Fitness tips which will help you keep fit this Summer

Whether you’re an avid exerciser, or a complete beginner, summer is the perfect time to get yourself into shape. Whether your goal is to look fantastic in a swimsuit, or you just want to feel healthier and fitter, I’m here to help. Exercising doesn’t have to be difficult, and there are so many ways to get fit that don’t involve lifting weights in a gym. Here are some of the best Summer fitness tips to help you stay healthy and beat the heat.

Find ways to cool off after your workout

It is important to cool after a workout to prevent overheating and the risk of heat exhaustion. Here are some ways to cool off that do not require a lot of time or effort:

• Go for a swim
• Take a bike ride
• Jump in some waves at the beach.
• Drink water
• Take a cold shower
• Eat a ice lolly

Staying hydrated is one of the most important fitness tips for Summer

The summer is a time of sunshine, vacations and outdoor activities. It’s also the time when you can easily slip into dehydration if you don’t drink enough fluids. Dehydration occurs when the body doesn’t have enough water to function properly. When it becomes dehydrated, your whole body slows down and as a result, your blood pressure drops and your heart rates decreases. Staying hydrated throughout the day is one of the most important things that you can do to avoid dehydration. Drinking lots of water will prevent your body from becoming dehydrated which will allow you to stay healthy and active all summer long. After your workout make sure you replenish electrolytes with a sports drink or coconut water.

Eating right is one of the best ways to get fit this Summer

A great way to get fit for the summer is by eating foods that are healthy and filling. But don’t worry, you can still have your favorite indulgent foods and drinks as long as you balance them out with some healthier choices. Try making your own food instead of relying on prepackaged fare stocked with sugar and refined carbs. Make sure you incorporate the three main food groups fruit, vegetables and meat (if you eat meat of course) into your diet and try to have at least two of these with each meal. Keep a diary of what you’re eating and cross reference this against the weight you’re losing to see what foods have the most impact. To help you get started why not check out my post on some of the best superfoods you can include in your diet.

Get regular rest

Regardless of how hot or it is, or how motivated you are to get fit this Summer, make sure you never skip your sleep. Getting enough rest is crucial for your physical and mental health during the summer months especially if you’re working out more. Take naps during the day if you’re feeling tired or go to bed earlier so that you can wake up feel refreshed and invigorated.

Stretch well before and after your workout session

It is important to not only stretch before exercise, but to also stretch after. A good rule of thumb is to spend about 10-15 minutes stretching before and after a workout. Before stretching, it is important to warm up the muscles in order to increase blood flow and range of motion. This can be done by doing light exercises or walking on a treadmill for five minutes. After exercising, it is important to cool down the body by performing stretches that target the muscles that have been worked out. These stretches should be performed very slowly and without bouncing with a soft touch.

Wear light clothing

It’s also important that you wear light clothing during this time because it will keep your body temperature regulated and will allow sweat to evaporate faster which will prevent any bacteria from forming.

Set realistic short-term fitness goals

It’s Summer time which means it’s time to get active! It can be hard to stay motivated and set goals, but there are plenty of ways that you can keep yourself on track. You’re more likely to stay motivated if your goal is realistic. Try setting a goal like running two miles instead of eighteen miles, or cutting out sugar from your diet instead of quitting carbs altogether. Some other Summer fitness tips you might want to consider:

• Keep track of your weight loss, no matter how small. Every pound you lose is a fantastic motivation to lose more. I even have a weight loss tracker you can buy to keep track.
• It’s important that you do exercises you enjoy. If you don’t enjoy it you certainly won’t keep to it. If the gym isn’t your thing, then why not give dancing a go. Zumba is a fantastic highly energetic dance that will have you losing lots of calories.

Find a fitness buddy

If you have a friend who’s also trying to get in shape this summer, find an accountability partner and make sure that you both stick with your fitness goals! You’ll have someone who is there for moral support when workouts get tough and someone who will push you when you need.

One of the best Summer fitness tips I can give is to listen to your body

This Summer, instead of following a strict fitness regimen, take time to listen to your body. What does it need? Do you need more or less sleep? More or less food? Just some time off from training, in order to recover and come back stronger? The best fitness plan is one that’s flexible enough to work with your schedule and abilities. You should also be prepared for setbacks during this process. It is normal for your motivation levels to fluctuate as you go through the summer months. Keep going! The time will fly by and before you know it, the school bells will be ringing again.

Whatever exercise you do, make sure you pace yourself

Whilst you may be tempted to jump into exercising all guns blazing, if it’s not something you’ve done before, you may find yourself getting tired and worn out really quickly. Here’s some of the best ways to pace yourself when you’re planning a Summer workout.

• If you are new to a workout routine, start with a lower intensity and duration, for example 5-10 minutes of walking.
• Pace yourself during your workout. If you feel like you can do more then keep going!
• Keep hydrated by drinking 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day.
• Find an enjoyable activity that will make you want to exercise regularly.

Don’t give up when it starts to get hard

Don’t give up. Persistence is key with fitness. If you go to the gym once and don’t like it, don’t stop going. You might not be in the right routine or have the funds to get a personal trainer. Keep trying new things and if you can afford a trainer definitely get one because they are worth it! If after a while you find the gym is really not for you, that’s fine, as I mentioned above, there are so many ways to exercise outside of the gym like dancing, swimming, running, skipping and so much more.

I hope these Summer fitness tips will provide you with a little inspiration to get started. Do let me know how you get on in the comments box.

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