The Top 10 Ways to Get in Shape for Summer

With summer fast approaching it is time to get rid of that winter weight, and get your body ready for the beach. Here are 10 timeless ways to ensure that you are beach body ready.


The Top 10 Ways to Get in Shape for Summer

1. Crank up the Cardio - With just 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, you can crank up your metabolism and trim down your waist.

2. Hit the Gym - Building lean muscle is one of the best ways to make your body a calorie-burning machine. Muscles require energy, and force your body to burn extra calories, even while you sleep. For every extra pound of muscle you gain, you will burn an extra 50 calories per day (350 a week).

3. Balance your Diet - Eating a wide variety of food, and avoiding fast food, processed foods, and sugar is one of the best ways to bring your body back to a trim shape. The most important thing is to remember to EAT. Eat small, and eat regular. Do not binge, and do not skip meals.

4. Dance - Joining a weekly dance class is a great way to help you lose weight. The classes are fun, burn calories, and make you happy, which in turn helps you release natural endorphins that help with weight management.

5. Partner Up - Doing your cardio and weight training with a friend is one of the best ways to make sure you don't get lazy and beginning skipping out on your regular exercise.

6. Yoga - Not only great for concentration and relaxation, yoga is a great exercise for stretching your muscles, burning calories, and reducing fat.

7. Walk, Don't Drive - Take any opportunity you get to walk. Walk to work, to the store, the mailbox, up the stairs instead of taking the elevator. Do anything and everything you can to work your body, and burn those last few stubborn calories.

8. Eat - 6 meals a day, each no larger than your fist, is the best way to keep your metabolism revved up, and your body properly nourished. Going more than a few hours without at least a snack puts your body in starvation mode, which actually encourages your body to store calories, not burn them.

9. Drink Water - Dehydration slows your metabolism and tricks your body into thinking it is hungry. Staying hydrated is good for the body, great for the metabolism, and actually helps remove excess fat from your system.

10. Reduce Salt - Salt forces your body to retain water and weight. Avoid overdosing on salt by checking the sodium content on food packaging.