Fitness Tips for a Summer Body

Summer is the time for vacations, barbecues, and enjoying time outdoors at the beach or in the pool. For many people, the summer can be a difficult time to maintain a fit body– you are not alone! If you are able to keep your body fit, healthy, and happy throughout the summer months, you will build habits that will keep going throughout the year. Here are some helpful tips for building and maintaining a healthy summer body to carry you through even more years to come.

Eat Right

If you can manage to maintain a healthy diet filled with lots of fruits and vegetables, good carbohydrates such as quinoa, brown rice, whole wheat, rye, and barley, eat the right amount of protein and fats, you won’t have to worry about the times you splurge. Focus on maintaining a balanced diet of 80/20 – meaning that you eat clean 80% of the time. This will allow you to splurge on a hamburger at your next BBQ or an ice cream at the beach without worrying about destroying your diet.

Exercise

Aside from making good food choices, exercise is the second most important thing you can do to create a strong summer body. Try to be as active as you’re able to, whether it’s running, walking, swimming, hiking, or working out.

The summer is the perfect time to start taking exercise seriously. It can often be difficult to undertake an exercise regimen during the cold winter months.  In the summer, the options are almost endless. Play beach volleyball, go for a walk on the beach or in the mountains, or swim in the pool or the ocean. While intense cardio or strength training are great, during the summer months, try to switch up your workouts from time to time and take advantage of the warm weather.

Focus On Your Core

Having a strong core is more than just building a six-pack. Having strong core muscles is important for performing any physical activity since weak core muscles can leave you susceptible to poor posture, lower back pain and muscle injuries. Building a strong core is essential to a healthy body and beneficial for people of all ages.

Along with your normal workout routine,try to add in some extra core work 3-4 times per week. This routine doesn’t need to be extreme. Just focus on giving your core the extra attention it deserves.

Follow a Fitness Plan

Some people workout for years just repeating the few same workouts they know and wonder why they don’t see any satisfying results. If this sounds like something you’re experiencing, consider trying a specific fitness plan geared towards your goals. When it comes to working out it’s all about working smarter, not harder. If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve written a variety of articles that include sample workouts and you can also look at fitness apps, talk to a personal trainer or even check out YouTube for workout schedule ideas. 

Stretch More

Stretching probably isn’t the first thing you think of when considering how to get a summer body, but it is! Stretching can help to prevent injury which can quickly derail your fitness goals! At the beginning and end of your workout, take a few minutes to stretch out your body, holding each stretch for at least 30 seconds. Not only will your body feel great but you may even see better results from your fitness program.

Take Time to Rest

If you work out regularly, it’s important to incorporate recovery days into your workout schedule. A recovery day doesn’t necessarily mean you need to take a total rest from your routine, it’s just a lighter day focused on giving your body a chance to take a break. 

Recovery days can involve light movement such as walking, riding your bike, or swimming. Try to choose an exercise that is a little lighter on the joints and cardiovascular system. You should also try to incorporate a workout that involves stretching such as a yoga flow. This will help to loosen up muscles and work out any tight spots that have built up from tougher workouts.