Get that summer body By Philip fusco
Plus tips at the bottom to assist with this
Don't worry — there's still time to get a beach-ready body. We have just the plan: a high-energy cardio and sculpting routine that's guaranteed to boost your metabolism, melt fat, and blast calories. Best of all, you can do it in as few as 30 minutes a day. "By performing total-body strength moves along with high-intensity interval workouts, you'll be able to reshape your body in a relatively short period of time," says trainer Joe Dowdell, owner of Peak Performance Strength and Conditioning Center in New York City. Do the strength moves in the order given, alternating muscle groups so you won't need to rest for more than 60 seconds between each exercise. Do 10 to 12 reps and two or three sets of each move. Add in the cardio interval workouts on alternate days and follow a healthy diet, and you'll be ready to show off your skimpiest bikini in just three weeks! Your Fat-Loss Schedule Maximize your results by following our detailed three-week cardio/sculpting plan. On the weekends, take one rest day or do a moderate-paced exercise of your choice (we've given a few examples) to up your weekly calorie burn. Week 1: Day Workout Monday Strength Workout Tuesday Cardio Intervals Wednesday Strength Workout Thursday Cardio Intervals Friday Strength Workout Saturday Cardio Intervals Sunday Ride Bike 1 Hour or Rest Week 2: Day Workout Monday Strength Workout Tuesday Cardio Intervals Wednesday Strength Workout Thursday Cardio Intervals Friday Strength Workout Saturday Cardio Intervals Sunday Run/Walk 1 Hour or Rest Week 3: Day Workout Monday Strength Workout Tuesday Cardio Intervals Wednesday Strength Workout Thursday Cardio Intervals Friday Strength Workout Saturday Cardio Intervals Sunday In-Line Skate for 1 Hour or Rest 1. Bulgarian Split Squat with Stability Ball Fitness Focus: Quadriceps, Hamstrings, Glutes • Stand one stride's distance facing away from a stability ball • Place top of right foot and shin on the ball. Bend your left knee 90 degrees in 2 counts (keep knee aligned over ankle), then straighten left leg in 2 counts. • For an added challenge, hold a 4- to 10-pound medicine ball or dumbbells. • To modify, place the ball against a wall for support. 2. 1 and 1/4 Push-Up Fitness Focus: Chest, Triceps, Shoulders • Get into a full push-up position, forming a straight line from head to heels. • Bend elbows 90 degrees, lowering body toward the floor in 3 counts; push one-quarter of the way back up from the floor, then lower chest back down without touching. • Push all the way back up to starting position in a count of 3. • To modify, place knees on the floor. 3. Back Extension on Stability Ball Fitness Focus: Lower Back • Lie facedown over a stability ball, hips resting on ball and feet on floor. • Bend elbows, placing hands on either side of your head. • Lift chest off the ball, keeping lower body stationary (be careful not to strain your back); lower to starting position. • To modify, place feet against a wall. 4. 1 and 1/4 Medicine-Ball Pullover Fitness Focus: Back, Triceps, Abs • Lie faceup on a bench with feet on floor, holding a 4- to 10-pound medicine ball with arms extended over chest. • Lower ball toward head in three counts until arms are parallel to floor. • Return ball toward chest, stopping one-quarter of the way up. • Lower ball until arms are again parallel with the floor; return all the way back to starting position in 3 counts. 5. Prone Torso Twist on Stability Ball Fitness Focus: Abs, Obliques, Lower Back • Start in a full push-up position with palms on floor aligned under shoulders, feet on a stability ball. • Lower feet until they're grasping the sides of the ball. • Keeping upper body stationary, rotate your legs and hips to the left in 2 counts; return to center and rotate to the right in 2 counts. • To modify, place your knees on either side of the ball. 6a. Standing Dumbbell Curl Fitness Focus: Biceps, Shoulders • Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. • Hold a 3- to 10-pound dumbbell in each hand, arms straight at sides with palms facing forward, and curl dumbbells to shoulders (not shown). • Fan elbows out to sides and turn palms to face forward so elbows are bent 90 degrees.
6b. Military Press Fitness Focus: Biceps, Shoulders • Push dumbbells overhead until arms are nearly straight; rotate palms to face in. • Return weights to shoulder level, elbows out to sides, then lower to starting position.
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Alternating Calf Raise Fitness Focus: Calves • Stand on a step with heels off the edge, holding on to a wall or bench for balance. • Press up onto balls of feet. Lower right heel toward ground; hold for 1 count. • Switch feet and repeat, lowering left heel toward ground, and hold for 1 count. • Repeat, switching legs with each rep. • For a challenge, raise one foot off the step and balance on one leg; to increase intensity, hold a 4- to 10-pound medicine ball or dumbbells in front of you.
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Alternating-Leg Hip Bridge Fitness Focus: Hamstrings, Glutes, Abs • Lie on your back with knees bent, feet flat on floor, hands on floor beside hips. • Squeeze your glutes and lift hips up in 2 counts until shoulders, knees and hips form a straight line. • Keeping hips lifted, straighten left leg, then lower hips in 1 count. • Return left heel to floor and lift hips again in 2 counts. • Repeat, extending right leg and lowering hips to floor. Switch legs with each rep.
Other recommendations from phil are:
Self Tanning-starting your bronze look early can boost your confidence level just enough to get your mind set in the summer mode. This can also motivate you to hit the gym to sculpt your body just a little more
Using SPF in the real sun- we don’t want to end the year with a surprise phone call from the dermatologist saying skin cancer needs to be removed
Download an app and keep you caloroies undercontrol (the app should count calories)- From my personal experience, using an app to count calories will keep you where you need to be a lot easier than using your head as a calculator
Fruit-especially Melons to keep your skin bright and body hydrated