Sadly, shaking off the excess lard you accumulated over the brutally cold winter can be a tad more difficult than watching the winter snow melt in rising temperatures. Will power is necessary to lose weight – merely wishing it away won’t do you any good. There is no substitute for healthy eating and a disciplined exercise routine.

Fitness trainers say that it is normal for people to put on about 5 pounds over winter. The challenge is to get rid of the extra weight before the summer and then maintain the weight-loss throughout the rest of the year.

The glorious days of early summer are the best excuse to head out for some fresh air and outdoor activity. Taking up an outdoor sport, running or cycling can help increase your metabolism too. Swimming and aerobics,in particular, are excellent ways of getting in shape.

Eating healthily is an important part of your weight-loss programme. Exercising yields the best results when combined with a healthy diet. Increasing your daily protein intake, while minimising the amount of carbohydrates you consume, helps fight fat accumulation. Most dieticians recommend smaller meals at regular intervals rather than eating two large meals a day. Increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables in your daily diet can help fill your stomach while keeping the unwanted calories away.

You can also easily incorporate exercises into your daily chores. Take the stairs instead of the escalator for a mini cardio workout and choose to walk to and from work instead of taking the bus. Gardening can also be a pleasant way to exercise – you could rake the yard or mow the lawn to keep your body active throughout the summer.

For those who love working up a good sweat, the best solution is to head straight to the nearest gym. While you’re at it, hiring a personal trainer is a good investment. Following a tailor-made workout regime can mean faster progress and more focused exercising, for example on problem areas such as the arms, hips, thighs and stomach. Most fitness centres also recommend spa treatments to complement an exercise routine, to restore valuable vitamins and minerals as well as to keep muscles relaxed. A couple of spa days every month can work in tandem with your weekly workouts to help you get in shape and stay healthy. If it’s your partner trying to get in shape, experience gifts can be a good way of spending some time together at a health spa, and you’ll leave feeling recharged. Whichever method you choose to stay fit, always remember to set yourself targets. Getting fit in time to wear that bikini with confidence is as good a thing as any to aim towards when planning your summer health routine.

 Enjoy!

Exercise is an important part of staying in shape and keeping your body young and fit, but it is not enough. The antioxidants in foods that we include in our diets are the real staples to remaining young.

What Foods are Highest in Antioxidants?

The Acai berry that is found in the Amazon is the highest antioxidant food that has been found. The research on this little purple berry has been astounding and the affects that is has on the aging process unbelievable. Natives have been using the Acai berry for centuries for its healing abilities; the United States has just recently discovered the benefits of the Acai berry and is marketing it across the country for its ability to turn back time.

The Acai berry can be found in pill form or powder form and in some instances you will find it being distributed in health drinks as well. If you are not planning on taking a trip to the Amazon rain forest anytime soon and prefer to get your nutrients from food rather than a vitamin or powder substance, there are many other foods that are high in antioxidants:

Raw nuts, grains, and legume contain vitamin E that will increase the antioxidants in your body. Vegetables like beets, eggplant, and rhubarb are very high in antioxidants. Fruits such as blueberries, apples, and mangos also have a very high antioxidant value.

What Are The Benefits to Antioxidants?

As well as reversing or slowing down the aging process, antioxidants are beneficial to your overall health. Antioxidants are used to fight cancer, heart disease, and many other fatal diseases. Your body is cleansed of the toxins and restored with nutrients that it needs to stay strong. The antioxidants remove toxins from your skin and hair making it younger and healthier looking, it can also prevent the aging process from sneaking up on you when you least expect it.

The largest benefit to the antioxidants in the foods mentioned above and in many others is the simple f act that you only have to enjoy the sweetness they offer and they will do the rest. Adding fresh blueberries to the top of your pancakes in the morning always tasted good, but now it has been proven it can help keep you young and healthy.