WEEK ONE: WORK YOUR LOWER BODY
This is a great way to start to work your lower body–which is the most troubling for women during bathing suit season, says Poirer. Holding weights by your side in each hand take large steps forward in a lunge. (Be careful not to push too far forward into your ankle.) Do 2–3 sets of 15–20 lunges, alternating legs.

TAKE A CLASS: A spin class is a great way to kick start your first week.

TAKE THE WORK OUT OF YOUR WORKOUT

THE SUPER 7 BIKINI CIRCUIT
Sounds hardcore, doesn't it. Actually it's only about 20 minutes. And it will make a huge difference. It's not about losing weight (even though you will) or about shaping and toning (even though you will). Thanks to this plan you'll be in better physical and mental shape. Follow this particular Bikini Circuit training plan (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) to your goal.

THE PLAN:

WHAT'S UP WITH WEDNESDAY?
Choose your mode of cardio–fast walking if you like being out and about, running if you want something a little more formal, the elliptical machine or stationary bike if you would rather be at a gym.

Wednesday is all about building up difficulty with interval training. "Each week you will do three–minute intervals during your cardio," says Holland. During each interval you will "push it" meaning you will up the intensity of y our workout for a three minute spell. (Say you're working out at a level of 5. You'll push it to an 8 or a 9 for those three minutes and then return to a more sustainable level of intensity). "During week one you will do one interval, week two you will do two, adding an interval each week so that by week four you will be performing four total intervals," says Holland. "You will recover for one minute between each, which means working out at a lower level and giving yourself a chance to catch your breath."

WHY CARDIO
Cardio (short for cardiovascular) describes exercise that increases the activity of the heart and lungs. Not only that, but benefits can include reduced stress, and lower risk of heart disease. It will also help relieve anxiety so you may sleep better. If you haven't been exercising this will feel like an insurmountable task at first. But once your blood flow starts pumping and tension in your body and muscles melt away, you'll feel better–and stronger.

X–TRAINING DAY: Kick it with one hour of your choice but you have to do something besides meet your friends for brunch. Take a class [Pilates, yoga, boxing, spin, step], swim, take a long bike ride outside, run a race. "Mix it up each week and have fun," says Holland. It's the best way to stick with it.

HOW TO STEP IT UP EVERY WEEK:
Add a new exercise each week. "Our bodies adapt so quickly to an exercise regime, so the goal should be to constantly challenge ourselves to work harder and in a different capacity," says Jessica Poirer of Town Sports. "Keep trying to 'shock your body' into working in a different way and you'll get better results."