Losing weight and toning up before the holidays arrive is a smart thing to do. It will help you to look good in your swimsuit on the beach and it will also help you to balance out the extra calories. But it is usually very difficult to do and one seldom knows what to do to get there. To help you out, here are 10 things you need to do to shape up for the holidays:
- Write down your reasons
Write down your top ten reasons for wanting to lose weight on an index card and keep it where you can see it – it will be great motivation for you.
- Take your measurements
Before you start with your fitness plan, access where you are standing currently. Take your weight and your measurements of your arms, your waist, around your tummy, your thighs and around your bum.
- Set goals
Goal setting is very important with weight loss and you should set some before you embark on your journey. Make sure that you make the goals smart – specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time bounded.
- Keep a food dairy
Write everything you ate and everything you planned to eat down in a food journal. It will help you to monitor your eating patterns and habits.
- Incorporate a cheat meal
For one meal of the week, include a cheat meal where you can eat what you want (as long as you have eaten correctly the other days)
- Evaluate eating habits and adjust
Have a look at your eating habits and adjust them where necessary. They should be low fat, healthy and balanced. The 1200 calorie diet might be the right amount of calories you need, check it out.
- Plan your exercise
Along with your food dairy, keep an exercise journal where you write your planned exercise versus your actual exercise. And remember that this has to include strength and cardio training.
- Reward yourself
Have positive rewards in place when you have achieved your goals.
- Keep track of progress
Keep track of how you are progressing with the help of your food and exercise dairy and make sure to take your measurements and weight monthly.
- Maintain your results
Once you have lost all that weight or when you have shaped up, work hard at maintaining that weight.
The above steps will help you to get the body of your dreams in time for the holidays. And that means that you will look great along the pool and that you don’t have to worry about eating too much as you are in such a terrific shape. And once the holidays are gone, just go back to your normal healthy eating habits.
