The Spring Fitness Challenge: Getting Back in Shape After Winter

Some thoughts today that have been percolating in my mind, is what kind of fitness strategy can I adopt to shed that winter weight and tone up for summer. Personally I've never been busier, still renovating the house after a big move last year. Then there is the baby planning, the buying of a new car, on top of a full time job also. 

But then on the flipside, I know everybody is busy. People always have something to do, it's just whether you make fitness a priority your life. Can I motivate myself to get into shape, knowing how much crap needs to be done around the house? Is there any way I can get up earlier? And who wants to get up at 5am to work out anyway, apart from Mark Wahlberg. 

I'll get into strategies in a bit, but first I think it's important to put an event in the dairy that you know, it will be important to look your best for. I bumped into a friend last week, who was in fantastic shape. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw her, she had gone through a complete 6 month transformation. She not only looked slimmer, but she was physically strong, wonderfully toned and she was radiant. I asked what she had done differently, and she told me she had hired a personal trainer to get her into shape for a photoshoot. 

'What do you need the photos for?' I asked

'I don't need them for anything.' She replied. She told me she had put a date in the calendar 8 months out, and that she had hired a photographer, a studio and a stylist and that she had paid for everything up front. I know how she hates wasting money, so she would definitely use that as motivation for ensuring she looked good in the photos. But not just having her hair, or her clothes looking good, she wanted to look fantastic. She wanted to get into the best shape of her life, and have some photos to mark the end of her fitness journey. 

Although I told her be careful. If that's the end of the fitness journey, you'll just slide back into old habits. And not the good ones. 

But I loved the idea of marking a date in the calendar and having something to work towards. Most people have a wedding, or imagine that beach holiday where they'll need to look good in their swimwear. That's all fine. But that's summer. I want to get into shape for Spring which is just around the corner.

My Tip: 

Create an event for yourself. A party at yours, organise a BBQ, celebrate an anniversary but have something about 6 weeks out that you can target and focus your energies on.  

6 Week Fitness Programs - Varying Levels from the net

For beginners I found this one on Very Well Fit 

1. Monitoring Intensity

2. Focus on F.I.T.T.

3. Tracking Progress

4. Focus on Rewarding Yourself 

5. Stress Relief

6. Focus on What's Next

For intermediates, I found this one on Muscle and Fitness

1&2 - Bench And Dumbbells Only Workout

3&4 Hypertrophy

5&6 Max Hypertrophy

For advanced you should look at this 10k running program from Run For Good 

Nutrition 

There are plenty of 'shred plans' 'no grains no sugars' plans. All of which I subscribe to and recommend. But let me tell you how my diet is going to go. 

I'm grilling more fish and chicken. But no extra sauces, just olive oil and spices. I'm eating more greens. I'm loving my vegetables at the moment because I'm just grilling everything on my hotplate. Seriously it's a game changer and I dedicated an entire article to it. 

No beer. I'm going to drink straight Vodka from the freezer, and mix it with low sugar tonic and ice and lime. It's delicious so long as you have the right vodka that is. For that it's Belvedere as we know. 

No midnight snacks. Each time you reach for the kettle chips or popcorn, realise your ideal weight and body, is moonwalking back to the horizon. Waving to you as it does so. 

This is hardest part, not eating in the evening. Not drinking that comfort beer on the couch watching the game or the movie. Sometimes your hands literally don't know what to do. When you get the urge, have a mint tea or a vodka and make it last. Think of that date you gave yourself, in the back of your mind. Think of those compliments people with give you on your looks. Your skin, your teeth. 

Finally

6 weeks is not a plan for life, but once you get to 6 weeks, start thinking about the next six weeks and how you want your progress to continue. Set another goal. Give yourself something to get in shape for.