A beach body in 5 steps with Virgin Active
- By Jack Preston -
- May 10, 2012
Holiday season is almost here for many, meaning it’s time to get in shape for the beach and squeeze into those speedos or two-piece. However, the seemingly prolonged winter months may have not had the best impact on your figure, with more excuse than ever before to give exercise a miss and stay in on the sofa.
Never ones to shirk a get fit challenge, Virgin Active have come up with some quick and easy pointers that should enable you to get the body you want:
1. Eat your five a day
The lettuce in your burger sadly doesn’t count, so make a concerted effort to eat as much fresh fruit and vegetables as possible. Giving fizzy drinks a miss and taking on plenty of water will also do you the world of good, although don’t feel like you can’t spend any time in the pub!
2. Do some (proper) exercise
Walking to work instead of getting the bus is a great start, although nothing beats a work out at the gym. If you’re not familiar with the workings of a gym then don’t fear, Clubs have plenty of helpful fitness coaches and members of staff to point you in the right direction. With their help you can build a manageable set of targets and a sensible routine to follow in order to get you there.
3. Adapt your gym routine
If you’re already a regular gym user then perhaps it’s time to change your habits, test your body with some new challenges and see how it reacts. If you’re a weights user, drop them (not literally) for sessions on TRX®. If you’re cardio mad, go for some resistance training instead. Up your intensity when you train. It’s much more beneficial to go hard for a short period than go gently for 2 hours.
4. Indulge in full-body exercises
Full-body exercises are the future. Swimming can be a great way to start as the benefits are almost endless, not only will it help you carve out a figure fit for Baywatch, it’ll get you used to publicly wandering around in your swimwear.
5. Parade yourself
After all the hard work you’ve put in it would be wrong not to show yourself off! Maybe your jeans are a little looser than before? Time to go shopping for a new pair and while you’re at it stick a photo of the old you on the fridge to remind you how far you’ve come.
To find out more about how to get in shape for the beach visit Virgin Active.
By Jack Preston. Content Executive. Tweets at @JackPressedOn
