Summer may not be right around the corner, but it’s never too early to start thinking about getting your body in shape for the best season of the year. If you’re not sure where to start, here is your game plan to get your nutrition and fitness workout routine in check before the temps start to heat up.
March: Commit to Better Nutrition
All the workouts in the world can’t burn off a poor diet. If you eat junk food all day, it will be much harder to see the results from your time in the gym. Give yourself a head start by paying extra close attention to your diet during the month of March. A few small changes can do wonders for your eating habits, and eventually, for your waistline:
– Aim to drink about 100 ounces of water a day to prevent belly bloat and improve your bodily functions. Staying hydrated does wonders for your body, from keeping your tummy tight to helping you get full faster during your meals. If you are consistent with drinking water along with a regular strength training routine, you will be more likely to get noticeable definition in your muscles.
– Cut out any sugary drinks and sweets from your diet. Sugar is a waistline enemy because the body stores unused energy from sugar as fat. And once it’s stored as fat, it becomes much harder to burn, even with the most hardcore workouts.
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If you have sugar cravings, reach for citrus fruits like lemon or grapefruit. The powerful taste should knock your cravings out, without a high amount of artificial sugar.
– Be careful with carbs on your rest days. On days when you have a rigorous workout, eat healthy carbs like whole grains, fruits, and fibrous vegetables. Your body needs carbs to replenish muscles after workouts and to maintain energy levels during your workout. But, on your light or rest days, try to reduce your carb intake so that your body doesn’t turn that unused energy into stored body fat.
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April: Get Your Workout Routine In Order
Now that your nutrition is in check, make a commitment to yourself to work out at least 4 days a week. Aim to get two days of rigorous cardio, consisting of at least 45 minutes of exercise that gets your heart pumping. You can use a machine, take a cardio class, or try a high-intensity interval training routine. Just make sure you push yourself!
On the other two days of the week, focus on incorporating weights into your routine to build total body strength. Regular strength training can
