The first days of spring means the sun is coming out and it's time to reveal those abdominal muscles, shoulders, and arms.
For some it's a good thing, and for others there is some room for improvement. We asked the experts at the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) to tell us the 5 most powerful ways to get in shape, and stay in shape, for the upcoming summer months.
If you haven't heard of the ISSA, they are the organization that literally teaches the nation's top personal trainers how to get their clients into shape. Below is what the Technical support staff of the trainers to the personal trainers told us on how to get ready for the coming summer months:
#1. Exercise every day
– Old research said you must exercise 30 minutes a day, but the latest experts suggest this just isn't enough. What do you need to get in the best shape of your life? 60 minutes of vigorous exercise, daily.
#2. Eat 5-7 small meals per day
– Yes, you heard that right! Small frequent meals throughout the day not only levels out your blood sugar, decreasing the lows you may experience throughout the day, but eating sensibly, and often, will provide your muscles and body with the appropriate nutrition you need to get you through your entire day.
#3. Reduce your calories by 300 per day (if over daily amount)
– There are 3500 calories in a pound of fat. So if you cut your calories by 300 per day, times 30 days in a month, that is a 9000 calorie deficit -- approximately 2 ½ half pounds. Combine this with exercise and you are virtually guaranteed to win the fight against the fat covering up your sexy abdominal section.
#4. Consult a personal trainer
– Let's face it; personal trainers know their stuff. They train, study, and devote themselves to being a better health and fitness expert everyday. They work out everyday, eat smart, and are right in the middle of several teams of experts. If you just booked one session to ensure you are on the right track, your body will thank you for it. Not to mention your significant other.
#5. Lift weights with little to no rest between sets
– Here's the fun part. The goal here is to increase your heart rate, get vigorous exercise, and above all else, stay moving! And lifting weights is one of the best ways to do it. Not only does properly lifting weights strengthen your musculoskeletal system and help keep your bones together, but a strength training program is key in developing a sexy, strong, physically attractive body. And by not resting in between sets, you will keep your heart rate up, telling your body to burn that bodyfat!
