Feeling the pressure to attain the perfect bikini bod in less than a week? No need to start any crazy diets or set up a bed at the gym – there are other, healthy ways to kick start your metabolism and lose those last few pounds. Here are eight realistic steps you can take before spring break!
1. Drink eight to ten glasses of water throughout your day. Drinking water throughout the day is an easy way to keep your metabolism up and start your tummy-busting!
2. Your meals should be portion-controlled. We know the Bison’s pasta bar is delicious, but the portion sizes are often more than enough for two. Try to eat slowly and focus on chewing your food. By eating slowly, it’s easier to tell when you’re full so you don’t overeat. And don’t forget — the smaller your bites are, the easier it will be for your system to digest.
3. Eat five small meals a day. As the most important meal of the day, breakfast should be your largest meal, followed by four more meals evenly-spaced throughout the rest of your day. Basically, you should be eating when you’re hungry, and the small portions will make you hungry more frequently. Your last meal should be the smallest meal of the day and should be eaten at least three hours before bed – your body needs time to digest.
4. Your plate should be colorful – plain lettuce won’t cut it! Make sure your meal includes protein, iron, vitamin D, and fiber! Some great options are eggs, lean meats, yogurt, fruits and veggies, and milk. Studies have proven that cinnamon and hot peppers kick start your metabolism – with a slice of delicious cinnamon toast and some scrambled eggs with salsa, you’re on your way to a metabolism-boosting breakfast!
5. Getting yourself to the gym can be hard work — trust me, I know. But exercise is key to getting the body you want! Look at your schedule and find an hour of time every day to go to the gym. Try to block off your gym time at the beginning of each week – this way, it’ll be a prior obligation.
6. Experts say that the key to calorie burning is cardio – interval-style routines can make a difference. This means alternating between short bursts of high intensity effort followed by brief periods of active recovery. Interval-style routines can boost your metabolism for up to four hours after you work out. Remember to alternate between intense cardio workouts and lighter routines so that your body and muscles can recover.
7. Getting at least 7 hours of sleep per night has been scientifically proven to improve your health and well-being – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Try to hit the lights before midnight – you’ll thank yourself in the morning.
8. Don’t forget about the little things. Try standing while studying or walking to class instead of driving. It might seem silly, but these things can make a difference over time. It’s easy to be lazy – let’s face it, we all are sometimes. But who knows – maybe you’ll bump into a cute boy on your way to English.
After just a few days of commitment to healthy practices, you will start to notice a difference in how you feel. Stick to your routine for a few weeks, and you’ll notice some major results! Have an awesome spring break everybody!