Since today is the first day of Spring for 2019, time is ticking to see if you’re really going to get that body of yours into shape for swim season this year. Yes, it's only the middle to end of March, but with the warmer weather soon to make its appearance, it's not going to be too long until you’re going to be seen wearing those clothes of Summer. So, how do you think you’re going to look wearing that tank-top and shorts?

With the Spring sun ascending higher and higher each day, each week, you don’t have much time to shed a few pounds and tone up those saggy arms and leg muscles. Remember, the summer season is only a mere 12 weeks away. It's now crunch time, literally!

It’s all too easy during the winter to get into a routine of lounging around on the couch when you get home from work while you catch up on the latest episode of your favorite shows. But now is the time to kick those habits to the curb. And get yourself active, I mean, really active!

Take advantage of the warmer weather and longer days to get outside and hit the pavements or recently thawed mountain trails around your home. Get that blood pumping again. Try and do something every day even if it’s just a walk. But walk briskly and swing those arms as you put a couple of miles behind you.

How Much Exercise Do I need?
Any movement you get in during your day is better than nothing, but health professionals recommend the following:

150 Minutes of moderate aerobic exercise a week. This works out to around 30 minutes a day if you only want to exercise during a work week, or 20 minutes a day if you include weekends.

When you look at it this way, fitting in 20–30 minutes a day is a lot more manageable. For example, you could even break this up into chunks: do a quick 15-minute workout in the morning and an evening brisk walk when you get home.

Two strength training workouts a week. There is no time limit specified for toning exercises, so you could even include a few squats, lunges and push-ups with your quick cardio session on two of those days. Strength exercises help you build muscle mass, which boosts your metabolic rate and helps you burn more calories – even when you’re resting. It’s also a great way to improve your bone health.

Even quick workouts offer great health benefits. Find out what you enjoy doing and build a routine around it. Does an early evening walk around the neighborhood with the family make you want to lace up your shoes and hit the streets? Does going to the gym motivate you? Or, do you prefer to exercise at home with a Jillian Michaels DVD or a fun YouTube video? Would you rather get your heart rate up with a good cardio session, or are toning exercises more up your alley?

It’s important to find exercises that you enjoy doing; this way you’ll be more likely to stick to them and make them a daily habit.

Keep in mind that the key to getting that body of yours into the kind of shape that you won’t be embarrassed about this summer is to set a goal. Really quite a few goals so that after you’ve mastered the first, you move onto the second, then the third….. People are naturally competitive, but you need to set an expectant goal that can be achieved. This is what will motivate you to help you keep going till you reach and surpass that goal. In order to measure just how you're doing on reaching that goal, we recommend using an activity tracker. There are many out there, selecting the right one sometimes depends on the type of exercise you're going to be working on. For our purposes, we like the Garmin Forerunner 235 GPS Running Watch, With its built in GPS and Strapless Heart Rate, the Garmin Forerunner 235 is a must have for any runner, or exercise buff looking to get valuable feedback during their run, or exercise regimen. It's GPS functionality, created by Garmin, along with Wrist-based Heart Rate Tracks distance, pace, time, heart rate and more
The connected features automatic uploads to Garmin Connect, live tracking and the continuous "Activity tracking²" counts daily steps, distance, calories, and sleep.

Sometimes, even if you’re training like an Olympian, your nutrition and caloric intake can hold you back. If you’re struggling to see results, taking a look at what you’re putting into your body can be a good place to start. Everything needs balance, including your diet. The right combinations of carbs, protein and fat, yes, we said fat, but good fat is necessary as you begin to be more active and push your body so that those calories you ingested provide the breakdown into fuel that propels you to a healthier way of life.

As they say, you can’t out-train a bad diet. Usually, a few simple tweaks are all that is needed to start seeing results. It’s no good working out every day, but you’re eating badly – or skipping meals. When you exercise regularly, you automatically crave healthier food options.

Your metabolism also increases, which means that you’ll be peckish, more often than what you’re used to. Make sure you have some nutritious snacks with you to nibble on during the day. Fruit, low-fat yogurt, nuts, seeds, raw veggies, and hummus are all tasty and good for you. Start your day with a good breakfast, like a bowl of oats with low-fat milk and a banana. Don’t skip meals and stay hydrated with plenty of water throughout the day.

If you follow these tips and work at making a commitment to incorporating a set time schedule you can use these 12 weeks to lose those extra pounds, tone those flabby, well not too flabby arms, thighs and calves and give you the thing you're looking forward to getting. A healthier, leaner you in time for bathing suit season! So, what are YOU waiting for? Get up and MOVE!