Get Bikini Ready with Summer Right Around the Corner

The time of year when everyone worries about getting a bikini body has finally come. The sun is up, stores are putting out their best swimsuits, and now the pressure is on. It’s amazing what you can change about your physique in just a few weeks, so don’t wait any longer! Get to the gym, and brush up on your floor exercises.

Diet

The first order of business is a change of diet. If you continue a bad diet, your hard work exercising will be for nothing. Ditch the soda! This is usually everyone's first step in losing weight, as soda contributes to obesity. Replace sugary sodas with plain old water. The recommended amount of water to drink is about 64 ounces a day. If you have a hard time remembering to drink this amount, try getting yourself a 64-ounce water bottle to carry around with you. This way, you'll have a constant reminder to drink up, and you won't find yourself gravitating towards soda during the day. The only downside is you'll be making more bathroom trips! Also, try to get back into the habit of eating fruits and vegetables daily. Cutting out bad habits, like picking up fast food on the way home, could do wonders for your body. 

Workout

Now, comes the hard part--establishing a workout routine that actually works. It takes about three weeks to develop a habit, so find a workout routine you like and stick to it. Keep in mind, that to burn more calories and keep your metabolism up, you have to challenge yourself. The best way to burn fat is to put your body through the wringer. Now is not the time to go easy on yourself. Because your workouts will be intense, you should allow yourself a day of rest in between your workout days. So, really, you'll only have to workout three or four days a week.

Warm up your body before a workout routine with a light jog on a cardio machine for about five minutes. You can even do the standard jumping jacks and definitely remember to always stretch to avoid pulling muscles. After this, decide on what plan works best for you (you can even create your own!). 

Squats may seem like they're only good for your legs and knees, but they actually help build muscle throughout your body. When done properly, squats can trigger the release of testosterone and human growth hormone, which are important for muscle growth. The intensity of proper squats also burns an incredible amount of fat! The more muscle you gain, the more fat you burn off. You'll also see results like a toned butt or abs, which will help you feel confident in your bikini. 

Squats

For proper squats, start with your head facing forward with your chest up and out. You want your feet to be shoulder-width apart or farther if that's what you're comfortable with. To maintain balance, have your arms straight out in front of you. When you begin to squat, pretend you're sitting down on an imaginary chair. You want to keep your thighs parallel to the floor and your knees over your ankles. Keep everything tight, and push yourself back up into the position you started in. Now, you've done a proper squat!

Pushups are pretty common in any workout routine. Their purpose is to tone your chest muscles and help your upper body strength. Pushups surprisingly burn a lot of calories if done right. However, they are often done incorrectly. This is a common mistake when it comes to pushups. Proper pushups are hard, so if you feel like they're too easy and you're not breaking a sweat, you're probably doing them incorrectly. 

To start a proper pushup, start on the ground and set your hands a little over shoulder-width apart. You'll want your feet about shoulder-width apart, as well. Having them closer together won't give you the stability you need. Keep your body aligned; you don't want your bottom sticking up in the air! With your chin up, start your pushups. Start with your arms straight, then lower yourself until your elbows hit a 90-degree angle. Stay steady, repeat, and now you're doing a proper pushup!

Workout Machines

Add weight machines to your routine at the gym. In addition to hitting up the cardio machines, weight machines should get you on the right track. Working out on a leg press could do wonders in your preparation for a bikini body. It's suggested to start off lifting around 30 to 50 pounds.

Working out your abs is key when working towards a bikini body. You often see spreads in magazines that are short-minute workouts for better abs, and those are great to follow! For abs, start off with crunches, then get creative. There are many floor exercises for abs, such as bicycle crunches, knee touches, and leg lifts. If you'd rather work out your abdominals on something else, go for equipment that targets them. Your options range from an ab crunch machine to exercise balls. Just choose what feels best for you.

Set a schedule! You don't have to do all of your workouts on the same day. Set one day for your arms, one day for your legs, etc. Mapping out the entire length of your bikini body journey is a great way to stay on track. It will also help you not be so lost in what you're doing. Repetitiveness is key, even though it might get boring, it keeps you on track in developing a steady workout routine.

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