Nursing yourself back to health

Ok, so the holiday season is over and that means that almost all of us are guilty of one thing – eating, drinking and partying way too much. As the guilty party you’re probably already aware that this kind of indulging takes a toll on your body, and since the summer vacation time is just around the corner, you need to get back in the swing of things, detox and rejuvenate so your body is good and ready to take in all the fun and the sun. Being ready by all means entails both looking and feeling good, so let’s not waste another minute before we reveal the steps that need to be taken to get us in that perfect summer shape.

Relax and prep

The first course of action is to book a great relaxing massage. The reason this is vital is the fact that many of us carry tons of stress on a daily basis, and you simply can’t set off to your dream vacation with stress on your shoulders – literally. Take your pick between a relaxation or Swedish massage that will relieve you of all the built-up tension and give you that pre-vacation pampering so that you can embark on your summer adventure carrying only your luggage but leaving all the haste of everyday life behind. 

Get an early start

The one thing Australians know is the importance of sun protection, and most of us follow this rule all year round. However, we are aware that summertime is the sun’s prime time to do some damage, so you should find the best sunscreen out there and start applying it generously every single day, even when you’re not going to the beach. Look for the type that fights off UV rays but doesn’t feel heavy on the skin, particularly when choosing facial sunscreen as heavy ones can really clog your pores and cause an entirely new set of skin problems.

Eat the right food

The indulgence period is over, so it’s time to turn to healthy foods that will help speed up the metabolism and get rid of those extra pounds. Among the very popular and highly beneficial group of foods called ‘superfoods’, there is a particular subcategory that, thanks to their properties can help you lose weight in a relatively quick yet safe and healthy way. These foods include grapefruit, black beans, oats, avocados and numerous more. The best part is, there are tons of easy and healthy recipes so you won’t be stuck cooking for hours on end and you’ll see the results in no time.

Do the right exercise

The secret to looking great just in time for the beach is knowing which body parts to target. In this case, the crucial three are abs, shoulders, and chest. Chest and shoulders are going to make your waist seem narrow, hence visually slimmer. Make your shoulders wider than your waist, since opening your shoulders does the same thing as narrowing the waist. In order to make this happen, you need to hit the gym and you need to do it now. Target the shoulders with these key exercises and you’ll achieve great-looking shoulders and super-defined arms. The abs are the hardest body part to define, so you’re going to have to watch what you eat, drink plenty of detox water and do these amazing ten ab exercises. In a short time span, they won’t do wonders, but you will definitely notice a change. Cardio is always a good idea, so don’t skip it either. If you are committed to achieving your target weight and muscle definition, taking proteins for at least a month and a half will help you get there – but don’t take proteins and skip the gym, because they won’t do the work for you. If you have to push yourself and your willpower isn’t as strong, the best thing you can do is get a gym wingman – this way you can get both competitive and have someone who’ll call you on it when you try to bail on a session. Good luck.

Peter is a health writer at Essential Men's Clinic blog. Follow Peter on Twitter for more tips.