This is not a "how to get the perfect beach bod" article. My goal is not to promote crash diets or intensive quick-fix workout regimens.
At this point, with a little over a week until break, it really is impossible to get that bikini bod you promised yourself last year.
Crash dieting will produce results, but those diets are impossible to maintain and leave us so hungry that we end up heavier than before starting the diet.
However, there are small changes that could make you feel less comparable to the Pillsbury Dough Boy without putting your health in jeopardy.
Say no to soda.
Put down the Coca-Cola and drink some water instead. If water isnt your forte, try green tea. It is zero calories and a good metabolism booster. All tea without sweeteners is good for the body.
For the diet soda advocates out there,this video from SourceFed might change your minds. Diet soda slows the metabolism and tricks the body in gross ways.
Next tip: put down the alcohol.
Here's the problem with all alcoholic beverages, and the reason I recommend refraining from alcohol consumption on the diet. Alcohol, whenever taken in, is the first fuel to burn. While that's going on, your body will not burn fat, said Robert C. Atkins, diet guru, in anarticle about how alcohol hinders fat loss.
Though I am not encouraging crash diets, I will say there are plenty of foods to cut out while in pursuit of a leaner figure. Cutting these out for the rest of your life would be optimal, but that probably is not realistic.
Foods to avoid: pizza, cookies, cake, chocolate, fried foods, etc.
Avoid grains. The body does not need bread. Eat vegetables instead. Vegetables do not digest as quickly, therefore you will feel full longer with less.
Try sweet potatoes. They are full of nutrients and can be prepared inunlimited ways. No, the sweet potato fries from Burger 37 are not healthy.
If you find yourself wanting a burger, it wouldnt hurt to ask if the restaurant has a lettuce wrap option. This way, you get the experience of the burger without the calorie-filled sponge of regret traveling through your intestines.
Surprise adults do not need dairy. Once we stop being babies, milk becomes an unnecessary fattening agent. Milks purpose is for growth. If you are in college, you are probably way past puberty and have likely ceased growing.
It pains my soul to write an article about quick fixes. If your doctor says youre healthy, stay that way.
If you are a broke college student and prefer to steer clear of doctors, check in with yourself and honestly determine if you feel good as you are.
"Dont starve. Dont vomit. Dont spend three hours at the gym every day. Its not worth it. Obsession only leads to misery."
Dont starve. Dont vomit. Dont spend three hours at the gym every day. Its not worth it. Obsession only leads to misery.
However, still work out. Exercise is great for more than just weight loss. The endorphins released during a workout are mood-lifting and confidence-boosting.
I know that no matter how sour my day, week or month was, an hour of Zumba or high intensity interval training is sure to give me a healthy dose of happiness.
Also, yoga is great for toning. I break a sweat every time I take a yoga class. Maybe that is just because I am an aggressively sweaty person by nature, but it is also seriously great for working the core and thighs.
Even though it may be too late to safely make any significant weight alterations, exercising for at least 20 minutes three times a week can greatly improve your mental state.
Do not spend spring break resenting poor choices and obsessing over how you look. We do enough of that while at school.
In the end, it comes down to what makes us feel confident and comfortable in our skin.
Confidence is the most attractive accessory, after all. Feeling strong and fit could be the lifestyle addition you need to exude confidence and truly enjoy spring break.
If you dont feel flattering in a swimsuit, then find theflowiestmaxi dress you care to buy and stretch out by the ocean while looking like a goddess.
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Healthy Hokies: How not to hate yourself over spring break - Virginia Tech Collegiate Times
