rain cloud followed him everywhere he went. But, what Eeyore failed to realize is that many of his troubles were self-inflicted and caused by a lack of self-esteem.

I recently spoke at the over-the-top Anytime Fitness 2012 conference in Chicago where nearly 1500 Anytime Fitness gurus gathered under the banner, “Earned. Not Given.” For you Marines out there who understand it’s “never given,” you get the passion, drive, and unyielding dedication to the mission. For all of us at Anytime Fitness, our mission is clear: improving the health, fitness, well-being and self-esteem of everyone on the planet. With obesity rates on the rise coast to coast, from one-third of the nation today to an estimated whopping nearly 60% in 2030, the time to take action is NOW.

I’m a triathlete, half-marathoner, intramural sport loving amateur athlete. It’s the physical challenge of pushing myself to my limit that keeps me wanting more. It was two years ago, when I started incorporating a mental challenge into my fitness regime. Yoga. I remember my first yoga class like it was just yesterday. “I’m an athlete, yoga is just stretching, it’s going to be easy.”

Summer is almost over (sigh) but there is still a whole month left of beach opportunities. I have put together my absolute beach essentials list for you. Of course, you’ll have to remember your swimsuit on your own! Go grab your beach bag and make sure to include these awesome essentials.

Welcome to summer, friends! Are you frying in the heat yet? My family has already gone through five bottles of sunscreen so far this year. We all know it’s important to keep our skin protected, but what if you aren’t too keen on slathering bottle after bottle of sunscreen head-to-toe every time you go outside? Luckily, a lot of fitness companies are catching on and actually making gear that protects you from the sun. If you are fair-skinned or burn easily, you know that “regular” clothes don’t always do the trick. Here are a few of my favorite sun-blocking workout tops for women that’ll keep you stylish and protected. Don’t forget you still need to cover your exposed skin with your favorite sunscreen.