Let’s be honest - in winter, when we opt for oversized sweaters and bundle up in blankets, it’s easy to put fitness on the backburner.
We’re more focused on Netflix binges and snack food than we are about running and doing crunches.
Plus, there’s no pressure to rock swimwear anytime soon, so we don’t feel as bad if we let ourselves go a little bit.
But truth be told, this philosophy is detrimental to our overall health and wellness, because a little-known secret? Summer bodies are built in the winter.
One of the most difficult truths that fitness newbies struggle to accept is that reaching your workout goals and achieving the body you desire doesn’t happen overnight.
Becoming your healthiest self is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.
Thus, if you start cracking down and getting serious mere weeks before it’s time to hit the beach, you’re not going to show up with the results you had in mind.
However, if you start prepping for your summer body months in advance, you’ll be good to go.
Here are five top tips - practical, yet effective - for constructing a solid game plan to your fittest self just in time for summer, by putting in the hard work during the winter.
Intermittent Fasting
If you’re not feeling super motivated to hit a hard workout when you’d much rather be curled up on the couch, ease into it!
Instead of dreading physical activity, take baby steps to reaching your health goals, and focus on your diet first instead.
Intermittent fasting is a great way to reset your body. It boosts your metabolism with lower calorie intake, and alters the function of your hormones, cells and genes.
Thus, your whole body will feel the benefits of the process. Why not give it a go?
HIIT Training
This is one of the quicker ways to notice results, because of the breathlessness you’ll feel when your heart rate gradually increases.
With HIIT (high intensity interval training) workouts, you’re building muscle, losing weight, and burning calories - yes, please!
Plus, because of the intensity, you don’t need to do a super long workout in order to enjoy the benefits of HIIT.
Rather, do small increments and break up your sweat session, so it doesn’t feel overwhelming.
Vegan Diet
Less meat, more veggies! There are so many delicious vegan options out there, and this is the perfect time to experiment and discover what you like.
Plus, it will help ensure you’re consuming less fatty and greasy products, and more natural ingredients. You’ll feel better, and your body will thank you later.
Hot Yoga
Heat up your normal yoga workout this winter by cranking up the temperature! Take your usual flow to the next level, and you’ll feel a much different result.
Your heart, muscles, and lungs are working harder, making the workout that much more enduring and beneficial.
The intensity will also force you to focus on your breath and inner-wellness, and holistically speaking, you’ll feel incredible.
Kick it up a notch with hot yoga during the cooler weather and you’ll see a difference in the way you look and feel, with time and consistency.
Sleep Schedule
The average adult requires 6-8 hours of sleep, and trust me, you do not want to let this fall by the wayside.
Sleep is when your body resets, recharges, and even burns calories!
You need sleep in order for your body to process your workouts, as the recovery time is crucial for seeing results.
Sleep is different from a lazy television binge - allow yourself to fully shut off and feel a state of calm.
