Get Summer Body Ready
It’s that time of year again. The new year’s resolution gym rush has calmed down and there are some free treadmills again. There are some yearly trends in the fitness industry, however, and the incoming summer body brigade are on their way.
Get Summer Ready In 12 Weeks
With the right training plan and a good amount of commitment, anyone can transform their body in as little as 12 weeks. It can be done with or without a gym membership, but it is vital that you get a good fitness plan, and possibly some nutrition advice too.
In a world of online personal trainers, home workouts and virtual fitness classes, transforming your body has never been more convenient. A word of caution though, because there are so many resources available online and it is not always easy to decipher all of the – sometimes conflicting – information you encounter.
Talk To Your Doctor If You Have Any Concerns
First things first. Although this article is about finding ways to do this yourself, seeking advice from a healthcare professional is one of the most important things for people to consider before they get started. If you have any health problems or injuries then having a chat with a GP or healthcare professional is a good idea to make sure you are not putting yourself at risk.
Assuming you’ve done this and been given the go ahead to start your journey safely, read on.
Include Cardio And Strength Training In Your Workout
Everybody is different. Again, every body is different!
We all have strengths and weaknesses when it comes to physicality. The thing to keep in mind here is that exercise is different for everyone. Whether you can run a mile, walk for hours, or roll or push yourself along on a bike or wheelchair, the main thing to do if you want to transform your body is to get moving the best you can.
Incorporate cardio into your fitness routine and try to aim to do at least 30 minutes of some form of physical activity. Something to get the heart pumping.
Add In Some Strength Training Too
In addition to cardiovascular exercise, strength training can be really beneficial for people who want to get beach-ready bodies. Strength training works doubly well because you have the activity itself, which requires effort, plus the recovery phase too.
It’s not a case of lifting heavy weights like a bodybuilder. However, adding some weight to an exercise can improve the intensity of the workout. Lockdowns made people more aware of what they can do in their own homes without any fancy gym equipment. Indeed, a tin of beans can be enough to boost your bicep curls.
Work Hard, Play Hard & Sleep Harder!
It’s no use putting in the effort and working out hard if you do not give yourself the chance to recover. When starting out, you will probably find that you experience delayed onset muscle stiffness (DOMS). The muscle soreness is your body’s way of repairing itself, and is a sure sign that you have exerted yourself. However the main part of any body transformation plan is sleep.
Many people also go through a period of increased tiredness too. Your body does magical things while you sleep. You need to give yourself enough time to repair and recuperate. Getting enough good quality sleep will help you recover from exercise and is generally great for all round health and wellbeing. Aim for at least 7 hours each night.
Some individuals may experience sleep problems at night, and in certain cases, doctors may recommend medications such as Kalms Night for better sleep. However, it’s important to note that the use of such medications should always be done under the guidance and advice of a healthcare professional.
Eat Right
There is no way to outtrain a bad diet. If you are working out, but eating like an elephant then you will likely struggle to make any changes to your appearance. That being said, you may be building muscle and improving fitness nonetheless, but if your aim is to transform your body then it is best to watch what you eat.
It does not have to be all salads and no play. Just try to make sure you are getting the right balance of carbohydrate, protein and nutrition to fuel your body during your workouts and for repair.
Treat yourself from time to time too. Just watch those portion sizes and don’t over indulge.
Consistency Is Key!
Putting the work in every day is the aim of the game. Getting your summer body ready is about consistency! It’s no use working hard one day and then letting things go the next. This is the case when we talk about exercise, as well as diet.
Many of us have heard the term yoyo diet. This is one of the worst things you can do to your body’s homeostasis. Also, going off and on again will hamper your progress and likely stop you from getting the results you want. You do not need to be militant with everything you do, but doing the little things every day will amount to big change over time.
It is also good to keep in mind that things won’t happen overnight. Stick with it, put in the work and with the right attitude and a decent fitness plan on your side, you’ll be beach body ready in no time.
*This is a collaborative post
