Getting into shape for bikini season doesn’t just require commitment; it requires knowledge. There are people who wake up every day and perform an endless routine of crunches and sit-ups, chasing that bikini body that always seems to elude them. Without knowledge, even the strongest commitment will wane when no results are forthcoming. It’s time to make your sure your natural excitement about working out is rewarded this summer. Here are just a few tips for getting into shape for bikini season.
Water Adds Natural Resistance
One of the best workouts out there is entirely dependent on the medium: water. Taking a brisk walk to get your blood pumping is great exercise for the beginner; doing this same workout with half of your body underwater increases the resistance and ratchets it up to an elite workout. The results of a dedicated water-walk or jog can be exceptional; you’re essentially weightlifting with every move as you fight the water’s subtle resistance.
Although walking underwater will help you shed fat to get that bikini body and significantly improves your cardiovascular health, many people think of it as a primarily rehabilitative exercise. It certainly helps athletes recuperate and the disabled strengthen their muscles, but make no mistake, it’s good for everyone. If you can locate a gym or swim center with underwater treadmills, all the better, but a simple swimming pool, lake or dip at the beach will do.
Combine High-Intensity Workouts to Burn Fat Vigorously
Since it’s now widely known that you can’t simply target the fat on your body and work out just those regions, find your favorite workouts and do several of them in a single routine. For example, if you like to work out your triceps with pull-downs, biceps with curls, and latissimus dorsi with lat-pull-downs, combine them. Do the triceps first, since it’s the biggest muscle group on your arms, then rest just a few seconds before moving on to the other two in succession. This counts as single set. Repeat 3-4 times and you’ll feel the burn that tells you you’re really working out. The point is, compound exercises are the straightest line to that bikini body.
Naturally Compound Exercises
An alternative to using several different exercises to sculpt and shape that bikini body is to choose naturally difficult workouts that recruit as many muscle fibers as possible. Because your legs work in tandem in almost everything they do, it should come as no surprise that squats and deadlifts dominate here. People tend to skip these workouts in the gym precisely because they’re so taxing, but it’s this taxing effort that will burn off the unwanted fat faster than anything else you do.
To perform squats and deadlifts correctly, start out with just your body weight to get a feel for the right form, then add weight incrementally. It’s often useful to ask a trainer at the gym to show you the proper form first time, or consult online videos and practice the form at home. These workouts will have you strutting around with a toned physique in no time at all. Man or woman, your body will be ready to hit the beach in no time.
