subject: Summer Body Workout - 4 Tips for Toning Your Body [print this page] Summer Body Workout - 4 Tips for Toning Your Body
Winter is well behind us and summer is knocking at hour doors but not really here yet. It means that it is spring time and for some of us it is preparation time for what is to come. Throw away the stereotype that we must look good on the beach. Many of us even don't go to the beach but the fact is that we all want to look good and toned in our light summer clothes.
We gained a few pounds of fat during the winter and it's the right time to get rid of it. The good news is that we still have enough time if we act now!
Tip #1 - Start thinking about what you eat. Winter clothes could cover our saggy belly fat and we could get away with pizzas and visits to fast food restaurants. Those days are gone now. The first thing you should do is try to lower your calorie intake. One pound of fat equals to about 3500 calories so if you spend 500 calories more than you eat you could lose one pound in a week. For example, two Nestle Rolo bars have 500 calories.
Tip #2 - Increase your physical activity. In the cold days you had many excusses to take the car or public transportation. But you have a few other choices now. You can walk for example! If you walk one mile in 20 minutes (moderate walking speed) you can spend additional 85 calories. You can walk to work or to the grocery store. Take a walk to the park during the weekends. If you work to far away you could get out one stop early and walk to the office. Bicycle is also another choice to burn calories and maybe more fun for you than walking. 30 minutes of leisure bike ride can spend up to 140 calories for an average weigth person.
Tip #3 - Drink plenty of water. Water is essential nutrient for life and plays many important roles in body functions like carrying oxygen and nutrients to your body cells, maintaining blood pressure, regulating and maintaining body temperature, maintaining proper metabolism and many others. Stay properly hydrated at all times and don't substitute water with juices or other flavored drinks. They also unnecesarily increase your calorie intake!
Tip #4 - Workout! Yes, you cannot avoid this. Cardio workouts will help in burning calories and we can easily reach that 3500 weekly calorie target and maybe even more. Stationary bike, elliptical machine or treadmill are perfect for cardio workouts but if you don't want to go the the gym you could jog or run almost anywhere. Don't just concetrate on cardio. You might wan't to add some free weights to your workouts. Building muscles is necessary if you want to maximize burning of fat because muscle tissue consumes a lot more calories than fat tissue even when we are at rest.
Do you want to read more exercise and toning advices for summer?
If so, download my free guides on how to burn calories and stay fit forever.
