It might be the dead of winter for the majority of the world, but that doesn’t mean that you should start sculpting your summer body in May. In fact, that’s just about the worst thing you could do, seeing as how getting in shape takes time, dedication, and hard work. Don’t be fooled by witty ads trying to sell you cookie-cutter solutions. The reality is that you can only achieve your physique and health goals if you put in the time and the effort, but also if you take the time to prepare a solid plan of attack.
After all, if you go to the gym without a plan, you’ll just waste time on ineffective exercise. The same goes for your nutrition and supplementation – you need to know what you’re supposed to be putting in your body to get the results you want – summer body. With that in mind, here are the five tips to help you get in shape in time for summer.
Set goals and plan your schedule
Let’s start by taking a realistic approach to your fitness goals. Are you looking to sculpt a beach-ready body by summer, or are you looking to compete in the next CrossFit games? Because the former is a viable option, while the latter might be a bit of a stretch. So, set a realistic goal about your weight and your appearance. Typically, you’ll want to lose excess fat and add some lean muscle mass to your frame in order to get that hourglass figure, plump up your booty, and tone your legs.
If you’re not sure that you can achieve all of this on your own, then you’ll be glad to know that there are many couples exercising together nowadays and helping each other stay accountable, so be sure to bring your significant other with you for emotional support. Lastly, be sure to make a schedule that works for both of you so that you can stay consistent.
Be strict about your nutrition
Contrary to popular belief, a lean belly is not built in the gym, rather, it’s built in the kitchen. This is why one of your top priorities should be to make yourself a healthy eating plan and follow the nutrition tips and rules that are based on science, not what the self-proclaimed health gurus tell you.
Your diet should be founded on proteins, which you can get from lean meats, dairy, eggs, fish, legumes, as well as nuts and seeds. That said, you shouldn’t forget about healthy carbohydrates, either, as carbs are your body’s primary fuel source, so be sure to get plenty of veggies in your diet as well. The rest you can fill up with unsaturated fat found in dairy, whole eggs, nuts and seeds, olive oil, and avocados.
Add supplements when necessary
Photo by Angelina Litvin on Unsplash
Supplementation might not be crucial to your success in the gym, but it’s nonetheless a great contributor to a healthy diet plan and a rigorous workout routine, and it can help you stay on track. Now, you don’t need to take every supplement on the market, rather, you should curate your supplement list according to your daily needs.
To keep your body and mind energized throughout your workout, sipping on an intra workout supplement might be a good idea, for example, because you want to push through your training session no matter if you’re exercising in the morning or after work in the evening. You might also want to add a protein supplement to your regime if you’re feeling like you’re not getting enough protein from your diet. Add a strong cup of coffee as your supplement of choice before working out and you’ll be all set for a productive training session.
Mix cardio and weight training
You might be under the impression that exercise is the most important part of your journey. In reality, you should only start thinking about your workout program once you have your nutrition in check, and once you have created a sustainable schedule. Now that that’s done, consider the type of exercise you need to do in order to get your body ready for the summer.
While it might not appealing to everyone, it’s important that you mix resistance training with cardio exercises in order to burn fat and build lean muscle mass at the same time, because this is the most effective way to sculpt an enviable physique.
Start right now
And finally, don’t waste another second and get down to it. To reach your goals in time for summer, you need to start right now, and you need to hold yourself accountable. Remember, consistency is the name of the game here, and you can even use some handy fitness apps to track your progress and stay motivated even if you’re not feeling up for a workout.
Wrapping up
Summertime might seem like a long way away, but in reality, you only have a few months to get your body in tip-top shape, so best get cracking right away. But before you grab your gym bag, be sure to use these tips to make a solid battle plan that will help you achieve your fitness goals.
