The winter holidays have passed, the weather is slowly warming up and physical activities become enjoyable and convenient once again. Spring is very close and that means the swimsuit season in the summer is just around the corner. In order to prepare yourself for a slimmer wardrobe, think about healthy lifestyle changes which include calorie reduction, regular exercise, portion control, sugar-free foods and beverages and more.
1. Use more low-calorie products
A study has shown that a lot of people are choosing low-calorie products these days as a part of healthful diet.
According to the study, it seems that recent trends of the consumption of beverages and foods which have low-calorie sweeteners (LCS) are becoming more popular each day, and it has been found that 28% of total United States population consumes some low-calorie sweeteners product.
The consumption of LCS-containing beverages has increased mostly for females, small children, and obese adults. Therefore, it is also highly recommended for you to consume such products in order to get back in the shape before the summer.
2. Use apps to track weight, calories and exercise
Apps which count calories are a go-to for everyone who is trying to lose weight on the go.
Many people are using apps to track workouts, calories and their meals, and also some of those apps let you scan products off the mall shelf for entry into a database. These days you can find a lot of apps which do exactly that.
They can be found on many devices, such as smartphones, for example. Also, it is getting highly popular to use these apps on smartwatches, which just like smartphones track your progress, results, etc. Some of the most popular apps are: Fooducate, My Fitness Pal, Thryve, My Diet Coach, Lost It!, Locavore, Diet Assist and Endomondo, so make sure to try at least some of them.
3. Eat more vegetables and fruits
It is extremely recommended to eat more vegetables and fruits while you are trying to get back in shape.
The consumption of vegetables and fruits has a big impact on improving your diet, health and more. A lot of fruits and vegetables are packed with nutrients which help you fight diseases.
In addition, the consumers of these delicious foods can maintain a healthy weight if they add these foods as a part of their diets. Therefore, people should look to include more plant-based foods, such as apple, banana, watermelon, peach, tomato, carrot, cucumber, etc., in their diets, whether fresh or frozen.
4. Go gluten free
People who have Celiac disease have to avoid the wheat protein called gluten. However, more and more individuals who don’t suffer from this disease have chosen this diet in an attempt to lose weight.
So far, these in scientific research which supports this idea, and since a lot of gluten-free foods are high in calories this can be misguided by the fact.
Therefore, people who are cutting out these foods may lose weight due to a decrease in overall calorie intake. So, if you are going to try a gluten-free diet, keep in mind that you have to check the labels for each product you buy and see how many calories and other nutrients are in the certain product.
5. Creative ways to workout
Workouts these days are nothing like they used to be several years ago. Americans are coming up with new, fun and creative ways to burn calories and lose weight through group activities such as hashing, mud races, Pure Barr, and boot camp.
Combination classes such as aerial yoga, Neuromuscular Integrative Action, Core Fusion Barre, and Piloxing mix workouts with disparate disciplines. They can get your body working in ways it normally wouldn’t work. Therefore, choose some workout program or experiment with several of them, and get your body in shape in the relatively short period of time, just before the swimsuit season starts.
6. Each day be more active
Get yourself in a shape for summer fast by being more physically active on a daily basis. Do some exercises away from the gym. You don’t have to be working away with weights or running on the treadmill to burn calories.
Each move you make during a day burns off calories and this really adds up over time. Therefore, it is surprised to know that physical activities throughout the day actually burn more calories than gym workouts.
So get out and do some gardening rather than lying on a couch or go to shopping with a friend rather than going for coffee. Also, do some housework rather than watching TV. So, if you can find ways to be more physically active during a day it will pay off in pounds lost over a small period of time.
7. Strength training exercises
Strength training routines are an excellent way to alter your shape, if you want to change the way your body looks.
Strength training adds more muscle definition, firms your body, and more importantly revs up your metabolic rate, which is important for weight loss.
You will burn fat faster if your metabolism is running faster, which means you will be one step closer to your weight loss goals. Also, regular strength training, just like any other kind of training, improves your mood and helps you to feel better during a day. In addition, you will be more productive, have more energy, and be happier just in time for summer season.
8. Lower stress levels
Stress has a very negative influence on your body’s fat loss progress and it is something you should avoid whenever is possible.
This happens because your body increases a hormone called cortisol which actually encourage the fat accumulation of your stomach. This is definitely not what you actually need.
Also, this hormone increases the risk that your body starts to break down your muscle tissue rather than using up fat. Muscles are responsible for maintaining an elevated metabolic rate and you don’t want to let cortisol to damage your muscles. Whether you are watching TV, reading a good book, or doing some exercises, do something to keep your stress levels under control, so you can be relaxed.
9. Play a sport
One of the best ways to get fit is to make fitness fun, and there is nothing more fun that playing a team sport. Each team sport is all about camaraderie, and by playing some sport you will build up a friendship and get yourself motivated.
You may not feel in a mood for workout and gym, but when you know that your team is there to play some sport with you, you will probably be more motivated to go and join them.
There are many sports you can choose, such as football, soccer, basketball, tennis, swimming, softball, etc. Find out what you like and start playing. In very short period of time, you will see results, and prepare your self for the upcoming summer season.
10. Portion control
One of the best ways to loose weight is to eat smaller portions every day. Divide your daily meals into six parts and only eat until you are 80% full. Also, make sure to chew your food properly and eat slowly.
This may take some time to get used to it. It will allow your food to be correctly digested and for you your body to register when you are actually no longer hungry.
So, in order to achieve this, it is recommended to eat your meals at the same time every day. This will help you to lose weight and if you start to exercise now, there is no doubt that you will be ready and in shape for upcoming swimsuit season.