Keep Your Summer Body All Year Long

As winter starts to set in, the last thing we want to think about is getting up and going to the gym. Don’t let the cold weather, or your cravings for comfort food undo all the hard work you did this summer to accomplish your fitness goals.

If fitting into your bathing suit was what kept you motivated all summer, then keep it handy and put it on once in a while to keep you visually tracking your goals. This way, when spring rolls around you won’t be struggling to get back into shape.

Maintaining the results you've gotten becomes simpler when fitness becomes a lifestyle rather than scrambling at the last second for bathing suit season, or getting ready for the reunion.

Hey, everyday is an excuse to look and feel great. If you made progress this summer, here are tips to keep you on track:

Stay Hydrated- Since thirst is sometimes mistaken for hunger- you tend to eat more when you are slightly dehydrated. Keep bottles of water handy and if it is hard for you to chug water and need a little flavor, try some of the sugar free drink mixes. Water keeps your digestive system humming and your metabolism running hot all winter long.

Plus, your skin will glow and you will have tons of energy for your workouts!

Add Some Spice- Heat from spices create a thermogenic effect on your body and has been shown to boost metabolism. The thermogenic effect as it pertains to food is a term that is used to refer to the way the foods we eat can increase the amount of heat your body generates to digest the food, which results in the increase in metabolism.

Another sweet benefit of spicy foods is that they've been shown to provide feelings of satiety.

Add red pepper flakes, hot sauce, jalapeño and cayenne to your foods and enjoy the heat!

Green Tea- Drinking green tea or taking supplements high in the active components of green tea have enormous health and fitness benefits. Green tea is rich in catechin polyphenols particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which is not only a powerful antioxidant, but studies have shown that combined with caffeine (which the tea has naturally), EGCG helps you burn more calories.

Try drinking green tea as an alternative to coffee or look into green tea extract as a supplement.

Keep Protein Intake High- Protein has several things going for it in terms of fat loss and maintenance. Since protein takes longer to digest, its thermogenic effect is high, up to 27%, as apposed to carbohydrates 7% and fat 3%. Protein packs a muscle building punch that boosts your metabolism as well. The best news for dieters is that protein steadies blood sugar and makes you feel fuller, longer!

Remember- protein doesn’t have to mean boiled tasteless chicken breast. Try lean red meats, lean pork, fish and from time to time indulge in a t-bone and ribs!!

Eat Mini- Meals- Learn to eat to fuel your body. Eating more (4-5) small (200-300 calories ) high protein meals a day combined with fruits and veggies will keep you full all day and your metabolism running. Remember your BMI can help determine how many calories your body expends at rest and depending on your fitness goals, current weight and activity levels will help determine what your total calorie intake for a day should be.

You've done a great job so far and you can continue seeing through the winter by following these simple tips. Keep it up and you will look great in your bathing suit even in the middle of December!

Fiorella Dicarlo