I know what you're thinking..why would I need to worry about my "beach body" when it is barely only the end of February? Well, let me put it into perspective for you; we are just as far from Christmas as we are from bikini weather. Since the most common fitness goal is to lose weight, you'll need to start working on it now! Below you'll find five tips to help get your winter body ready for summer.

1. Remember the 90-10 rule

90% of what you are eating should be clean (food that only has one ingredient). The rest of your diet can be "fun" and "dirty".

2. Increase your intake of fruits, veggies, and water

Your fruit and veggie intake varies by your age, gender, and physical activity. Refer to the CDC website to determine what your specific intake should be. As far as water, the Institute of Medicine recommends that men drink 13 cups of water a day while women should drink 9 cups.

3. Start doing short, but intense aerobic intervals

Short but intense workouts burn more calories in a shorter amount of time. Try walking briskly for two minutes and then jog or run for one minute. Repeat for 30 minutes.

4. Set realistic goals

If you want to lose weight (and keep it off), aim to shed 1 to 2 pounds a week. In 8 eight weeks you'll lose anywhere from 8-16 pounds (that is, if you work hard and keep your workouts consistent.)

5. Be consistent with your workouts

If you are having a hard time getting motivated to go to the gym, it probably means you are bored with your current routine. Try mixing it up by going for a hike or playing Just Dance with the kiddos. Every bit of physical activity helps bring you closer to achieving that sexy summer body.

*image by Jay Mantri

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