Okay so, it's that time of year again. You're finishing up school, finals are over and finally all that stress you felt for months has faded away. You're now looking forward to sunshine, tanning, laying by the pool, and beach trips. But, oh wait you forgot, you were an animal this winter and went into hibernation eating everything in sight. The sad truth is revealed when you put on your summer bathing suit and see your bagel (that's what I call the fat on my stomach) that you've been enhancing all winter just hanging out there. Now, the last thing you want to do is stress over your summer bod after stressing over finals, papers and all that great stuff. So, here are some simple tips you can use in order to get bikini body ready for the summer time! And when I say bikini body ready I mean just getting to a place where you feel confident and comfortable in your own skin.
Drink water...lots of it.
Many people fail to give their bodies the right amount of water it needs daily.Try drinking 8-10 glasses a day, this is great for brain health, clear skin and also leaves you with more energy for your workouts!
Cardio, cardio and more cardio.
It's always good to fit in at least a half hour of cardio 3-4 times a week. You can run, bike, or even walk! The weather is getting nicer so it's a good way to get outside and enjoy the fresh air!
Make conscious food choices.
All the cardio and workouts you do could be a waste of time if you're not making good food choices. Try to stick to the main food groups of lean proteins (chicken, turkey, lean beef, protein supplements or eggs), complex carbs (whole grains, brown rice, sweet potatoes or vegetables), and healthy fats (almonds, cashews, olive oil or egg yolk).
Eat in smaller portions.
Try eating more frequent meals, but smaller in size. This will help you eat until you're satisfied, not until you're stuffed.
Try eating on smaller plates.
A lot of the time you feel obligated to eat everything that is on your plate, so if you have a smaller plate, you're going to eat less food. This will also help you to eat less calories overall.
Focus on full body movements.
Try having as much of your body as active as possible. You can do squats, squat jumps, lunges, burpees, planks, push-ups, or mountain climbers. These exercises get your whole body moving.
Add variety to your exercise.
If you keep doing the same work-outs everyday, your body will adapt to it and this will lessen your results. Try substituting similar exercises to change it up!
Hopefully these tips will help you make healthier choices this summer and lead you closer to feeling more confident and comfortable in your own skin!