The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, the bikinis and flip flops are front and center in every store you walk in! It's nearly time. Sand, sunshine, chlorine, cookouts, beach trips! Oh it's just so exciting. Until... You take off those frumpy winter garments and realize
o.m.g.
Okay, let's be honest, none of us treated our bodies favorably this year. There was a lot of great food and not enough time for pilates, right? Well now we have to work double time to squeeze our bums into those two pieces before shedding our cover-ups poolside. Don't worry, I'm here to help. If nothing else, I hope to inspire you to take action! Is it just me or are the bikinis getting smaller?
First, quit poppin' those scary diet pills and get your butt to the gym! I know it's tough to get motivated to go, but try joining a bi-weekly class like zumba or kick boxing. It'll make the work outs fun and you'll be burnin' calories before you know it! I know some of my readers are moms or just too busy for a gym, but there are options for you too! Grab a chair during the news and do some step ups during the commercials. It's not much, but it'll get your metabolism in gear and maybe even motivate your body to want more exercise! Nike just released an AWESOME iPhone app and it's FREE! It has custom workouts for certain types of goals like toning just your butt or legs, or all over weight loss. It even includes videos for EVERY workout, and most can be done at home!
Just the tiniest amount of cardio can force your metabolism into overdrive. When you wake up in the morning, try doing a few sit ups and push ups before you do anything else. Starting your metabolism early will help you burn calories all day. When you take your shower, do some calf lifts (Just go up and down on your tippy toes). Park further away, take the stairs, bla bla bla you've heard it all before, right? Well do it! You won't regret it!
As far as food goes, DON'T STARVE YOURSELF! If your body thinks you're hungry it's going to store food in preparation. That food gets stored in some nasty places, ladies, so eat up! Make good decisions. A fast way to get quick results is to replace all of your daily beverages with water! That's right..No soda, no sweet tea, no kool-aid. The morning cup of coffee is an exception, as is the nightly glass of wine. When your body doesn't get enough water, like food, it stores water in unattractive places like our butts and tummy. You can get rid of that by making sure you are always drinking plenty of water! Get a water bottle so you can always have fresh cold water with you! I really like these CamelBak bottles because the straw seems to encourage me to drink more throughout the day. These are around $12 and they're BPA Free!!
Another easy way to jump start your weight loss is to incorporate smart breakfast items into your morning. You've been sleeping anywhere from 5-9 hours without any food, and even though many of us skip it, breakfast is very important! Try fruit smoothies with greek yogurt. You can buy a big bag of mixed frozen fruit since it's cheaper than fresh and all the vitamins are locked in when frozen.
Fruit Medley Breakfast Smoothie
In blender mix
vanilla greek yogurt
frozen vegetables
Trop50 Orange juice (or another low cal fruit juice)
Yum!
If smoothies aren't you're cup of...smoothie... try a simple oatmeal! Oatmeal is great because depending on your mood you can festive the bowl up or just keep it simple. Not only that but oatmeal is full of nutrients and fiber that help keep you full longer. It'll help you make it through that awkward 11 AM hunger.
In bowl add:
1 1/2 cup (or less depending on your hunger) plain oatmeal
drizzle pure honey over oats. don't be shy. honey is great
1-2 splenda packets or 1 teaspoon brown sugar
Boil water and add liberally. It'll thicken as it sits.
Feel free to add fresh fruit, nuts, or soy milk!
Last but certainly not least, there are some vitamins that are absolutely essential for women actively trying to shape up. A daily vitamin for women is always a good idea. Add an extra B vitamin complex to your regular daily vitamin. B vitamins help convert your carbs into energy so you can utilize them better throughout the day! Also, fish oil is a great supplement for women. Fish oil helps break down that stubborn estrogen fat that we all hate! Unless you consume 2-3 glasses of green tea a day, you should grab a green tea supplement as well. Green tea is full of metabolism boosting superpowers. Think about that next time you're about to order a White Chocolate Mocha at Starbucks (a whopping 470 calories and 18 g of fat!)
More than anything, ladies, look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself "I am beautiful!" because you are! Confidence is of the utmost importance during bikini season. ;]
Let me know what you guys think of this change of pace or if you would like any workout ideas or recipes!
xoxo
