Getting Yourself In Shape For Summer On a Budget
With summer just around the corner, it is time to tune up your body and wardrobe so that you will look absolutely stunning as you relax on the beach or by the pool. Those with a gym membership will already have a head start, provided that they are actually going regularly. If you haven't joined, it probably means that you would be wasting your money to rush and join one now. All is not lost as there are other strategies to help you.
If you work in an office block, start to use the stairs instead of the lift but don't attempt to climb to the top straight away. Use the stairs to go down, then take the lift to the floor below and walk the rest. When you feel comfortable walking one floor, stop two floors early and so on, remembering to get to your office in good time to do this. Don't sabotage yourself by arriving too late to use the stairs.
That has given the legs a work out, now for the arms. As you leave the supermarket, try to get an even amount of weight of shopping in each hand. As you walk lift your arms slowly until they are straight in front of you, hold for a few seconds and slowly drop back. Then you repeat the exercise with your arms now out from your sides. Do this as many times as you can before you reach your car or whilst waiting for the bus or taxi. The odd looks you receive will be far outweighed by the flattering comments you will get in your bikini.
One of the areas often overlooked is the face. Sure you apply moisturiser and make up but you need to do more. Start doing a few facial exercises, isometric are best, as these will increase the muscle tone and give your face a better definition. This is not just for the older faces, young faces will benefit as well because a few well chosen facial exercises done now will keep your good looks for longer.
The sun is there all through the day, even when there are clouds in the sky and it is affecting your skin, drying, tanning and ageing. So when summer comes it is accelerating that process and you need to take care. If you are lying in the sun wear sun blocker on your face and neck and even on the back of your hands. These areas take sun all the time so you need to protect them. You can take the sun in the first and last hour of your tanning time, just to even up your tan. Sun is good for you, but it can also cause skin cancer so you have to be sensible in your tanning regime.
From the head to the toes, as soon you will be wearing a lot of open shoes and sandals, it is time to give yourself a pedicure. If your money will stretch that far, why not treat yourself to a professional one. If you want to save money you can always do it yourself. Why not make a night of it and pamper your toes as you watch your favourite TV show.
Dieting is not something that should be rushed into, especially those crash diets as you will be robbing your body of the vital minerals and vitamins that it will need to help recover from the sun. In fact if you eat foods rich in beta carotene, three to four weeks before you go on holiday, it will positively assist the tanning process. he foods to look out for are: cantaloupe melons, romaine lettuce, fresh thyme, broccoli, sweet potatoes and, of course, carrots. Increasing your intake of vitamin C will also help, but it is better to eat fruit rather than taking supplements as it contains beneficial soluble and non-soluble fibre. Using fruit as snacks means that you can remove sweets, crisps and other junk food from your diet and drinking water instead of sugary colas and other sodas will also help you to loose weight.
If you still need convincing, perhaps try on your swimsuit from last year and look in the mirror. Whilst you are looking, check out the summer clothes. Keep the classics but ditch those that were only a passing phase. Do a little retail therapy and get some new threads, remembering what will mix and match from last year. It is amazing what can be revived. Throw in a couple of pairs of shoes and maybe top it off with a rakish hat and you are ready to take on the world.
