Warmer, sunnier days can make you want to spend more time outside—but not necessarily running. Cut your mileage and enjoy the weather with high-intensity interval training, Jinnett says. Full-body circuit training not only burns a load of calories while you sweat, it also torches additional calories in the hours after by keeping your metabolic rate high. Here’s one sequence to try: Hold a heavy dumbbell or large water jug in each hand. Alternate walking lunges and pushups for 30-second intervals for a total of 5 rounds. Perform on the beach for an added challenge!
What will majorly sideline your quest for a bikini body? An injury that could easily have been avoided. “The power of stretching is vastly underrated and oftentimes forgotten,” says Joey Hays, a certified GX cycle instructor in Portland, OR. “As we age, the elasticity of our muscles decreases and is accelerated by sports that can overuse and overwork muscles through repetitive motion.” This overuse can lead to aches, pains, and injury. That’s why it’s important to develop a stretching routine that targets the muscles you use the most—probably the ones in your legs and butt. After your cool-down, devote about five minutes to static stretching, making sure to hold each stretch for about 30 seconds.
