Lose 10 pounds this Summer

Not looking forward to making your first bikini appearance this year? How about wearing that tight spandex cycling jersey and shorts? Summer is here and with that, I have a lot of people asking me how they can lose those annoying and very stubborn 10 pounds of fat. I first tell them, if they calorie count, they will see the pounds fly off, but really, who has the time to keep track of every morsel that goes into their mouth? Instead, I have come up with some simple tips for you to follow this summer and you'll be well on your skinny way:

1) Maintaining an optimum percentage of carbohydrate, fat and protein.
The next time you sit down for a meal, think of how much real estate each of these groups take. At last half of your plate should consist of vegetables or fruit. Also, eating healthy fat in moderation will actually help you lose fat, so make sure you do not omit that group at each meal. The following breakout is recommended:
• 50-60% Carbs. Mostly fruits and vegetables. Whole grains at certain times.
• 25-30% Fat. Consist of healthy oils such as olive oil, avocado and nuts.
• 20-25% Protein. Consist of lean proteins such as fish and chicken.

2) Eating carbohydrates at times when it benefits the body most.
Eat whole grains such as pastas and breads when your body needs them most. This is before, during and after a workout to fuel and aid in recovery. If you eat these at a sedentary part of the day, such as eating pasta before bed, the body doesn’t need this fuel and will store it as fat. Also, other than before, during or after workouts, get your carbs mainly from vegetables and fruit since they are not as easily converted to fat. Plus, you get the added benefit all the vitamins these foods offer.

3) Building muscle.
Muscle aids the body in burning fat, so weight train at least 3 times a week for 45-60min. If you get bored in the gym lifting weights (me!), try 24 Hour Fitness' LIFT or STET weight lifting classes. In one hour, you push yourself a lot harder than you would on your own.

Spandex here we come!