As Nelly sang: It’s getting hot in here … oh, I’ll let you fill in the rest. Summer is nearly upon us, my friends, and there are many reasons to rejoice for the warm rays. For one, no more scraping ice off my damn windshield. And two, as the weather goes up, the amount of clothing pretty ladies need goes down. That’s an equation I can get into.

The Beach (and the Bikinis)

Summer means one thing, if you live in a coastal state like I do: The beach! Which is, of course, the modern promenade for hot women who want to get outside and showcase the bodies they’ve been working on all winter. Even if you don’t live on the ocean, I’m sure you’ve got a lake or river nearby where the ladies congregate. Suit up, head out, get wet. Nuff said.

Good-Bye SAD

Seasonal Affective Disorder is an asshole. If you’re one of the millions of Americans that feels depressed and blues-y all winter, summer, sunshine and warmer weather may also mean a relief from these perpetual down feelings.

On a biological level, experts think that the lack of sun in winter may screw up our sleep cycles, which can lower the levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a potent mood regulator, and messing with this can have profound changes in how you feel. SAD can also make you crave carbs, which isn’t good for that wintertime paunch many of us get anyway.

Working Out Outside

Which brings us to another wonderful aspect of the summer months: Working out outdoors. I’m a personal trainer and jogging and working out with my clients strictly in the gym can get incredibly boring. Who doesn’t love a nice run in the sunshine? If you’re looking to get your fitness training certificate or degree, there are a number of ways to become a professional trainer, even online.

Sources

WebMD (2012)

University of Minnesota Duluth (2012)