Tips to Look and Feel Great for the Summer

We all want to look our best for the summer, but with only a few short months to get in shape, is it really possible to achieve our fitness goals quickly and safely?

There are a variety of fitness regimes that claim to help you achieve weight loss and a toned figure in just a few months. For the best results, however, it is recommended that you combine your fitness regime with relaxation, pampering, and a great new wardrobe – helping you to get emotionally strong as your body sheds its excess pounds.

Tone your figure quickly without adding frown lines

Certain muscles respond better to strength training, so the most obvious effects will come if your workout focuses on them. These are in your calves, shoulders, arms, and lower abs. Get your arms toned and firm as well as your butt with a simple skipping program that should get you down a dress size if you can keep it up regularly. Skipping is fun to do – and you don’t even need to go down to the gym.

Whatever kind of workout you opt for, it should be something you can enjoy and with a flexible routine, so you can do it when you want to, and when it fits with your own lifestyle.

Is it dangerous to lose weight quickly?

A rapid and hurried fitness regime has both pros and cons – we’re all impatient to lose weight quickly and see the rewards of our efforts sooner rather than later, but statistically, weight lost gradually and evenly is more likely to stay off. While extreme weight loss over a very short period is not to be recommended (this can be extremely dangerous), it is possible and medically acceptable to lose weight at a rate faster than that which it was gained.

You should remember that everybody loses more weight at the start of a weight loss program and that the pounds become harder to shed the further along you go. This is because the body is adjusting to the major change in its calorific intake. Just keep exercising as long as you like – and take a break if you suspect it is making you unwell.

Look the part, act the part

If you’re one of those people who spends more time in the sports apparel store than the actual gym, don’t despair just yet – there is evidence to suggest that a stylish workout can actually make you want to work out more. Looking good while getting fit can help you feel good about yourself and encourage more gym time. There have even been scientific studies that suggest the clothing a person wears can trigger changes in the brain that affect their performance positively – or in other words, when you pull on those training pants, you really can run faster.

If you find that your muscles and joints start to ache a little after a grueling workout, you could try wearing compression gloves. Compression apparel is comfortable and smart for both men and women, and provides relief as well as support. Available in a variety of sizes and colors, it can also be ordered online.

Don’t stress it

It also helps to keep your mind fresh and less stressed in the lead-up to summer. After the long, dark winter, the sun is finally back, so make the most of it and take some time for personal enjoyment. Stress is bad not only mentally but also for your body – happiness, on the other hand, positively radiates in people’s skin.

If meeting friends for coffee and a chat, or a long walk with the family pet aren’t enough to eradicate stress, then consider yoga or mindfulness routines. Meditation, as well as working in a calming environment, can help to reduce stress, so allow yourself a certain amount of quiet time every day.

Grab some downtime

Remember that getting into shape is not only about burning calories with intense workouts at the gym, but also about feeling good, so do what makes you happy and your body will start to look happier, too. A little bit of indulgence can also be part of a healthy lifestyle, so go out more with friends and family and keep yourself happy and contented.

Looking good this summer is within your reach, and there’s no need to stress. Get yourself some stylish training clothes to combine a fun, sensible fitness regime that you enjoy with a new wardrobe and a little pampering, and you will radiate happiness on the beach this bikini season.