{"id":859,"date":"2026-06-13T23:31:06","date_gmt":"2026-06-13T21:31:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marinabosnjakovic.com\/sto-ja-radim-kada-zelim-skinuti-masno-tkivo-prije-ljeta-i-ne-ne-izbacujem-hranu\/"},"modified":"2026-06-13T23:53:42","modified_gmt":"2026-06-13T21:53:42","slug":"how-to-lose-body-fat-before-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marinabosnjakovic.com\/en\/how-to-lose-body-fat-before-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"What I Do When I Want to Lose Body Fat Before Summer (And No, I Don\u2019t Cut Out Food)"},"content":{"rendered":"

As summer approaches, chances are you’ve thought at least once: “It’s time to get back in shape.”<\/em><\/p>\n

And this is exactly the time of year when I see many women start to panic\u2014especially those who haven’t been actively working on their fitness goals until now.<\/p>\n

Suddenly, they need to lose 5 kilos.<\/p>\n

Get rid of belly fat.<\/p>\n

Tone their arms.<\/p>\n

Reduce cellulite.<\/p>\n

And preferably achieve all of that by next weekend.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So the usual strategies begin:<\/p>\n

“I’ll stop eating bread.”<\/em><\/p>\n

“No food after 6 PM.”<\/em><\/p>\n

“I’m cutting carbs.”<\/em><\/p>\n

“I’ll start running every day.”<\/em><\/p>\n

“I’ll do a 24-hour fast.”<\/em><\/p>\n

“Seven days of juice detox only.”<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Throughout my 20-year career, I’ve seen this pattern over and over again.<\/p>\n

And here’s the truth: Bread isn’t the problem. Carbohydrates aren’t the problem either.<\/p>\n

The real problem is trying to change everything at once\u2014and expecting results overnight.<\/p>\n

And not focusing on the few things that actually make the biggest difference.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

People often tell me that nutrition and training are my job, so I “have to” stay in great shape all year round.<\/p>\n

But even I like to fine-tune my physique before summer.<\/p>\n

Not because of the beach (I rarely spend my summers by the sea anyway).<\/p>\n

But because I want to handle the heat better.<\/p>\n

I want to wear whatever I feel like wearing without worrying about how I look.<\/p>\n

I want more energy for hiking and day trips.<\/p>\n

And I want everyday tasks to feel easier.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As much as you may not want to hear it\u2014when you’re carrying extra weight, everything feels harder.<\/p>\n

So when I decide I want to lower my body fat percentage a little further, I don’t do anything extreme.<\/p>\n

I don’t detox.<\/p>\n

I don’t live on celery juice (even though I think it’s great\u2014I simply don’t have the habit or the time).<\/p>\n

I don’t obsessively count every calorie.<\/p>\n

I don’t survive on chicken and salad.<\/p>\n

I don’t skip dinner.<\/p>\n

I don’t add extra workouts.<\/p>\n

Instead, I go back to the basics.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1. I Increase My Protein Intake<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Not because it’s trendy.<\/p>\n

Because I know it keeps me full for longer.<\/p>\n

A typical breakfast might include fewer whole eggs, extra egg whites, some dried beef or smoked salmon, and plenty of fresh cucumber.<\/p>\n

By the time my next meal comes around, it’s much easier to make good food choices, and I don’t feel the urge to snack on sweets or random treats.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2. I Simplify Food Preparation<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I cook most meat and fish in the air fryer.<\/p>\n

Although I use it year-round, I normally enjoy fish baked in parchment paper with olive oil or a steak cooked in a pan.<\/p>\n

During this period, almost everything goes into the air fryer.<\/p>\n

I boil eggs more often instead of frying them.<\/p>\n

Even if you use oil spray, those small differences add up.<\/p>\n

I also skip calorie-heavy salad dressings.<\/p>\n

Not because they’re forbidden, but because I’d rather use a tablespoon of olive oil and leave room in my calorie budget for foods I truly enjoy later in the day.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

3. I Increase Meal Volume<\/h2>\n

If I’m eating eggs, they’ll be served with cucumber, tomatoes, or peppers.<\/p>\n

Lunch and dinner almost always include a large portion of vegetables\u2014zucchini, grated carrots, or a generous salad.<\/p>\n

Not because I’m afraid of carbs.<\/p>\n

But because vegetables help me feel satisfied with very few calories while providing the fibre my digestion needs.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

4. I Pay Attention to the Things People Often Forget<\/h2>\n