The phrase "New Year, New Me" lasted all of twelve hours, but, hey, now that it's summer break, you have a ton of extra free time. Summer is a great time to get in shape, even when you were already hoping to have that beach bod ready to go. However, you still have time to have the runner's body of your dreams, (even if it's by August for those end-of-summer pictures). Regardless of whether or not you workout, though, it's important to keep body positivity a priority. That means that you have all year to work on you and can still rock that cute swimsuit this summer because you're already amazing. Here are a few tips to keep it safe and to keep your body happy.
The biggest mistake anyone ever makes running is doing too much, too soon. Adding mileage slowly helps keep you moving. You'll be super sore and could cause injuries if you start with a 10 mile run as your first run of the season. You'll also probably feel pretty discouraged because 10 miles is actually really far when your feet are the only things making your body go. So, add slowly. Start with a mile or two. Only add one or two miles per week. And pay attention to your body. If you find yourself becoming too sore, back down a little bit.
The next biggest mistake people make is not cross training. "To lose weight, I have to run and do cardio!" Well, actually, no. To lose weight, yes, cardio helps, but building muscle raises your resting metabolic rate to burn more calories. Swimming can help you run faster and longer by working your body anaerobically. Running, while it can help you lose weight, only works so many muscles. To improve your entire body, you have to cross train a few days a week by doing other things such as swimming or weightlifting.
And, finally, a major mistake everyone is guilty of at some point is not taking a rest day. Rest days are incredibly important for your body. They allow it extra time to recover and heal the micro-tears in your muscles created by working out. It also gives your body a day to reset itself in terms of water, salt and calories -- things that you may not have taken in enough of during the week. Rest can be active, like a good yoga stretch session or a long walk with the dogs, but it shouldn't be a day with the same exertion level as another running or workout day.
Whatever you do, make sure you wear the right clothing for working out. Running in boots and jeans is just uncomfortable, especially on hot days down here in the south. And you could end up hurting yourself by doing this since other clothing and shoes aren't made for the same impact that occurs when you're working out. On the bright side, it's a great excuse to do a little shopping!
Whatever you do this summer, keep these tips in mind, make your body happy, eat healthy and reach those goals you've set for yourself. You have a little extra time and a whole lot of extra daylight with the long summer days, enjoy every minute of them and realize the wonder and amazement that is the capability of the human body.
