Are You Ready for Summer?

From SmoothFitness.com:

Winter is finally over! Woohoo! No more excuses for hiding yourself away indoors! It's time to rediscover the most fabulous YOU and take it outside!

Many individuals become stagnant during the cold months. They struggle just to get out of bed. Instead of working out, they head to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee or hot cocoa and a bag of donuts.

If they don't have to work, they might drag their listless bodies to the couch to watch hour after hour of mindless TV shows!

Their energy levels are extremely low. Lethargy consumes them. So, they lie around as much as possible to conserve energy. And, they eat loads of comfort food in an attempt to restore a sense of well-being.

The results of this winter behavior: an increase in body fat and flab; a decrease in skin tone, firmness, and radiance; the inability to squeeze into last summer's clothing; and a total distaste for looking in the mirror.

Sound familiar? Are you one of these individuals? If so, there IS hope! However, it requires some effort on your part!

Get a Body That's Fit for the Beach

Okay...here's the deal! Summer isn't all that far off! So, you've gotta start getting back in shape now!!!

Throw away those donuts and potato chips! Stop snacking merely because you're bored or depressed! If you feel you MUST have a snack, munch on some fresh fruit or veggies. (Be sure to keep plenty of these on hand and ready to eat for those snack attacks!)

At mealtime, cut back on the portion sizes. Eat balanced meals that ensure you get sufficient amounts from each food group. Avoid greasy, fried foods. And, if you have a sweet tooth, have a small serving of yogurt or fresh fruit for dessert.

Pay close attention to what your stomach tells you. Often, our heads tell us one thing, and our stomachs say another! Eat slowly to give your stomach time to register fullness before you've overeaten! And, when it tells you that it is full, STOP EATING! If you put only small portions on your plate, to begin with, you'll be less likely to overeat. If there's too much food on your plate, you don't have to eat it all! Save some for later!

For some people, eating several mini meals throughout the day, instead of three larger ones, works best for keeping hunger at bay when cutting calories.

Motivation

If you find it difficult to eat healthy foods in small portions, remind yourself why you're doing this! You want to look good and feel good! You want to shed those pounds you gained during the cold, winter months. You want to fit into that swimsuit you've had your eye on!

But, most of all...you want to be healthy and fit! And, a balanced, healthy diet is more than half the battle!

Don't Forget to Exercise!

Striving to be physically fit requires getting up off the couch and moving your body! Yes, you CAN lose weight through diet, alone...However, without exercise, your body will lack muscle strength and tone, which really improve the body's appearance!

Exercise also increases your energy level, as well as improves your cardiovascular (heart) fitness. Combined with healthy eating, being active can also bring out a radiance in you that others are certain to notice!

After having been sedentary for several months, be sure to consult your physician before beginning an exercise or diet program. Ask your doctor for advice on what kind of exercise might be good for you.

No matter what kind of exercises you choose, don't try to do more than your level of fitness warrants. Doing too much too soon will likely result in sore muscles. Walking for short distances is generally a great choice for those just getting back into the swing of things.

You can gradually increase the intensity and length of your workouts, as your fitness improves. But, if you really want to kick-start that weight-loss, include some strength training, too! Increase the muscle mass in your body, as you decrease the body fat. After all, muscle tissue burns calories more efficiently than does fat tissue! And, it looks much better than fat, too!

No Time to Waste!

What are you waiting for? With only weeks until the arrival of summer, you need to get started NOW! After you've reached your fitness goals, don't be surprised if you see a few heads turn your way...gazing upon you with appreciation!

Good health and happy exercising!

Cyndi Schoenhals
CPT and fitness writer

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