Ahh, the summer life. It's such a paradox. On the one hand, you're happy as a clam wearing your new sunglasses, floating around in airy fabrics, debuting your fresh highlights, and showing off your cute pedicure. On the other hand...it's bikini season.

Many of us have a complicated love/hate relationship with the summer months. As much as we love the beach, there's always that hidden fear of baring it all in a bikini.

I'm not about to tell you there's a miracle cure for gaining poolside self-confidence. But there are certain exercises and workout routines that can help you feel comfortable in that two piece, especially workouts that incorporate strength, sculpting, and core work. These are way more effective -- and offer longer-lasting results -- than a week of nibbling on carrots or crash dieting before your beach vacation.

A lot of women shy away from any sort of strength training and prefer to bust it all out on the treadmill. But cardio, while incredible for stress relief, heart health, and immediate calorie burning, is not actually the fastest way to lose weight. I'm not saying you should stop doing cardio all together -- after all, it's a key step to staying healthy and svelte. Just not the only step. Strength training builds lean muscle and effects how your body expends calories outside the gym (versus your typical elliptical-ing while watching the "Real Housewives" workout, in which your body stops burning calories once you hop off the machine). Basically, strength training spikes your metabolism, while also toning your body. It's a win/win. Read ahead to see the best exercises to get you bikini-ready.

Deborah Horton, certified fitness instructor, wellness educator, and personal trainer in New York City, shared her basic weight/resistance training exercises that'll tighten and tone your body. Deborah explains, "while cardio is important, building muscle is the key not only to boosting metabolism, but also creating a lean, beautiful line." Try her weight room circuit exercises below:

Pull-ups and Dips
Pull-ups use your body weight to target all areas of the upper back, shoulders, biceps, and triceps. You can start out with the gravitron (or pull up assist machine) first before doing pull-ups solo. The gravitron works by taking weight away from you -- so if you weigh 125 pounds and put the machine on 50, you'll only be doing a pull up with 75 pounds of weight. On your first set, try 12 to 15 reps with a weight you're comfortable pulling up. Try to repeat three times.

Squats and Split Squats on the Smith Machine
These exercises target your hamstrings, quads, and glutes while using the Smith Machine (a barbell fixed within steel rails, allowing only vertical movement). The Smith Machine may look scary but it actually has a safety net -- if the weight feels too heavy you can place the bar on the nearest set of holes. You'll be using only light weights (try 10-pounds on each side) to create long and lean muscles. Holding the barbell on your shoulders, do 12 to 15 reps of squats, adding more weight if you need to, until you reach near muscle exhaustion. Then balance your back foot on a bench to try 12 to 15 split squats. Repeat three times.

Hanging Core Work
Try this for an amazing workout for your full abdominal wall. Use the wide grip pull up hold (the machine that allows you to hang from it with your arms stretched wide). Lift your legs straight up in front of you, concentrating on using your abs to initiate the movement. Do 10 reps, rest and repeat. You can also work on your obliques by drawing your knees up to one side of the body and then the other.

The gym floor and weight machines may seem daunting at first -- but personal trainers on the floor are always there to help, says Horton. And once you try out these basic moves you'll feel more and more confident both in the weight section and on the beach.

Barre-based workouts are trendy and effective. By using your own body weight to firm and sculpt your muscles, you'll improve your posture, flexibility, and strength without bulking up. You don't have to be a graceful ballerina to get those long and lean lines -- just try out these tips from Jennifer McCamish, former Rockette and owner of Dancers Shape, a barre-based fitness studio in Austin, Texas. If you take a full barre class, you'll work on your core, legs, butt, and arms. But these specific exercises will help you with a little booty lift:

The Relevé
Place your heels together with your toes facing outward, so your feet create a space equal to a 2 to 3-inch slice of pie between them. To get the correct form, feel the rotation originating from your hip socket -- you should notice a wrapping sensation where your outside muscles wrap back and lift up underneath the cheeks. Make sure the back of your knee is lengthened rather than jammed back into the joint, and feel your quadriceps engaging. Your pelvis will remain neutral, not tucked, so you properly engage the glutes. While in this form, rise to your toes and then lower down. Perform for 30 seconds or until you can't do one more in perfect form.

Bridging on Releé
Start by lying on your back with your feet hip distance apart and your heels close to your rear. Your hands should be resting by your hips. Rise up to your toes and lift your hips into the air, making sure to keep your ribs "knitted together" rather than popping out. You should feel your muscles working where your hamstrings meet your glutes -- but if you're feeling any lower back pain, make sure you are keeping your ribs together and your core engaged before you continue. Keep your hips at the maximum height you can maintain without compromising form, and begin small lifts and lowers with your heels. Perform for 30 seconds or until you can't perform one more in perfect form.

Kettlebell exercises are more efficient than regular dumbbells -- because of their shape, the weight isn't balanced evenly and you'll have to concentrate and control the weight more as you lift and lower. According to Lorna Kleidman, Three-Time International Kettlebell Sport Champion, mentor, and author, kettlebell training delivers a "triple threat: cardio, strength, and endurance." Try her quick 10-minute exercise to give you toned arms and an all-around body workout:

KettleX Double Arm Swing Ladder

You'll be interspersing kettlebell swings (swinging the bell from the ground out in front of you to shoulder height and back again) with basic workout steps.

Step 1: 30 seconds of swings and 15 seconds of pushups

Step 2: 40 seconds of swings and 20 seconds of mountain climbers (Mountain climbers for the uninitiated: Start in plank position, bring your right foot forward and leave your left foot extended back. With your hands firmly on the ground, jump and switch leg positions. Repeat rapidly to create a running motion.)

Step 3: 50 seconds of swings and 25 seconds of burpees (For burpees: Start in a standing position, then drop into a squat with your hands on the ground. Jump your feet back into a plank position, and then return to the squat position in one quick motion. Finish by standing up. Repeat rapidly.)

Step 4: 60 seconds of swings and 30 seconds of low jumping jacks

Step 5: Repeat 60 seconds of swings and 30 seconds of low jumping jacks

Step 6: 50 seconds of swings and 25 seconds of burpees

Step 7: 40 seconds of swings and 20 seconds of mountain climbers

Step 8: 30 seconds of swings and 15 seconds of pushups

Pilates is a great workout for strengthening your core and getting a sleeker physique. You'll become more aware of your alignment and posture -- which contributes to better body awareness and image while you're out in your swimsuit. We talked to Cassey Ho, Pilates instructor and founder of POP Pilates, about some of her favorite floor exercises to get bikini-ready:

Elevated Corkscrew
Start by lying on your back. Then prop yourself up on your elbows and engage your abs. Straighten your back so you can lift your legs up at an angle (about 45 degrees from the mat). Circle your legs in a clockwise direction, then go counter clockwise, trying five circles each way. For an easier modification, bend your legs instead of keeping them straight.

Teaser with Circle Arms
Sit on your tailbone with arms straight out in front of you, engage your abs and lift your chest so your torso is at a 45-degree angle from the mat. Then lift up bent legs so your shins are parallel to the mat (with toes pointed) and balance on your tailbone in this modified "V" position. While you're balancing, circle your arms in a clockwise direction, and then go counter clockwise. Repeat 20 times in each direction while keeping the rest of your body still.

Scissor Crunch
Start by lying on your back, with your hands behind your head, and your bent elbows facing out. Make sure you press your lower back into the mat as you lift the right leg up towards the sky and keep the left leg low and parallel to the floor. Keeping your upper body lifted a few inches off the floor (while also keeping your abs engaged and drawn down into the mat), switch your legs up and down 20 times.