7 TIPS TO GET YOU READY FOR BIKINI SEASON
You might think I’m crazy for bringing up bikinis in the
middle of freezing January, but bikini season is right around the corner! So
now is the perfect time to get those buns into shape so that you’re confident
when it’s time to hit the beach, lake, pool, or vacation!
When I was younger I never had to worry about cottage cheese thighs or giggly buns, but these days it’s a battle… After years of not feeling confident in my own skin, I decided to set a goal to change my body and feel confident in a bikini again! After putting in the hard work, I know what it takes to get into shape and get that curvy bikini body, so here are my 7 tips to get you ready for bikini season:
When I was younger I never had to worry about cottage cheese thighs or giggly buns, but these days it’s a battle… After years of not feeling confident in my own skin, I decided to set a goal to change my body and feel confident in a bikini again! After putting in the hard work, I know what it takes to get into shape and get that curvy bikini body, so here are my 7 tips to get you ready for bikini season:
1. SET A GOAL = BIKINI SHOPPING
Bikini shopping is like a slap in the face… you see the prefect bikini and you picture how amazing you’re going to look in it, then you get it on, reality sets in, and you want to scream! And the lighting in the dressing room is ALWAYS horrible – showing every little dimple possible! But, there is no better motivation than seeing yourself in a bikini, it’s like the ultimate reality check. So, pick the perfect bikini that you want to rock this summer and make it your mission to tighten up that body and wear it with confidence!
Bikini shopping is like a slap in the face… you see the prefect bikini and you picture how amazing you’re going to look in it, then you get it on, reality sets in, and you want to scream! And the lighting in the dressing room is ALWAYS horrible – showing every little dimple possible! But, there is no better motivation than seeing yourself in a bikini, it’s like the ultimate reality check. So, pick the perfect bikini that you want to rock this summer and make it your mission to tighten up that body and wear it with confidence!
2.
DRINK LOTS OF WATER
Drop all of the sugary drinks and replace them with water – you will be amazed what this tip alone will do. Women naturally carry extra water weight, but the more water you drink, the more water your body will flush out because it realizes that it doesn’t need to store water anymore because you are continuously hydrating yourself. I could go on and on about the benefits of water, but the way I think of it is that it’s helping to flush the extra water weight and gross toxins. I drink almost a gallon a day!
Drop all of the sugary drinks and replace them with water – you will be amazed what this tip alone will do. Women naturally carry extra water weight, but the more water you drink, the more water your body will flush out because it realizes that it doesn’t need to store water anymore because you are continuously hydrating yourself. I could go on and on about the benefits of water, but the way I think of it is that it’s helping to flush the extra water weight and gross toxins. I drink almost a gallon a day!
3.
STAY AWAY FROM PROCESSED FOODS
Go through your house and get rid of all unhealthy foods – anything that you can find that has been processed (if the ingredient list has 10 items that you can’t pronounce, then that’s a sign it should be trashed) put them in the trash can, give them away, donate them – whatever you have to do to get them out of sight. Then, go to the grocery store and buy all fresh veggies, lean meats like turkey and chicken, and healthy carbs like brown rice and sweet potatoes.
Go through your house and get rid of all unhealthy foods – anything that you can find that has been processed (if the ingredient list has 10 items that you can’t pronounce, then that’s a sign it should be trashed) put them in the trash can, give them away, donate them – whatever you have to do to get them out of sight. Then, go to the grocery store and buy all fresh veggies, lean meats like turkey and chicken, and healthy carbs like brown rice and sweet potatoes.
4.
EAT A CLEAN MEAL EVERY 3-4 HOURS
Eat a small, clean, healthy meal every 3-4 hours. This will reset your metabolism. When you’re only eating 3 meals a day your body goes into starvation mode and holds extra fat, but if you’re constantly fueling your body with healthy foods, it will help you stay in fat burning mode all day.
Eat a small, clean, healthy meal every 3-4 hours. This will reset your metabolism. When you’re only eating 3 meals a day your body goes into starvation mode and holds extra fat, but if you’re constantly fueling your body with healthy foods, it will help you stay in fat burning mode all day.
5.
WATCH YOUR PORTION SIZE
Be sure to watch your portion sizes – you don’t want to be eating giant meals every 3-4 hours. Make sure to calculate your needed caloric intake, then divide it by the amount of meals you plan on eating during the day. For example, based on my stats (I am a small woman) I know I need about 1400-1600 calories a day and I eat about 5 meals a day, so each meal has around 300 calories.
Be sure to watch your portion sizes – you don’t want to be eating giant meals every 3-4 hours. Make sure to calculate your needed caloric intake, then divide it by the amount of meals you plan on eating during the day. For example, based on my stats (I am a small woman) I know I need about 1400-1600 calories a day and I eat about 5 meals a day, so each meal has around 300 calories.
6.
LIFT.LIFT.LIFT
Diet will help you lose some weight, but if you truly want to reshape your body – you have to LIFT WEIGHTS! I always avoided weights when I was younger because I didn’t want to look like a masculine, huge bodybuilder, but that’s not the case at all! Lifting will completely reshape, tighten and lift our best assets. I lift weights about 4-5 times a week and I don’t spend hours in the gym – I go in, lift 1-2 muscle groups, and I’m out in about 45 minutes to an hour.
Diet will help you lose some weight, but if you truly want to reshape your body – you have to LIFT WEIGHTS! I always avoided weights when I was younger because I didn’t want to look like a masculine, huge bodybuilder, but that’s not the case at all! Lifting will completely reshape, tighten and lift our best assets. I lift weights about 4-5 times a week and I don’t spend hours in the gym – I go in, lift 1-2 muscle groups, and I’m out in about 45 minutes to an hour.
7.
CARDIO
If you really want to drop some extra body fat, get in a 30 minute cardio session after you lift. But don’t overdo it with cardio. I used to think that the only way to get fit was to run, but I think it’s pretty pointless to run over 30 minutes because you will burn all of your muscle that you have been working on building. Your body will respond better to a 20-30 minute HIIT (high intensity interval training). I like to get on the treadmill, run as long as I can to get my heart rate up, and then slow it down to a fast walk to drop my heart rate, and then speed it back up again, and so on. This is one of the best ways to burn fat!
If you really want to drop some extra body fat, get in a 30 minute cardio session after you lift. But don’t overdo it with cardio. I used to think that the only way to get fit was to run, but I think it’s pretty pointless to run over 30 minutes because you will burn all of your muscle that you have been working on building. Your body will respond better to a 20-30 minute HIIT (high intensity interval training). I like to get on the treadmill, run as long as I can to get my heart rate up, and then slow it down to a fast walk to drop my heart rate, and then speed it back up again, and so on. This is one of the best ways to burn fat!
The magical equation is eating clean+drinking water+lifting
weights+cardio=rocking bikini body. Remember, results won’t happen overnight,
that’s why it’s important to get started now if you truly want to change your
physique. You will be shocked at the changes you can make in 8-12 weeks!
Love,
Lauren
Lauren
Thanks for the tips and inspiration! Love reading your blog:)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Keli! :)
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