If you are like me, you hibernate in the winter by watching a combination of DVRed shows and Netflix every night (Scandal and Friends, anyone?) while allowing comfort food to slip back into your diet.
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| Awkward Fitting Room Selfie |
Although it does not feel like a drastic slip of the healthy lifestyle, each day of inactivity and bad food eventually adds up. By the time Spring rolls around, you realize (as you awkwardly try on swim suits in oddly lit fitting rooms) that you are not as tight and ready for summer as you would like to be.
Last year, I found success with the following plan and I am employing it again to get ready for Florida! If you are looking for that last slim down before the beach, feel free to try it out. Basically, it is: cut out soda and fried food; eat and drink less than 50g of carbs per day; work out an hour every other day. See how these tactics are rolled out below.
Build A Plan
The first step to living a healthier lifestyle is to have a path to get there. Do research, gather resources and create a timeline. Here are some examples of plan pieces.
Research:
- Search pins on Pinterest to find fitness routines and recipes. My favorite fitness pins on my Get Fit board are the YouTube videos for arms, legs and HIIT workouts.
- Know how many calories you take in each day and how many you need to burn to reach your goal in two months. MyFitnessPal can show you how to whittle away the pounds each week.
- Find out how you maintain a routine the best. Some people are more successful if they take fitness classes, other if they pay for a monthly gym membership. I have fun and keep a routine by watching Friends on my stationary bike, walking my dogs and watching short, effective YouTube videos.
Resources:
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| Steps in FitBit |
- Make sure you have a way to track your work. I recently received a FitBit and it allowed me to see my daily "normal" activity. That encouraged me to get more active at night by walking my dogs at least three times a week. Additionally, Daily Carb helps me evaluate meal choices by carbohydrates and track my intake throughout the day.
- Know your budget. After winning an award for work, I chose a stationary bike to make fitness more accessible. I do not like paying gym fees and spending extra time away from home at night, so that bike allows me to be home when I maintain my fitness habits.
- Use tangible and visual measures. I have a bundle of clothes hanging that I am hoping to fit back into. I use photos to track muscle definition and love handle reduction.
Timeline:
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| Reward Shirt |
- Set small goals that lead up to your ultimate goal. Each day, I aim for 50g or less of carbs. Each week I want to work out at least every other day, and on alternative days I want to walk my dogs.
- Create a benchmark. Take a "before" photo so you can later see how far you came in just two short months! I just found a cute new swimsuit from Target, so I took a photo at the beginning of my two-month plan. Right before my trip, I plan on taking another one to see how far I came! It feels incredible to actually see your progress.
- Reward yourself...but not with cheat food. This was the toughest habit to keep. Now, I enjoy rewarding myself with new workout clothes or new clothes in general.
I look forward to sharing my progress throughout the next two months and before my Florida trip! Stay tuned and feel free to share any steps that help you get the final push before hitting the beach.
