Prepping for Your Summer Shred

prepping for your summer shred

It’s almost here, the moment we’ve all been waiting for…it’s almost time for Summer! No matter what your age, gender or fitness Goal might be, this is a time of year where everyone can band together and work towards a common Goal; getting lean, getting shredded, getting ripped…whatever you want to call it, it’s time to get in shape!

Not so fast though, don’t Go jump on the treadmill just yet. The journey towards your beach body starts well before you ever step foot in the gym. Let’s start by setting some Goals and getting motivated. How much weight do you plan to lose, what is your target body fat %, why is slimming down for Summer important to you? Write down the answers to these questions and keep in a place where you’ll see them regularly (refrigerator, car, bathroom, etc…). They’ll not only serve to remind you of your Goals, but they’ll also serve to keep you motivated. Here are a few more ideas to help keep you inspired as you work towards your Goals:

  • Take Before and After Pictures
  • Sign-Up for a Fall Mud Run or Triathlon
  • Gain the support of Family and Friends

Now that you’ve Got your eye on the prize, let’s review another crucial aspect of your quest to get shredded for summer…Dieting. Fat loss as well as muscle building is often the product of a well thought out eating approach. Training hard in the gym can be a step in the right direction, but a poor diet can be two steps backwards. All of the cardio and crunches in the world will not help you out train a bad diet.

Monitoring the amount of calories you consume daily will be vital to your success. Although you should be burning more calories than you consume on a given day (calorie deficit), it is very important to remember that the word diet does not mean starvation. Your body will still need a healthy mix of the following macronutrients; Protein, Carbs and Fats.