So beach season is right around the corner, and you might be busy making plans to get your fair share of some sun and sand. But is your body really ready for bikini season? If you're still struggling with a few extra pounds or want to whittle down your waistline to be really bikini-ready, we've got you covered. Here are some easy ways to slim down and tone up that midsection to get a show-off worthy six pack this season:

1. Lose the carbonation. Soda, that is. Soda, even the 'diet' and calorie-free variety, can make you bloated and retain water. Eliminating sugary soda from your diet will also make your diet cleaner. Skip the soda for a few weeks and start drinking more water, and you'll start to see your waistline shrink in no time.

2. Make commercial time your crunch time. Squeezing in a series of crunches during a commercial break is one of the easiest ways to tone up that midsection. Don't become a couch potato for hours on end; make a point to do some form of light exercise between your favorite shows for a mini workout session. Your efforts will pay off!

3. Pack a lunch. Skip the greasy fast food menu and unhealthy snacks at the office vending machine, and whittle down your waistline by eating a healthy, satisfying lunch. Simple and healthy lunches such as lean turkey and salad sandwiches, tuna and low fat mayo wraps, and grilled fish with a green salad will give you the energy you need to get through a busy workday, and keep your calorie counts low. Just pack up a lunch tote each night so you're well prepared for a diet-friendly day.

4. Eat more protein. Lean protein sources including turkey, grilled chicken and tofu are great choices for your slim-down routine. Eat more of these throughout the day to stay satisfied and support your weight loss goals.

5. Ramp up your core training routine. Trade out treadmill days for resistance training to strengthen the core muscles of your stomach, lower back and obliques. These will help you create that chiseled look, and will also improve your posture in the process!

When it's time to hit the gym, most of us are in a serious time crunch. If your idea of a gym workout involves walking on the treadmill, riding the stationary bike or just doing laps around the track, you could be wasting your time. Sweating up a storm with basic cardio feels good in the moment, but you won't be doing your muscles any favors with that routine.

The best way to maximize your time is to do resistance training; you can burn up to four times as many calories by adding weights to your routine in the form of power squats, lunges and other weight-bearing sequences. Here are a few ideas to ramp up your usual cardio routine and blast off extra calories in no time:

1. Wear ankle weights. If you insist on strapping on those running shoes and doing laps around the track, bump up the resistance by wearing some ankle weights. These will make your usual jog that much more challenging and will give your lower legs a serious workout.

2. Play with resistance bands. Resistance bands use your own weight for resistance and help you strengthen and tone up muscles in a flash. You can do simple lunges, squats and pull ups with a set of bands by your side; they're perfect for that midday training session at the office or anytime you need to squeeze some training into your day.

3. Wear weighted hand gloves. Can't get away from the treadmill or elliptical machine? Pull on a pair of weighted hand gloves that add some resistance to your lower arms and help you tone up.

4. Do your crunches with a medicine ball. A 5 lb. medicine ball is all you need to add some power to your crunches. Just hold the ball with both hands above your head as you perform your oblique twists and ab crunches on the yoga mat. You'll feel the burn much faster and may finally see some results from your hard work.

5. Jump into the pool. Those ladies in the water aerobics class know a thing or two about resistance training. Performing simple walking or stretching routines in the water is a great way to burn calories and get those muscles in great shape.