Amping Up Your Diet and Exercise Routine for Summer


Written by Virginia Surgical Arts on .

Here in Virginia we may have a little while longer before our days begin heating up, but it’s never too early to start planning for those beach days at Sandbridge and the Oceanfront. Have the winter holidays and cold weather sabotaged your bikini-ready body? Now’s the perfect time to get back in shape with these easy tips so you’re ready to flaunt a lean, toned body when summer comes around.

Eat More Raw and Unprocessed Foods

Whatever you put into your body, you’ll get out of it, so it’s always a good idea to modify your eating habits if health is the goal. Rather than turning to bagged chips or pre-made meals from the grocery store, opt to consume raw or homemade foods. With food from a package, you have no clue what else is included. When you make your meals at home from raw ingredients, though, you can ensure what you’re eating is good for you.

Cut Out Sugar and Heavy Fats

Don’t worry: A sweet tooth isn’t a death sentence. You just have to be vigilant about the amount and types of sugar you consume. Rather than gobbling up a package of Oreos, which have processed sugars and fats, try fruit and honey to satisfy your cravings. Additionally, if you’re a Ranch or Caesar dressing lover, it may be time to kick the habit. These condiments are full of processed, unhealthy fats. Swap them out for healthier fats like those in olive oil dressings.

Change Your Drinking Habits

Soda and daily lattes got you down? Ditch the sweet drinks for water for the most hydration without the calories. Lemon or lime juice can be added for a little extra flavor. If your daily coffee contains a ton of sugar, it may be a good time to try switching to black coffee. It’ll take some time, but weaning yourself off sugary coffee will be better for your health in the long run. If you enjoy alcohol every once in a while, you should try choosing lower calorie options like vodka soda cocktails instead of beer or fruity concoctions.

Work All Areas

While you may have certain goals for only a few areas, it’s often best to tailor your workout routine for your entire body for a more overall toned and healthy appearance. Circuit workouts are short and intense and cover all the most important muscle groups, from glutes and calves to arms and abs. Perform your workout for 30 to 60 minutes three or four days a week for best results.

Try These Exercises

If you’re new to workouts, you may be wondering where to start. A yoga routine or stretch in the morning is a great way to loosen your muscles and develop flexibility. Try building a strength training workout using free weights or squats and complementing it with cardio activities like treadmill running, burpees or stair-stepping.

Tone Up Those Stubborn Areas With Virginia Surgical Arts

Sometimes our best dieting and exercise efforts may not be generating the results we want to see. Whether it’s love handles on your sides or stubborn fat on your thighs, it can be difficult to target areas that we don’t often use to move. If you need a little extra help getting your beach body, SculpSure® from Virginia Surgical Arts can revitalize your problem areas quickly and safely. This non-surgical, FDA-approved fat loss treatment ensures you leave with a healthy glow and a tighter, slimmer body.

Our practice also offers Smartlipo®, a cutting-edge, minimally invasive laser body contouring procedure ideal for targeting diet and exercise resistant fat in the abdomen, arms, buttocks, thighs and neck.

Contact us at (757) 430-7690 to schedule your consultation today!

Written By Virginia Surgical Arts

Our oral and cosmetic surgery facility in Virginia Beach serves all of Hampton Roads and offers oral/facial reconstruction, bone grafting, and facial and body rejuvenation. We are fully licensed and accredited. When you are ready to begin truly appreciating and evoking the real you, Virginia Surgical Arts is here–ready to work with you.