7 Healthy Tips to Get a Beach Body for Summer (and Beyond)

Even though summer has officially begun, it’s never too late to start working on your beach body. After all, rather than shedding some fat just for the summer months, your goal should be to modify your lifestyle and habits so that you can retain your healthy physique all year long.

Here are seven healthy tips that will help you become fitter and more toned for the beach and beyond.

Eat More Protein

A great first step to start improving your fitness levels and shedding extra pounds is to incorporate protein into every daily meal. Protein keeps you full for longer, so you won’t be eating as much as you usually do. It is also the building block of muscle, so you’ll see muscle growth as well, provided that you do some form of weight training.

Think Before You Eat

Cutting out foods you consider unhealthy may help you lose fat in the short term, but it will leave you unsatisfied and grumpy in the long run. You won’t be able to stick to your healthy habits if you constantly feel you are missing out on something you enjoy.

Instead of looking at foods as good or bad, consider your overall caloric needs. First, calculate how much you should be eating to achieve your goals. Don’t go into more than a 500-calorie deficit per day. Then fill your day with the right amount of calories. You can be in less of a deficit on certain days, especially on workout days, and treat yourself to a meal that’s higher in calories that will feed your soul.

Try a Supplement

Supplements are a great way to enhance your diet and exercise routine. You can use them to get more protein every day, to boost your performance in the gym, or to help you burn fat faster.

For example, a natural thermogenic fat burner will boost your metabolism and help you lose unwanted fat faster. However, it won’t work in isolation. You’ll need to pair it with movement and a nutrient-rich diet.

Find a Workout You Enjoy

Working out and getting fit is not supposed to be about punishing yourself or doing something you thoroughly don’t enjoy for 45 minutes a day. It should be about having fun, helping your body stay healthy, and looking forward to the next exercise.

You don’t have to join a gym, and you don’t have to go running if you don’t like it. You can do simple 20-minute exercises at home every day. You can do 30-minute full-body exercises when you have more time or find a yoga, pilates, or Zumba class you love.

Increase Your Steps

Walking is a highly underrated way to lose fat. It’s a low-impact form of cardio that’s easy on your joints and that you can do anytime, anywhere. It won’t even feel like a workout most of the time.

Make it a goal to walk more steps. Walk while talking on the phone, take a walk in the mornings or evenings, and ask your friends to join you for a walking cup of coffee. If you want to make it feel more like exercise, increase your speed or take a couple of light weights or water bottles with you.

Improve Your Sleep

The quality of your sleep directly impacts how much weight you’re able to lose and how much muscle you’re able to build. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body can’t perform the processes required for building muscle, nor can it recover from your exercise routine.

A lack of sleep will slow your progress down, and it can also make you feel more tired and less energetic overall. Prioritize getting 7-9 hours of sleep consistently. Don’t look at screens before bedtime, create a soothing bedtime routine, and don’t sleep in on the weekends.

Reduce Your Stress Levels

Cortisol, the stress hormone, is one of the biggest enemies of weight loss. It slows down your metabolism, impacts your sleep, makes you eat more unhealthy foods, and makes you think you have no time for exercise.

Sure, it’s a difficult goal to achieve, but try to reduce your stress levels as much as you can. Try meditating, journaling, or engaging in any activity you find de-stressing on a daily basis. Manage your thoughts and emotions, and try not to overthink your weight loss. It will slow the process down.

Wrapping Up

Getting your body ready for summer does not have to involve changing all of your habits overnight. It can be a slow, steady process that makes you feel healthier, happier, and more confident in your body. After all, you don’t want your body to look its best for a couple of months only. Establish sustainable routines you will enjoy throughout the year, and you will be beach-ready in the middle of winter.