The days are getting longer and spring is in the air.  Now is the perfect time to begin a fitness routine so that you can enjoy outdoor activities and look and feel your best.  There are so many recreational opportunities here in Southern California, why not take action now so that you can enjoy them to the fullest?
The spring weather can be the perfect motivator to lose your winter weight gain and improve your health.  Follow these simple diet and exercise tips and you’ll be in great shape for summer.
Eat four to five meals a day.  It’s better to have five or six small meals a day than to skip meals or eat only two or three larger ones.  Depending on how active you are, each meal should have 200 to 400 calories and contain protein, carbohydrates and very little fat.  By eating small amounts frequently, you will maintain your energy and stabilize your blood sugar levels.  Make healthy menu choices.  A healthy diet is one that emphasizes fruits and vegetables.  Grill, bake, or broil your foods rather than frying them in fat.  If you plan your meals around these healthy foods and leave out choices with empty calories, such as soda and chips, you’ll be better able to maintain a healthy weight.
Plan aerobic exercise.  Beginners should start with at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise, such as walking, jogging, biking, rollerblading, or dancing, three times a week.  As you build stamina, you can increase to 30 minutes and work up to 45 minutes.  By summer, strive to do aerobic exercise for 45 minutes at least five times a week.
Build muscle.  Start slowly and work with a trainer who can ensure you’re doing exercises correctly.  As you gain strength, you can increase the number of sets per session.  By 12 weeks, you could be doing several sets.  For efficiency, multiple muscle exercises are ideal, that’s where you combine two exercises into one, like a lunge curl or a squat with an overhead shoulder press.  That way you’re killing two birds with one stone and keeping the whole workout intense.  You can use bands, weights, kettlebells, dumbbells, or medicine balls — anything that creates resistance will improve your fitness.  You can lose weight by building muscle.
At A Private Fitness Studio, we will guide you one-on-one through a fitness program in our friendly, private studio.  Call Cal at 661-645-9988 or visit us at: www.APrivateFitnessStudio.com to learn more.