Beach Bodies

Guest article written by Ken Hunt, Founder of Steel Gym

Photo from: www.sambagblog.com

Don’t look now but it’s almost swimsuit season. Are you ready to rock that speedo? Here are some tips to get you beach-ready.

First, take a good look at yourself in the mirror. Perhaps you are carrying around a few extra pounds from the winter doldrums. Like most of us, you probably have your own routine for losing weight. I have only two suggestions. Watch your diet, and sweat. Also be realistic about your weight-loss goals. Experts say you can safely lose two pounds a week. Realistically you can expect to lose one pound per week. In eight weeks you will be down eight pounds, which will make a huge difference in how you look in your swimsuit. (Or naked for that matter...)

Photos from: www.sambagblog.com

Here are some other tips to help you.

1. Mix it up. We all fall into the trap of doing the same thing over and over. Change your routine every four-to-six weeks. A little goes a long way.

2. Pressed for time? Try three 10-minute workouts spread throughout the day. It’s just as effective as a half-hour routine.

3. Let the sun shine in. Now that spring is in full bloom, why not complement your workout with a hike or brisk walk? You’ll alleviate boredom and get a head start on your tan.

Photo from: www.muscleinspiration.com

4. Good deeds. Sign up for a 5K Race for your favorite cause. The objective isn’t to win, but to set a goal and have the discipline to complete it.

5. Retail therapy. Buy a swimsuit you’d like to be wearing by the start of summer. Leave it out in your kitchen or bedroom so it’s always visible.

Photo from: www.sambagblog.com

6. Rise and shine. To boost your metabolism, exercise in the mornings. You’ll feel instantly energized, curb your appetite and burn more calories all day long.

7. And here are few extra special secret tips to try a few days before you "speedo up." These will help avoid bloating (caused by air or food in the digestive tract) and help you look buff, toned and totally hot.
— Avoiding carbonated beverages.
— Not using straws or chewing gum, which trap air.
— Eating slowly because gulping food traps air.
— Avoiding gas-producing foods such as beans and broccoli.
— Drinking water and eating juicy fruits to clean out your system.
— Skipping salty foods, which cause you to retain more water than the Hoover Dam.

Have fun and see you on the beach!

Ken Hunt is the owner of New York and Miami's Steel Gym, an AFI-certified trainer and a fitness expert. Ken’s expert advice has been featured in the New York Times, Compete, Horizon Barcelona, La Cosmopolatina, Men’s Fitness, DailyBurn, and SiriusXM and LA Talk Radio. He also travels around the country lecturing on physical fitness. He is currently finishing his new book, The Hunt for Fitness. He also hosts his own radio talk show, The Hunt for Fitness, on WWRL 1600 AM radio at 10 p.m. ET, every Friday.

Under Ken’s management, Steel Gym has been named two years in a row the No. 1 gym in New York by the American Fitness Institute; two years in a row awarded the New York Award for Physical Fitness Facilities; has been named one of the Top 5 gyms in the US by Muscle & Fitness Magazine; and has been given the Talk of the Town Award three years in a row for Outstanding Customer Service. Steel Gym is located at 146 W. 23rd St. in Manhattan. Call (212) 352-9876, e-mail info@SteelGym.com or log onto www.SteelGym.com for more information. Also, you can follow Steel Gym on Facebook.com/SteelGymNYC and Twitter.com/SteelGym.