Is there a little black dress in the back of your closet? You may not yet have it, but you see it every time you go shopping. You know the dress that I’m talking about, the one that you want for a holiday party or a night out with friends. You tell yourself that you’ll wear it after you have a place to go and, truth be told, maybe after losing some weight.
If this is you, I have five tips that will help tone up and transform your body in just 42 days.
Strength Training
Muscle burns fat and strength training will help you get a toned body to complement your favorite little black dress. Many women avoid strength training because they don’t want to “bulk up.” The reality is women don’t have the hormones to become muscle-bound like men. Strength training is the best exercise to tone up, burn more calories and boost your metabolism in the long term.
Cardio Interval Workouts
You don’t have to slave away on a treadmill for hours to drop a dress size. Not only does this cause unnecessary wear and tear, it’s not the smartest method for burning the most calories. When trying to lose a few pounds and get lean in the process, cardio interval workouts generate the highest caloric burn in the least amount of time.
Food and Calories
Exercise is fantastic, but you aren’t going to slide into your dress without incorporating good nutrition. Find out how many calories you need to maintain the weight that you’re at, and then plan to cut 300-500 calories daily. Any more than that and you are looking at burning out and setting yourself up to binge, which will only take you further from a goal. Here’s another thing: not all calories are created equal. A 100-calorie handful of chips is not the same as a 100-calorie piece of fruit.
Keep a Food Diary
Write down what you eat before you put it into your mouth. By the time you write "two chocolate chip cookies" into your food diary, you might be over it and make a better choice. Food decisions will override even the best workout regime. Remember, you can’t outrun a fork.
Do Intense Mini-Workouts
No matter how busy you always can make time to squeeze in a mini-workout. When you are trying to drop a few pounds, keep this motto in mind: something is always better than nothing. Eight to 12 minutes is all you need for a surprisingly serious metabolic boost. Plus, you’ll burn off an easy 100-200 calories.
Sean Lee has been in the health and fitness industry for 20 years as a speaker, best-selling author, and founder of Restoration Fitness (Lake Zurich). Visit RestorationFitness.com or call 847.847.1837 to schedule a complimentary consultation.