Spring is fast approaching and we all know what comes after that… summer! Those short lived months of glorious sunshine and holidays are the times to live it up, make the most of life and have a blast.
However, summer brings for some people a whole new world of worries. For those of us who have yet to shed those extra Christmas pounds put on over the winter from one too many Christmas dinners, the feeling to hide in the shade instead of basking in the sunshine is overwhelming. gym’s, slimming clubs, fad diets and exercise DVD’s make a small fortune during the New Year and Spring period out of these less fortunate people- myself included, who feel the need so shell out their hard earned cash to pay other people to tell them how to live their lives and push themselves to near starvation in the faint hope of gaining their perfect body they can show off by the poolside, or in their new summer clothes.
But what is the sense in wasting what amounts to a large sum of money on fad diets and slimming clubs such as Weight Watchers when you can do it by yourself for practically nothing and gain a larger sense of pride from knowing you achieved it on your own without anybody’s help?
The secret is just one simple golden rule; no carbs. This mixed with invigorating exercise and eating sensibly will do absolute wonders. I tried this myself and in three months I had lost three stone! Even those people cursed with naturally slow metabolisms will find this works marvels also. All that is required is regular cardiovascular exercise- whether it be running, cycling, swimming, rowing- even sex! a moderate to vigorous work out for an hour a day is all that is required, these are also a good way of toning up which is always a bonus!
But remember, however much exercise you do, it will be utterly futile without the aid of a healthy diet. Cutting out carbs is perfect for losing weight, as unburned carbs are what the body stores as our arch nemesis in the summer time- fat! Celebrities all over the world use this common yet extremely effective trick to lose weight quick after pregnancies ect.
what shall you keep yourself firmly away from then? well, the foods best avoided are bread, pasta, rice, cheese, potatoes and obviously the fatty foods and junk foods such as fast food, sweets and crisps. of course fizzy drinks should also be off the menu and unfortunately, this also means alcohol. I’m not for one second suggesting we all go tee-total now! but beer especially does contain a lot of carbs and cutting down, or even changing drink will be a massive bonus- just because you’re trying to slim down doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy yourself! for example, a vodka and diet coke contains roughly as little as calories.
well, what’s left to eat then? well, I hope you have a taste for vegetables because this is what is best to replace those chips! of course lean meats are fine to eat, chicken, lean beef ect. fruit will also be a major boost- your body needs carbs for energy, so to counteract the sluggish feeling you may start to experience as your body adjusts to the healthier low carb intake, fruit will be perfect to perk you up as it contains a small amount of carbs and of course are one of your 5-a-day! drinking healthier drinks will also of course be a significant boost- water, pure fruit juice (in moderation as these are high in sugar!) and things such as these- every little helps!
the main requirement above anything else though, is WILLPOWER! it is easier said than done and after a few weeks those craving for the McDonalds you’ve not tasted since forever will come back and the rumbling belly will start to take its toll! the best way to deal with this is to visualise how you imagine you will look once you’ve achieves your weight loss goal- buying a pair of jeans that you love and making sure they’re a size too small is also an amazing incentive to shed those pounds! compliments from friends and family will also go a million miles to giving your ego a little boost and helping you realise that you are starting to look buff and to stick to your targets.
of course it is always important to point out the importance of moderation, cutting out carbs and regular exercise is fine but not eating altogether is a major no no. your body will burn fat slower as it thinks it is being starved and will therefore conserve it’s fat reserve for slower use to sustain itself for longer. the importance of feeling full is key to this routine- if you still feel hungry after a meal you’re bound to snack on unhealthy things.
but it is always important to remember that as long as you are happy that is all that is all that matters. we all get insecure about our bodies from time to time especially in the summer when those tops start to come off. a great man one said “I will never change… but I can improve.”
good luck, and more importantly enjoy what little sunshine we get!
