The Secret to Building a Great Beach Body!
Although it feels like winter has just begun, many are looking forward to the summer to show off their great beach body that they vowed to work on this year. Although January is a month full of resolutions and hope, February often tells a much different picture of broken resolutions and frustrated individuals. No one should care more about your body than you, here are some tips and motivators to help jump-start your great beach body workout plan!
Structure Your Exercise Activity
We humans are creatures of habit; studies suggest that it takes an average of three weeks to form a new habit, but three times as long to break an old one. This means that by February, those who stayed devoted to their lifestyle changes should have a much easier time keeping them and by mid-March should have little to no temptation to return to their old way of life. It is easier said than done as less than 5% of adults participate in the recommended 30 minutes of physical activity every day. Many people say that they don’t have the time to devote to a single 30 minute block of time; doing small exercises throughout the day, like three 10 minute walks, works just as well — unfortunately this leaves many people without a legitimate excuse!
Remember: It’s for Your Health!
Yes, we all want a beautiful, fit body, but let’s not forget the real reason why we should exercise more and eat healthier. Regular physical activity is shown to decrease an individual’s risk for a number of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome among other things. The Center for Disease Control also found that 75% of healthcare spending goes towards the treatment of diet-related chronic illnesses that are preventable with simple lifestyle changes. As if folks really needed another reason to start a sweat session, a 2014 study published in the British Medical Journal shows that men and women who ate right, exercised more, and avoided bad habits like tobacco use live five or six years longer on average.
It’s Not You, It Might Be Your Diet
Counting carbs, calories, and fat — since when did you need a math degree to successfully diet? The truth is, only 20% of people can lose weight and keep it off by following traditional diets. Losing weight isn’t entirely different from dating; it takes time before you find one that suits you. Even the top fitness programs in the country can’t guarantee results for everyone because everyone is unique and has to face their own unique challenges. If one diet doesn’t work, don’t give up; you can have a great beach body, you just need to find what works best for you.