During the summer months, when more people head to the beach, either at home or abroad, a great beach body is something that many dream of achieving. You don’t have to look like you’ve just stepped off the catwalk, but getting your body in reasonable shape, before you hit the sand, is an excellent confidence boost.
There are many ways that you can change the way your body looks, from quicker options such as opting for cosmetic surgery, to something a little more long term, such as a change of diet, or an improved exercise regime.
What preparations should you make for the changes?
It’s important that you give yourself time to make changes to your body, and that you don’t put yourself under too much pressure. Knowing your baseline is a good idea; make sure that you know your body measurements, your weight and your BMI Index rating. You can then keep a watch on changes as you progress. This doesn’t mean you should be obsessive, and start weighing yourself each day; once a week is more than sufficient.
Making changes to your diet
Reducing your calorie intake is an excellent way of losing weight. You should check out an online calorie counter to determine the healthy rate of calories you need. It’s also important that you eat the calories in a healthy manner. This means that you should eat at least five portions of fruit each day, and that you should include lean proteins in your diet, such as chicken and fish, or products such as tofu for vegetarians.
You should also eat very few empty carbohydrates, such as pasta, bread and rice. If you do want to include these items in your diet, eat the wholegrain versions. Sugary items, such as desserts, should be eliminated from your diet; although the occasional treat can sometimes actually help you to stay on track.
From a liquids point of view, you should drink less coffee, tea and alcohol, and instead drink plenty of water. This helps keep you dehydrated and means that you retain less water in your body.
Improving your exercise regime
If you’re going to lose weight, and improve your fitness levels, you need to do at least 30 minutes of cardio vascular exercise three to five times a week. This can include exercise such as walking quickly uphill, jogging or swimming. It’s a good idea to choose an activity you enjoy, so you are more likely to stick to the regime. It’s also a good idea to have company while you are exercising so you are more likely to see it as an enjoyable social activity than a chore.
You don’t have to try and increase your exercise levels excessively immediately, even small changes such as walking or cycling to work, or making sure all of the household chores get done at an extra quick pace, can make a difference.
Make some changes to your life and you’ll be on your way to achieving the beach body you want. Just remember not to put too much pressure on yourself, so you don’t become disillusioned and give up.
Jenna H says
I used the online calorie counter you recommended. Im going to try going with that calorie rate instead of the standard 1200, maybe I’ll stick with it then!
LaVonne says
Good luck Jenna! Keep me updated 🙂