The window to show off your “beach body” is beginning to close but it’s not too late to get in awesome shape this summer. As our journey to losing weight continues (over 80lbs down so far between us!), we’ve teamed up with health website Treato to put together a list of tips to help you shed some pounds, clean up your diet and feel great about your body. Check it out!
- Make a plan
The first step to a healthier (and happier!) body is making a plan. Grab a pen and paper and write down what your goals are and how you’re going to achieve them. It can be as simple as making a commitment to go for a 30-minute walk/jog 4-5 times a week. If you haven’t exercised in a while, try keeping a brisk pace for the entire 30 minutes. As you feel your fitness improving, jog for a minute or two every 10 minutes. In no time you’ll be jogging for a half hour straight!
- Empty your fridge and pantry
OK, you don’t have to toss everything out. The summer produce can stay, but ditch the processed foods, sugary treats and leftover Chinese. The food you keep at home is usually a pretty good reflection of your overall diet, and no amount of exercise can make up for poor eating habits.
Use this cheat sheet when you’re shopping for groceries or filling your plate at a barbecue:
Summer foods to enjoy: corn on the cob, watermelon, stone fruits (peaches, nectarines, plums), grilled chicken, courgettes, seafood
Summer foods to avoid: hot dogs, fried seafood, ribs, macaroni or potato salad, onion rings, funnel cake
- Find a partner
Do you have any friends or family members who are interested in getting in shape? If so, enlist them in your new healthy eating and fitness routine. Having a training partner can add a sense of friendly competition and will make it easier to hold yourself accountable. You and your “buddy” can meet up for exercise sessions or cook delicious, low-calorie meals together. You can also get your kids involved! With so many digital distractions today, children sometimes need some extra encouragement to be active outdoors. Turn your weight loss quest into a bonding opportunity by organising family bike rides and nature hikes. Mike and I have found the competition between us provides so much extra incentive to keep on track. It also makes eating healthily easier when one of you doesn’t have to watch the other gorge themselves whilst you’re trying to eat clean!
- Track your progress
Heart rate trackers, calorie counters, sleep monitors, step counters—there is no shortage of tech tools to help you reach your fitness goals. In terms of wearables, Fitbit and Jawbone are among the most popular brands, but there are also more affordable options like Misfit and Xiaomi. If you’re not interested in spending money on yet another device, you can download apps like FitStar, which creates customised workouts, or MyFitnessPal (this is the one we used), which you can use to keep track of what you eat and how many calories you’re burning on a daily basis.
- Get outside!
What’s summertime without outdoor activities? Hiking, swimming, biking, beach volleyball—the world is your oyster! If you sometimes struggle to get off the couch, the key is finding an activity that you truly enjoy. It’s never too late to learn a new skill. How about rock climbing? Or kayaking? Be creative! You can also revisit a game that you haven’t played since you were in grade school, like dodgeball or kickball. Yes, there are adults who get together to play kickball—and have a great time doing it! The most important thing is that you have fun, get your body moving and enjoy the sunshine. You’ll miss it come wintertime!
