[BlogsOnDemand] 5 Tips To Get in Summer Shape

Published by Streetz in Health and Fitness on February 19th, 2009 | 20 Comments »

What’s good,

I posted a question on my facebook page to my friends asking if they had ideas about what next I should blog about. After seeing my dude Rich Brand posting similar questions to his readers, I thought this would be hot to do here! I’m always up for a challenge to write about different topics, answer general questions from a guy’s perspective, or write creative pieces based on your ideas. So every week I will do a “Blogs on Demand” series where I’ll pick one topic sent to me and write about it. So please send all ideas, questions, and topics to blogsondemand@streetztalk.net. My first B.O.D. is below. Enjoy!

Streetz

Ever since I got serious about physical fitness, I’ve blogged about getting in better shape. I’m far from chiseled, but from my research and application of various fitness tips I’m now in the best shape (and healthiest shape) of my life. I usually write these blogs at the beginning of summer, but with the BOD request, it makes more sense to preemptively prepare our bodies for the beginning of summer 09! There’s about 3 months left before memorial day (the official start of summer), and following these 5 guidelines will put you on your way to kill em at the beach this year.

1) Goal Setting: Without proper mental focus, you will make excuses, break routine, and fall off the path. Set goals and read them daily. Post them near your bed, on your desk, or in your phones. Constanly remind yourself of how you look now, how you want to look in 3 months, and what it takes to accomplish this goal. I personally feel dissapointed when I miss a gym day because I ingrained workouts into my daily routine and I feel incomplete if I don’t follow my routine. “We are what we do repeatedly, therefore excellence is not an act, it is a habit” – Aristotle. Make physical fitness a habit and emotionally and mentally invest in your body’s future.

2) Eat Right: If you don’t follow a proper nutrition plan, your workout becomes pointless. Your diet contributes 50%-75% towards your bodies composition. Eating the right foods, drinking lots of water, cutting back on liquor, fried foods, and sweets, will provide the foundation to build the best summer body. “Without struggle there is no progress” – Fredrick Douglass. Make the sacrifices now so your Return on Investment produces the dividends of summer wins

3) Cardio: Aerobic exercise aids in burning fat and developing better cardiovascular health. You don’t want to O.D., as it can lead to injury (especially for those not accustomed to running). However, cardio exercise at least 3 times a week will help boost your metabolism, which acts like your natural furnace for burning fat. I personally saw great results when I do AM Fasted Cardio (Running early in the morning on an empty stomach) you burn fat at a crazy rate and it burns throughout the day (this is an advanced technique so don’t do this if you never run). 30 minutes a day, whether sprints or jogging, is a great beginning and for many in early stages, just right to see great results.

4) Weight Training: Men and Women need this in their life. Weight training actually helps to build muscle which burns fat 3x as much as cardio! This improves overall strength and conditioning, and boosts your metabolism, giving you the best type of workout. Ladies, lifting weights won’t make you a body builder. You need years of lifting to build that type of muscle (or steroids). For ladies, I’d suggest full body weight training 3x a week (men too if you’re a beginner). Developing your muscles along with cardio and a great nutrition plan will help you see results the quickest way possible. “Do your thing, don’t be scurred!” – Mystikal

5) Motivation: You know why you want to get right for the summer. Maybe you want to lose that last 15. Maybe you want to comfortably take off your shirt and walk the beach without people scrunching their faces as if they drank spoiled milk. Whatever your motivation, you must remember these reasons at all times to reach your goal. Surround yourself with like-minded people who wants to reach goals successfully. “He aint heavy, he is my brother!” – unknown. When you can’t get that last rep and want to quit, it always helps to have someone there to push you and make sure you settle for nothing less than success. Combine points 1-4 and use these to motivate you to reach your goals looking and feeling good. 3 months will go by in the blink of an eye. Leave the excuses at the door, get focused, and get in shape!

BONUS: I research a lot when it comes to fitness. Different perspectives offer a greater range of resources to accomplish our dreams. Some of the resources I use include Men’s Health (online and the magazine) and The Book Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle by Tom Venuto. Ladies, there is a WomensHealth as well. I can attest that Tom Venuto’s methods are real, straightforward, and work if you apply yourself. Men’s Health is a great tool for overall health, fitness, style, and money tips for men.