The days are getting longer and warmer and after a long cold winter, summer is finally on its way. It’s time to rejoice over trips to the beach, evening barbeques, picnics, and a climate that allows us to actually tan without costly trips to the salon.
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Although, with the heat comes less clothing, bathing suits and having to flash a little skin to avoid melting like a popsicle in the Australian sun. A lot of us feel uncomfortable, or uneasy at this prospect because of those few kilos of winter warming we built up over the last 6 months, but we don’t have to fret. Now, is the perfect time to start kicking our butts into shape so we can rock a bikini in style, without having to hide beneath that oversized tee that should really be burned.
Unfortunately, finding that extra motivation to hit the pavement, or face a gym workout can be difficult and daunting but it doesn’t have to be. The easiest way to find the motivation to shed your winter weight is to make working out fun. Obviously you need to plan your workouts so they’re effective and you get the best bang for your buck, but if you don’t enjoy doing it you will always find a reason to skip it. Another way to make working out fun is to do it in style with our tips on working it in gym style.
Work out with friends
Time spent with friends is always time well spent and a sweat-inducing workout is a lot more enjoyable when you’re surrounded people who love and support you. Use each other to motivate one another and give each other support. Find a small group of people to workout with and set yourself goals. If you help your friends achieve their goals, they will help you achieve yours. Instead of heading to your local coffee shop for afternoon tea with your girlfriends, throw on a pair of runners and take a walk both your health and wellbeing will thank you for it.
Get outdoors
Why not make the most of the nice weather by training outside rather than in a stuffy, overcrowded gym? Swimming is a great fat burner and muscle toner, just like cardio workouts like running and skipping that are perfect activities for Sydney’s top ten running trails. These three simple exercises can help tone your thighs, butt, and the muscle groups in your arms and back effectively helping you shape up for summer, while enjoying outdoor summer activities. Grab a friend and go for a bike ride, or even walk to the shops instead of driving. All you need is 30 minutes of exercise a day to improve your health and fitness and a walk along the beach or around a lake is a perfect match.
Make the most of high-intensity interval training (HIIT)
HIIT is a more intensive form of training that will help you achieve the results you want a lot quicker. Essentially its intervals of intense training complimented by short rest periods for example if you’re running you might sprint for 30 seconds followed by 90 seconds at a light jog. This technique is particularly effective with cardio workouts, but also works for weight training. This helps you burn fat faster than if you were to run at a steady pace. HIIT helps you to stay motivated because it’s a result based training that encourages you with visible results.
Remember to rest and recover
One of the most important things to consider when getting fit for summer is to rest. Over working your body can have negative implications, you can over strain your muscles that can cause permanent damage, and too much exercise is less effective than a steady amount of exercise. Your muscles need time to recover and repair themselves, without this necessary repair your body starts fighting against your efforts and can ruin your hard work.
Working for your summer body doesn’t have to be a chore, it can be fun and most importantly it can be fulfilling.
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