Summer means plenty of sunshine, bare feet, growing temperatures, and more revealing clothing. Tank tops, shorts, and bikinis, oh my! It is the perfect time of year to get outside and tone those arms, abs, and legs. We all want to do it, but the hard part is committing to fitness.
Go Outside
When the temperatures are between 70 and 90 degrees, a walk or jog outside will do you more good than you would think. Grab a friend or your dog to keep you company and encourage you to keep walking and sweating.
Try Cardio Intervals
It is easy to walk or run on the treadmill for a set period of time or distance, but have you tried running in intervals? Interval routines have been proven to be more effective because your heart rate is constantly changing. Interval routines are easy to do on the treadmill, elliptical, or stair stepper and POPSUGAR has some great routines that you can alternate between on your days at the gym.
Use Weights
Using weights at the gym does not automatically sign you up for a body building competition. While cardio is important to burn fat, weight training is just as important to replace that fat with muscle. On days when you cannot make it to the gym, try grabbing 5 or 8 pound weights and do some basic in home routines. Using lighter weights and doing a higher number of reps can be more effective than a few reps of the heaviest weight you can manage. Kayla Itsines has a great Bikini Body Workout Plan that are easy to do at home and she has circuits to target specific areas of the body. If you are looking for a video to help you tone your abs and get a bikini ready stomach, Amber of Barefoot Blonde has the perfect ab workout. Her video demonstrates each move and shows how easy they are to do at home with or without weights.
Buy Athletic Wear
Working out in the oversized shirt you got from your last date party (guilty as charged) is not the most effective thing to wear while working out. If you are wearing a tighter shirt, you will be able to execute each exercise properly as well as become more aware of target areas that need toning. Some great places to buy athletic wear without breaking the bank are Athltea, Fabletics, H&M, and GapFit by Gap.
