You have heard it a thousand times before, but here it is again- time flies!
Summer is just around the corner, and now is the time to dig out the sand toys, make sure the family has a bathing suit, and that you feel confident to put it on.
Don’t wait until the family photo on the beach to decide that you want to tone up and get healthy, get the tools you need now to make the journey from flab to fab.
Getting lean is more than your reflection in the mirror, it is how you feel from day to day.
Everyone wants a higher quality of life, where you wake up refreshed, energetic, and ready to take the day head on.
That energy can be zapped by weeks of poor diet and poor planning, but not any longer.
Put the tips below into action and feel amazing while looking fantastic. All it takes is some determination, persistence, and a desire to get lean.
1. Envision Where You Want to Be
Beginning any journey of transformation begins with a clear set of goals. The best way to formulate your goal is to visualize where you want to be.
Envisioning your goal before writing it down also helps get you out of that habit of basing success by a number on the scale.
Do you see yourself being able to run a mile by the end of the month, or riding your bike around the neighborhood with the family?
Maybe you just want to button your pre-pregnancy pants, and be able to get through dinner without that extra cup of coffee.
Whatever your goal is, remind yourself of it every day so you stay motivated.
2. Make a Plan for Success
Are you an early morning person, who loves to rise before the kids and have a hot breakfast waiting on the table?
If you are a early riser, make your fitness routine first priority. Have your workout done before the kids get up and prep your meals for the day so you won’t be tempted to grab a bag of chocolate chips for lunch when your toddler wants you to re-enact a Moana scene for the hundredth time.
Or, are you a night owl, getting your second wind after all those beautiful little heads hit the pillow?
If so, save your workout for prior to bed, and prep the following days food afterward.
Just be careful not to overeat post workout, aiming for a small high protein and complex carb snack.
Don’t fight your natural rhythm, it will only end in defeat. Go with the flow and make a plan that truly works for your lifestyle.
3. Create a Well-Rounded Fitness Routine
Many people who start working out focus on cardiovascular exercise only.
This may be because it doesn’t require any thought or planning to hop on an elliptical machine, or maybe because many women don’t feel comfortable lifting weights.
Please don’t do this. Strength training is an important part of a fitness routine, especially since muscle mass begins to decline as early as your 30’s, according to Web Md.
Start simple, using 5lb dumbbells to do some squats, bicep curls and shoulder presses. As you get comfortable with the weight, add some more moves to keep your body tone, and then follow up with cardio exercise.
4. Keep It Exciting
After a few weeks of a stable get lean routine, things can become boring or monotonous.
Add a new aspect to your goals every week to challenge yourself and keep things interesting.
This could be as easy as trying one new clean eating meal, as Mommy Underground has previously reported.
Or, if you accept challenges with open arms, try beating a fitness goal every week, like running a little farther and adding an extra set of squats.
5. Be Safe
Exercising can be dangerous if proper form and limitations are neglected.
One injury can set you back 6 weeks or more, and that is cutting it close for your family summer vacation.
Try not to rush your get lean plan, and start small; working your way up slowly until you feel confident in pushing yourself to the next level of fitness.
6. Don’t Get Stuck
Options are endless when it comes to making an exercise routine. If you begin one that really doesn’t seem to fit your needs, or it is just plain boring, change it!
Some individuals love running and feel like they are on top of the world when they hit mile number five, while others feel like they may not survive the next breath at mile 2.
Switch it up with your cardio, and throw in some Zumba, cycling, yoga, or high intensity interval training to shed inches while having fun in the process.
7. Write It Down
Keeping a food journal is highly successful for many women. It may surprise you how much we put in our mouth throughout the day without even realizing it.
A food journal is writing down everything you eat in a day and its nutritional content.
This helps by gaining perspective into your diet, and pinpointing where you can improve.
Little changes often have a profound effect when it comes to getting lean and healthy. You may find that nixing chips with lunch causes you to lose a couple inches off your thighs by the end of the month.
Seven changes at once may seem a bit much when you are struggling to get a shower in, and we get that.
It’s okay to add little changes at a time. Every effort made toward a healthy and lean lifestyle is monumental; giving you a happier tomorrow.
(h/t Mommy Underground)