As I’m slowly approaching my 30s, I’m starting to feel a difference in my body. Wait, ladies, this is not what you actually think it’s going to be: a post about how to combat aging and getting rid of extra pounds. Nope, I feel like the older I get, the better I know my body and the more in-touch I am with what it needs to thrive on all levels.
I figured out some major things in the last few years, and I feel as strong and fit as ever. The following are my three best tips for elevating your fitness and nutrition game–and feeling your best (just in time for summer!).
3 Fitness Tips To Elevate Your Summer Workouts & Diet
1. Mix up your training.
I love running. I really mean it–it brings me into a happy, meditative state. I can easily run six to ten miles and switch off my brain. And that’s wonderful because I know it helps me unwind, relax and take attention away from stressful stuff.
What it doesn’t do, however, is challenge my fitness. So I decided a couple months ago to add some HIIT workouts to my weekly schedule, and most recently, added more yoga session as well. My body has changed in just a couple of months–I can hold a plank for two minutes now and feel comfortable working out with weights while staying flexible thanks to the yoga sessions.
My biggest take away is that it’s important to give your body new workout “food,” so it has something to chew on and then you will see way more results than if you do the same thing, every day, every week, every month.
2. Stock up on fresh produce
Especially for New Yorkers, Spring and Summer means coming out of an almost six-month hibernation, which consists of light deprivation and freezing temperatures. I tend to eat very differently in Fall and Winter, during which most of my diet is based on complex carbohydrates, such as sweet potatoes and squash. But when the temperatures rise and the sun comes out, I crave fresh produce and fruit. In spring and summer, I love to add more raw vegeatbels to my diet and make a lot of fresh salads and carrot or zuccini pastas, and I really stock up on fruit such as peaches, cherries and berries. Not only is fresh produce hydrating, it’s also rich in fiber and antioxidants, both of which help your body feel amazing from the inside out!
Vegan Quinoa Salad with Peach & Pepitas
3. Try intermittent fasting
I am a big believer in letting your digestive system rest. Think about it, breakfast, really means to break a fast and if you have dinner at 9 pm and eat again at 7, your body barely had time to digest, break down the nutrients and evacuate the toxins.
Growing up in Europe, I used to have a huge breakfast and a super light, very early dinner–usually around 6 pm, and it was usually some left overs or toast. So my body had ample time to rest. Now my lifestyle has changed a bit and I crave dinner over breakfast, so I like to have a bigger dinner, around 7 or 7:30 pm ideally and then wait until 11 or noon the next day to have my first meal of the day.
Intermittent fasting is also way easier in summer than winter, as the heat will make you crave cold beverages more than a hearty meal. The benefits are a better digestion and more mental focus. Experts also say that fat burn is greater if you let your body fast for real and don’t overwhelm it with constant meals. Because intermittent fasting can be a dramatic change for some, please discuss the possibility of intermittent fasting with your health care provider.
Does your eating and workout style change during the summer? What are your favorite fitness tips?
Also by Isabelle: French Tartine-Inspired Loaded Toast–4 Ways
Related: Over Getting “Bikini Ready?” 5 Body-Positive Tips To Make Workouts Fun Again
5 Easy Ways to Transition to a Raw Diet
Get more like this—Subscribe to our daily inspirational newsletter for exclusive content!
__
Photo: Pexels, Lauren Kirchmaier
