Summer Care Part 1: Slimming

Aahhh... summer is approaching fast, I can feel it in my bones!! Okay, it's only April, but it's never too early to prepare! I've divided my summer beauty guide into 2 parts, one for today and one for tomorrow, so that I can go in depth with both. Today's topic is..... slimming down for summer!!! Now what girl doesn't want to be just a bit thinner? Especially with the summertime coming up, it's time for pool parties, beach vacations, and tank tops. Gotta get that bikini body ready! I know I at least put on a few minor pounds over the holidays. Everyone does! And that's fine! But now, I miss my flat tummy and not-touching thighs, and I know just how to get them back safely and efficiently. First, I need to clarify that I am most surely NOT a weight loss expert, and this is not a weight loss blog. I am only talking about 5 or 6 pounds at the most, 10 if you really enjoyed Christmas. I cannot by any means assure you that these tips will make you loose big pounds, for that you would need a real diet and work out regime. Talk to a doctor, not a blogger!! With that outta the way, let's begin! The most important things in slimming down are diet and exercise. A good place to start is cutting out fried foods, breads, pasta, and sugary things. Don't worry, you don't have to stop cold turkey at all!! But these are foods to really, really watch. If you must eat a sandwich, chew it slowly and only use one slice of bread. And watch the mayonnaise, that stuff is packed with calories and fats. If you must have noodles, opt for the whole grain kind and don't slather them with butter. Pesto is great though! As for desserts, enjoy in moderation. A small slice of fudge won't set you back too far, but you shouldn't go for it every day. Great alternatives to sugary desserts are dark chocolate and fruit sorbets. One thing to completely cut out is soda. Oof any kind. Soda is basically pure sugar, not to mention all of those nasty chemicals they put in there. My biggest struggle is Starbucks, though. It is so easy to slurp down 600 calories in one sitting there. Fortunatley, they offer some healthier options. Look for skinny and lite drinks, and never take whipped cream on frappes. And o e more thing: just as a general rule for health, avoid McDonalds, Taco Bell, Burger King, and their kin at all costs!! If you absolutely absolutely MUST go, get a salad with an oil based dressing and never feel obliged to finish it. Better choices are chick fil a, and a lot of smaller restaurants. Now we gotta talk calories. Most of the time, I don't pay any attention to calories because I rarely eat sooo much. But when I'm focusing on thin, I watch my calorie count like a hawk. Since I am naturally so small, I can safely get away with eating 1,200 calories a day. Anything below 1000 is crazy and can end up making you fatter because it puts your body into starvation mode, which makes it absorb calories more and slows your metabolism. 1200, 1400, and 1600 are all valid options for people trying to slim down quickly. For me, that means 300 calorie breakfast and lunch, 400 calorie dinner, and 200 calories of snacks that I can divide up however I want. Make sure you dont start mindlessly snacking while watching tv! Of course, it's impossible to get slimmer without physical activity. I'm a pretty active person, but I really amp it up during spring. I do cross country, soccer, and tae kwon do. For most people, I would just recommend running. Running is free and easy, and it gets the heart pumping. I would start with going a mile, try to jog but walk if you get tired! Doing a little whenever you get time is good. Be sure to push yourself to build up endurance and muscles. Now at last I get to share my tips and tricks to slimming! Without these, I would probably weigh a good amount more than I do now. So without further ado.... 1. Drink tons and tons of water!! Water helps fill your stomach so you don't eat too much, it keeps you hydrated, and not to mention how it encourages healthy, radiant skin and hair! Plus, your body often confuses thirst for hunger, so if you are hungry, try water before snacking. 2. Drink a glass or more of greentea everyday. Greentea is honestly the miracle drink. It's more hydraulic than water, it's chock full of antioxidants, and it can speed up metabolism! 3. A banana a day keeps the doctor away! Bananas are full of potassium, and they can even speed up metabolism!! 4. Turnig up the music and dancing your heart out is a great way to sneak in fun exercise! 5. Never ever ever skip meals! Skipping meals, especially breakfast, makes you slow and groggy, and it makes you hungrier later so that you end up eating even more! Also, try to eat at the same time every day. Consistency is sooo important when it comes to health! 6. Don't forget your vitamins! It's always important to eat balanced meals and never go without protein, calcium, or omega oils. Talk to your doctor about what dietary supplements are right for you! So, that's pretty much all I know about slimming. It's what I do, and it works. Sorry it's so long! Tomorrows probably won't be, since I don't have as much experience with whitening. But you can see why I split summer care into two posts.... Thank you for reading that whole thing!! ( ；´Д｀) ~Pompom