Senior Columnist

Summer is full of sunshine, beaches and relaxation. It is also full of bikinis and swim trunks. Some may be dreading summer, worried about showing off a body that’s neglected fitness during exam cramming, homework and part time jobs. Perhaps you want to transform your body, perhaps you want to just tone up. Either way, to quickly do so in time for summer, fast track your progress with some simple methods.

Track Your Progress
There is nothing more motivating than tracking your progress. Losing inches and fitting into smaller clothing sizes are enough to get me running victory laps as well as keep me motivated for the weeks to come. It should have a similar effect for you.

Fasted Cardio

While there is some controversy and debate over this, I’m a fan of fasted cardio. It may not be for everyone, but it’s something I’ve found to be highly effective. By working out first thing in the morning before eating anything, you’ll burn through fat storages on your body and be fast on your way to a fabulous summer bod.

Purge Your Fridge and Stop Going Out to Eat

Getting ready for summer requires a lot of sacrifice. One of those sacrifices is throwing out the junk food in your fridge and pantry. Take a field trip to a grocery store and stock up on healthy foods. This makes it easier on you when you’re hungry and rifling through the fridge. If you give yourself only healthy options to choose from, you won’t be able to select something bad for you. Another thing you must do is temporarily relinquish your desires to eat out and stick with eating at home. This will save you money and calories.

Water and Sugarless Tea Over Everything

Water and sugarless tea should be the only things you drink if you hope to cut down on inches. The health benefits of water are obvious. However, the reason why sugarless iced tea should fill your bottle is because this wonderful antioxidant will reduce bloat. If you’ve ever felt bloated, been bloated, seen others bloated, you’d understand that sugarless tea is the way to be… well, not bloated.

Hit Legs Hard

Focusing on your biggest muscle groups, glutes, hamstrings and quadriceps, will lead you to more calorie burning and a prized, higher metabolism. So, to all the bros who skip leg day, stop it. Believe it or not, compound leg exercises, such as squats and deadlifts, will also work out upper body muscles, including your core, too. All these lower-half exercises will tone up your butt and make it perkier in swimwear. Shapely legs look great in everything from flip-flops to sandals and chucks to heels (if you’re into that sort of thing).

High Intensity Interval Training

There are so many reasons why HIIT is the best thing since Gretchen Weiners’s dad invented toaster strudel. For one, it is a quick and effective workout. By doing some HIIT for only 15 minutes, you’re burning more calories than a treadmill jogger would. This type of workout usually includes bodyweight exercises as well. Increased metabolism, strength and endurance are a lovely trio to aid you on your journey to your desired summer body.

Give 110 Percent

Buckle down and get serious. I don’t believe in excuses, but I do believe in hard work and sweat. The beauty of this article is that it’s about achieving your ideal summer body, and not anyone else’s. That being said, understand that you have to devotedly and relentlessly work your current form to achieve your ultimate form, no matter how big or small your goals may be. Learning discipline will serve you well in every aspect of life. You may as well learn and apply discipline to your fitness goals.

If you really want to get your ideal summer body, you have about one month to get yourself into gear before the Fourth of July arrives. Summer may begin in June, but since you may have gotten a late start, use this month to focus on your fitness and health to prepare yourself for the following summer months. You’ll have July, August and even September to reap the fantastic benefits your ideal summer body can bestow. Above all else, enjoy the progress, the journey and your summer.