Ten Ways To Get Fit For Summer

We all want to feel good when it’s time to wear a little less than we usually would.

We all tell ourselves that we should be looking at our waistlines in plenty of time before the summer holidays and then, Wham!, Summer is almost upon us and we’ve been putting it off and sticking to our usual routines.

Well, it’s not too late to make a difference in time to hit the beach – here’s ten simple ways to get fit for summer and feel great:

 

1. Stop eating as much!

Simple, yet very, very effective.  Exercise is amazing, but it’s also a lot to do with what we put in our mouths!

Do you really need that biscuit?  It sounds boring, but have an apple instead.  Smaller portion sizes – hey, why not try serving your food on a smaller plate so it looks like you are having more?

It’s all in the mind really!

 

2. Bribe yourself!

Set mini goals – and when you reach each one, you get a reward! Bit like a kids sticker chart but without the stickers ;)

Get a new lipstick, or treat yourself to smaller size jeans ;) Working towards a goal really helps.

 

 

 

 

3. Buddy up

Being part of a pair or a team makes people work harder and stick at it.  You don’t want to let the other person down and you keep each other motivated.

Why not set each other goals, achieveable ones, like trying to lose 1lb a week, or being active 3 times a week – and stick to it.  Perhaps introduce forfeits if you don’t keep to your side of the bargain ;)

 

4. Get out more

Although food plays a major part in being fit, it is also important to be active too.  From walking a bit further each day, to dancing to the radio, to attending classes, cycling, swimming, you name it – pushing yourself just that little bit further each week will make a massive difference.

So even if you start by simply walking to the bottom of your road each day, then a bit further the following week and then a bit further, slowly but surely you will see a difference.

 

5. Hold back on the booze!

Ouch, this one hurts!  Alcohol is very much a part of many people’s lives, but it is just a habit.  It’s nice to come home after a hard days work and chill out with a glass of wine.

It doesn’t mean you have to give it up – but why not look at what you are drinking and either drink less, or swap it for a drink that is less calories, G&slimlineT works a treat!

And why not cut up a lemon and freeze it – makes a fab addition to a G&T and acts as an ice cube too! Result!

 

6. Buy those shorts you want

Why not buy those shorts/swimsuit that you would love to wear?  Hang them up next to the fridge! Make sure they are visible and that you can see them every day.

What do you want more? The magnum in the freezer, or to be able to wear those gorgeous shorts?

 

7. Imagine you are doing it for someone else

If you were helping a pal to get fit for summer, you would do everything you could to encourage them to stick with it and go for it wouldn’t you?

When it comes to ourselves, we always seem to find excuses, tell ourselves “I give up” and then feel miserable having thought that we’ve messed up so we may as well eat all the Kit Kats in the packet!

But if we were doing it for a friend, we would tell them to move away from the Kit Kats, to keep those shorts front of mind, and remind them of why they want to get fit for summer.

 

8. Why do you want to get fit for the summer?

Perhaps write it down. To fit into those shorts? To feel comfortable? To be able to have those lovely ice cold beers in the pub garden and not feel guilty about it? To feel better?

Whatever your reasons, write them down and look at them every morning – make it part of your routine – get up, washed, dressed, read reasons for wanting to get fit, etc etc.

 

9. Don’t beat yourself up

Life is busy! Life is full of temptations! Life is for living! Make sure you are happy! Give yourself simple, mini-targets so that you can reach them fairly quickly – there is great satisfaction from achieving goals and they spur us on to achieve even greater ones.

There’s a fantastic book called “The Slight Edge” which we would recommend everyone to read for whatever you want to achieve in life – things don’t happen overnight, but under the surface, major things happen slowly and then all of a sudden you can see the big difference – deffo an amazing summer read!

 

10. Happiness is the key!

Making small changes and sticking to them and adding to them will make a big difference. Doing things that make you happy helps you to stick to them – nobody wants to be miserable.

Find something that you love, i.e. we love dancing to Pop music, so not only do dance classes make us happy and help us to tone up and get fit, but you will also find us dancing to pop tracks on the radio whilst hoovering ;)

You don’t have to be a gym bunny, although that’s fab too, find simple things that you enjoy – go for a walk listening to your favourite album from the 80s ;), dust the skipping rope off and have a go, hoola hoop, run up and down the stairs 10 times a day, eat more fruit, when was the last time you had a pineapple? Explore different foods – have fun with it.  Be happy!

 

We hope you enjoyed these tips – we would love to know yours – feel free to share in the comments box below or email us at [email protected]

Enjoy! Life is for living!