Spring’s the time to get your fab on

By Daneyelle Johnson
Outlook Writer

With the summer season approaching more people are trying to keep their New Year’s resolution to “get fit” or to make a comeback after falling off in the beginning of the year, to get their summer bodies ready.

Both men and women want to feel confident with their new body transformations. They want to be prepared for bikini season.

Sure, this requires a little more preparation than just working out, such as getting body hair removed and moisturizing properly, among other things. But all these are worth it if someone wants to flaunt their body in a bikini or feel confident in whatever they wear.

Besides, given the availability of painless methods of hair removal these days, such as through laser, attaining a flawless body is even easier. Those interested may only need to make a web search with a keyword similar to “laser hair removal book today“, “laser hair clinic near me”, and similar others.

However, the road to attaining a fit body isn’t that simple. Just ask Amber Layun, who sometimes finds Cascade Park the ideal place to work out.

“I’m rejuvenated in the beginning of the year and I get a lot of workout clothes for Christmas,” Layun said. “But then February comes and I fall off. Honestly, I like to workout because it makes me feel better (although) I procrastinate.”

That’s where motivation comes in. Some people need to have a workout partner or group to keep them motivated and to hold each other accountable. In addition to working out, they need to establish a healthy diet. This combination would help them reach their goals faster.

There are many types of diet that one can choose from. Some of them are very restrictive, for example, fasting diet. While on the other hand, there are also flexible plans, such as the Slimming World Diet.

The latter food program includes two important components known as Free Food and Syns (to know more about them, visit Simplesyns.com). It also discourages calorie counting in healthy foods and encourages occasional indulgences in ‘treat’ foods like chips and chocolate.

But this diet would not be ideal for everyone. Maybe for some people, a high-protein diet would be the best option for them. Such diets could include consuming eggs, almonds, chicken breast, etc. Additionally, they can also eat snacks such as jerky (maybe from companies such as smokehouse jerky), trail mix, and tuna for some extra protein. But people who plan on following this diet should keep in mind that they should consume protein-rich foods in moderation, as excess protein could be stored as fat in the body, which could ultimately lead to weight gain.

That said, we should always remember that we must choose the right diet for us and our bodies, since not every diet option will suit us the same way it does for the others.

Although many will agree that working out and eating right are tips to staying healthy, some believe that it’s hard staying motivated.

While following a diet, it’s essential to intake all necessary nutrients in a recommended dosage to get the most out of a fitness program. But, people might skip a lot of food items that they should take regularly for a balanced diet. In that situation, they can look for multivitamins, iron, zinc, omega-3, and other supplements. Moreover, you can explore a supplement guide or brands that are available in your area, and consult a professional before going on a diet and taking supplements.

Anybody can work out, but the truth is, you have to develop the right mindset, said Amber Layun who describes her motivation to work out at the beginning of the year.

The desire to shed pounds quickly could go to outrageous extremes. Take for example Starr Jones’ highly documented gastric bypass surgery 13 years ago. While celebrities have the cash to go under the knife or other procedures that could be performed only by doctors, every day folks keep it simple and less expensive with the same results.

According to health.org, New York City Nutritionist, Dana James MS, CNS, CDN, tells her clients that it’s 80 percent diet and 20 percent exercise.

“It’s definitely most important to get the diet right, especially since we tend to underestimate what we eat and overestimate what we burn,” James said.

Although many want to lose weight fast, taking the long term approach to weight loss is wise because it means you’ll lose pounds slowly and steadily. But there are ways to rev up your metabolism, causing weight loss quickly, such as strength/resistance training and running.
Some tricks of the trade would be to eat 5-6 meals, drink plenty of water and most importantly exercise 3-5 times a week.

Jon Brooks, personal trainer at Bfast gym believes that the “get fit quick” schemes are what generates most money. However, you have to try not to go for the gimmicks. “Although the weight loss “hype” is common, you must make sure you lose weight the right way,” Brooks said.

Brooks believes that people aren’t looking at lifestyle changes they’re looking at time frames and underestimate what it takes to make a lifestyle change.

He described the majority of his clients as wanting to look a specific way, but not wanting to take the necessary steps to change their lifestyle.

To make a healthy lifestyle, sleep, diet and exercise are key. To some, the phrase “new year, new me” is just a trend.

“It’s worldwide, people start off by saying that, but as the year matriculates, they realize that it’s not really what they want.” “It’s not a serious resolution to some,” said Wilson Cherelus.

But no matter the budget, weight loss is a big business — mostly when it’s time to get seasonally fit by summer.

From the trainer’s perspective, there’s not an increase in gym sales around the springtime.

“Gym deals don’t change, said Brooks, yes, there’s an extra peak in sales, but what people don’t realize is that gyms go up in price and they may say that you get an extra 5 or 10 percent off, but essentially it’s the same promotions year round,” Brooks said.