It抯 Not Too Late to Get Your Summer Body

     Think back to a time when it was snowing and family and friends are gathered around the table. There are cookies, cakes, pies, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, ham, and turkey to feast on. You are so excited because these are some of your favorite comfort foods. Now the weather is changing and the sun is shining. It is bikini season and you want that toned, leaned body. But wait卛sn抰 it too late? No! It is never too late to get the body you have always wanted. Just a little diet, exercise, and supplement intake should do the trick.

There are three easy steps you can do to change your diet.

Step 1 is to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. To lose weight, you must burn more calories than you eat. Fruits and vegetables are a great source of vitamins and minerals the body needs along with being low in calories. Fruits are loaded with Vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants. Green vegetable are packed with Vitamins A and C. There are many ways to eat fruits and vegetables. They can be eaten raw, cooked, or dried. There is a variety of fruits and vegetables out there to try.

Step 2 is watch portion sizes. In today抯 world, portions are getting bigger and bigger. Most restaurants are giving you upwards of four servings in your meal. It is okay to not eat the whole thing. Take the rest home and finish it later. Some quick ways to determine portion sizes are: four dice is about one once of cheese; a serving of cereal is about the size of a tennis ball; the size of a small bar of soap is three to four ounce serving of chicken, fish, or other meat; and a computer mouse is equal to the size of a medium potato.

Step 3 is one of the biggest things you could do: do not skip meals. Many people have the common
misconception that if you skip meals, you are cutting calories. While this may be true, you are also cutting out important vitamins and minerals. Authorities recommend that people spread their calories out over 5-6 small meals a day. This helps to keep your caloric intake balanced and you full longer.

Weight training and cardio exercise is essential to any weight loss plan. It has been recommended that you exercise at least 20-30 minutes a day, 6 days a week. Do not be afraid of adding a weight training regimen to your exercise routine. The best way to burn a lot of calories is to build long, lean muscles. A lot of women are afraid of using weights in their exercise routine because they do not want to build large bulky muscles. This is a myth. Women can抰 build large bulky muscles because they do not have high levels of testosterone in their body. Women, however, can create lean muscle. This lean muscle will burn more calories than just cardio exercise alone. To stay interested in your workout, try adding variety. Many gyms offer free classes to their members. They range from cardio to weight lifting classes. If you do not feel comfortable in the main area of the gym doing your weight training, many gyms offer a women抯 only section that has all of the same machines and free weights available.

Along with a proper diet and exercise, taking a whey protein supplement will enhance the weight loss process. Whey protein has less carbohydrates and fat, and is 90% pure protein, which will help to build muscle to burn calories. While your body is resting, the whey protein will help build the long, lean muscles to give you that body it is not too late to get.

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