5 Simple Ways For Busy Women To Get Slim and Toned

I'm sure you all know by now that I am no fitness expert. I try to exercise several times a week by doing different types of exercise that I think are fun, but fitness guru I most certainly am not :) Lucky for me (and today for you!), my friend Steph Hendel is! She's fit, she's fabulous, and she is a Body Sculpting and Health Coach. Today, she is sharing 5 of her best tips on how busy women can find the time amidst busy summer activities to get moving, get energized, and get a great workout! Take it away, Steph:

Want the skinny on summer workouts? Here’s everything you need to know to tone up no matter how busy your schedule is.  Time is crunched with plans for BBQ’s, vacations, parties and the beach. A jam-packed schedule can make even the thought of working out feel completely overwhelming.  Before exercising falls to the bottom of your to-do list, take a look at these super easy tips for getting the most out of your summer workouts in the least amount of time!

1.    Fuel Up

A great workout with no energy is like a book with no pages. We tend to spend a lot of time, motivation, and energy getting ourselves to the gym and think of it as a painful experience. Did you know that you can kick up your workouts big time just by eating the right foods for your body and staying hydrated? Your body won’t feel like working out if it’s exhausted from breaking down all the processed food you’re eating. If you stock up on lots of whole foods it will have way more energy to push to the next level.

2.    Break out of the box

Mix it up, try different forms of exercise, and watch your body change. Doing the same stuff over and over can be hard on your body and won’t challenge you. Trying different types of workouts can also improve your performance. If a runner adds a yoga routine in once a week, they will notice increased flexibility and balance, which will improve overall running skills.

3.    Give your day a jump-start

Morning is the best time to get in a good summer workout without melting from the heat. Snagging some morning sweat time will also kick up your metabolism and keep it up throughout the day.  That means your body will burn calories faster and you will have more time for the fun stuff, like snuggling up for a movie with your favorite guy.

4.     HIIT

High intensity interval training. This is one of the best ways to get a killer workout in the least amount of time. Get ready to huff and puff and give it all you’ve got because these bursts of energy mean business. HIIT delivers major results without draining your precious time. Another bonus is that you can do these workouts anywhere – in the park, on vacation, in your house - you name it. Here’s an example of HIIT in the park: 

5.     Compound moves 

Another great way to get more done in less time, is to use compound moves to build muscle. If you’re running low on time, try hitting multiple muscle groups at once for maximum results. There are endless variations you can do to target the areas you most want sculpted so it can be very personalized, too. Check out this video to see compound moves in action:

Thanks for the amazing tips Steph! I am always looking for new types of workouts to try to add to my weekly repertoire and this definitely gave me some great new things to try out.

About Steph:

Steph Hendel, C.H.H.C, AAAI-ISMA, Body Sculpting & Health Coach
Former overweight, miserable junk food addict to slim and toned workout fanatic and health coach, Steph works with women who want to transform their bodies and discover the secrets to getting unique results without feeling deprived. Her sessions focus on spotting road blocks to success and creating surefire ways to overcome them and start living the life they want. She creates an environment that makes it possible to tone up fast and lose weight easily. Her program supplies the gear to live life loving ourselves and our bodies every day, fueling the motivation to achieve what we want most. Steph is co-host of the web series Zoned2BFit. For more information please visit www.stephaniehendel.com 

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