Slim Down for Spring Break

Almost two months ago you made resolutions to finally get fit and in the best shape of your life. Where did the time go?! With school, work, and everything in between, it’s easy to get caught up in all your other responsibilities and to forget to make working out a priority. Now, Spring Break is right around the corner! Don’t fret; with these tips you can slim down and tone up in as little as two weeks!

Watch what you eat

Avoid overeating. Do this by crafting smaller portions and eating slower. It takes time for signals to reach the brain telling it that your stomach is full.

Drink lots of water! Drinking more water helps fill you up, making you less hungry and less likely to overeat.

Cut out sweets, sodas, alcohol, and sugary drinks. They’re wasted calories!

An apple a day might not keep the doctor away, but apples are loaded with fiber and water, so your stomach will want less. Indulge in this guilt free snack.

Get active

Take the stairs! Elevators are an easy convenience, but it’s also easy to burn extra calories by taking the stairs when possible. Want to challenge yourself even more? Push yourself to walk to your classes instead of taking the bus.

Do you talk on the phone a lot? Pace when you do! Walking around the room is a simple action that can get you up and moving without breaking a sweat.

It’s getting warmer outside! On nice days, take to running outside. Start with short times and distances, and increase them over the course of your sessions. Make a hype playlist to keep you entertained and engaged!

Personal trainer and senior dietetics student Emily Huskey dishes on even more tips:

Squats and lunges are great lower body exercises that work on the glutes, hamstrings, and quads all at once!

If you’re bored of long, moderate-intensity workouts, try HIIT training for a fun, new workout routine.  HIIT combines high intensity bouts of exercise with lower intensity recovery periods for a quick and fun way to burn calories. HIIT FIT classes are offered at Ramsey throughout the week.

Try using a stability ball instead of a chair while studying or at work.  This quick swap will strengthen your core and is an easy way to add exercise into a busy day.  

Add in resistance training to your workouts.  Aim for 2-3 sets of 8-12 reps of weight-bearing exercise to sculpt lean muscle.

Do everything in moderation! Fitness takes time, so don’t expect dramatic results right away.  Stick with it and it will all pay off in the end!

• exercise
• spring break
• UGA