GET A SPRING BREAK BODY IN TWO WEEKS
We’re gonna get you in a two-piece!!
Any fitness advice or suggestions shared here are strictly for informational purposes. You should consult your doctor before committing to anything.
Let’s start with some basic math. A pound of body fat is 3500 calories. So, if you want to lose a pound, you need to reduce your caloric intake by 3500 calories. The easiest way to do this would be to divide that 3500 calories over the week, which means you need to eat 500 calories less each day.
But we’re working towards getting our Spring Break bodies, right? So 1lb alone won’t do it! Let’s increase that to 2lbs. This means we need to eat 1000 calories less each day. Still following?
Now you need to find out just how many calories you need to either maintain your weight, or to achieve fat loss. Use this online calorie calculator. If you need to lose weight, then a daily restriction of 1000 calories per day probably won’t be enough. This is where exercise (not starvation) comes in.
If you’re someone who’s not used to traditional exercise, I strongly suggest attending a class, such as kickboxing. An instructor led environment forces you to be participatory, and you won’t be as inclined to give up in a group activity. Plus it’s fun! 24 Hour Fitness claims their kickboxing class will help you lose anywhere from about 300-600 calories per session. So if you go to 4 classes a week, that’s up to 4800 calories lost in two weeks. Guess what? That’s at least another pound!
Now you need to focus on strength training.
This can be achieved three ways: weightlifting, calisthenics, or machines. Of the three, many fitness experts believe weightlifting and calisthenics are the best and most effective ways to build muscle and lose fat. Using machines can lead to improper form or injuries.
You will need to work out a different muscle group on the days you exercise in order to give your muscles a chance to rest. For instance, maybe Mondays are your leg days, Tuesdays arms, and so on. Telling you specific exercises won’t necessarily be useful because not everybody has access to the same equipment, or likes to do the same things.
I guarantee that if you can stick to this regimen for two weeks, you’ll not only look better, but you’ll feel better. Stick to it for four weeks, six weeks, or a lifetime, and there’s no question other people will notice it too. Good luck!
(Written for HelloBeautiful.com.)
MOVIE MONDAYS: FAT HEAD
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Today’s recommendation is Tom Naughton’s “Fat Head”. It begins as a harsh criticism of Morgan Spurlock’s “Super Size Me”, and goes on to support a more rational theory that fast food alone isn’t the culprit. Common sense prevails, and in the end the message is something we already knew. Lower your caloric intake, watch your carbohydrates, and even on a daily diet of McDonald’s, yes you too can lose weight.
Watch the Fat Head documentary online for free via Hulu!
3 COCKTAILS THAT WON’T SABOTAGE YOUR DIET
A big welcome to all of our new friends visiting us from HelloBeautiful.com!
Today’s article is about making the best decisions when drinking alcoholic beverages. Ideally, none of us should be drinking at all, but assuming you’re 21+ and enjoy having a drink or two, we all know that’s not always realistic!
For those of us who enjoy a good cocktail, it can be difficult to avoid alcohol in social situations. Many events are centered around drinking, so unless you have the willpower, it’s unrealistic to attend a party and expect to sip water and diet soda all night. Moderation is definitely the key, but below are a few smarter suggestions should you choose to imbibe:
Red Wine
Many of us have heard of the heart healthy benefits of red wine, but according to the National Cancer Institute the antioxidants in red wine may actually aid in cancer prevention! The NCI also notes that the over-consumption of alcohol can actually increase the risk of cancer, so this isn’t a license to guzzle a glass with every meal. The American Heart Association recommends no more than two glasses a day for men, and no more than one glass a day for women.
Skinnygirl Margaritas
Hats off to natural foods chef Bethenny Frankel (Bethenny Ever After) for branding a practical 100 calorie margarita recipe. The Skinnygirl™ Margarita can be made at home, or purchased in stores.
If you can’t locate a bottle in your area, here is the recipe straight from her website:
2 oz of Clear Premium Tequila (count 1, 2 while you pour, no need for measuring)
Tiny splash of Orange Liquor
Juice of 4 Fresh Lime Wedges
Vodka
The great thing about vodka is that it has no carbs. The bad thing about it, is it’s still alcohol, and there’s nothing beneficial about consuming the empty calories. But if you must have a drink or two while out, a classic martini is less than 200 calories. My personal favorite though is vodka with freshly squeezed limes, and for a mixer try the vodka with freshly squeezed limes and Sprite Zero or Diet 7Up.
To keep yourself from getting too inebriated, you should sip—not slam your drinks, and alternate each cocktail with a glass of water. Cheers!
