Work your way to the perfect bikini body
A beach body isn’t hard—in theory—to attain. It’s a combination of dedication, cardiovascular, anaerobic and high intensity intervals. Break that down into 5 60-75 minute workouts a week, throw in a solid diet (low fat, moderate protein, low sugar) and you have a recipe for a six-pack!
Training and diet aren’t the only things you should aim to control. Cortisol, the stress hormone, is a major inhibitor to that “shredded” look. It causes our bodies to store fat, to feel hungry, and to hold on to calories. Which can sometimes become a negative feedback cycle: get stressed, increase cortisol, reach for the Little Debbies and before you know it your beach body has turned into a beach-ball-body.
What can you do to lower your stress and cortisol levels? Well, the good news is that there are a number of things you can do and almost all of them are free! Petting a cat (or dog) releases Oxytocon, the “cuddle chemical“, which can make you feel less stressed. Meditation, exercise or a vigorous walk also produce beneficial, stress-dampening chemicals.
And just like we can create negative feedback loops, we can create positive ones, too: excercising, eating right, spending time with animals and loved-ones all creates a positive reinforcement cycle just as addictive as a sugar-rush. The key is imprinting these positive patterns on your mind instead of the negative ones.
Training and diet aren’t the only things you should aim to control. Cortisol, the stress hormone, is a major inhibitor to that “shredded” look. It causes our bodies to store fat, to feel hungry, and to hold on to calories. Which can sometimes become a negative feedback cycle: get stressed, increase cortisol, reach for the Little Debbies and before you know it your beach body has turned into a beach-ball-body.
What can you do to lower your stress and cortisol levels? Well, the good news is that there are a number of things you can do and almost all of them are free! Petting a cat (or dog) releases Oxytocon, the “cuddle chemical“, which can make you feel less stressed. Meditation, exercise or a vigorous walk also produce beneficial, stress-dampening chemicals.
And just like we can create negative feedback loops, we can create positive ones, too: excercising, eating right, spending time with animals and loved-ones all creates a positive reinforcement cycle just as addictive as a sugar-rush. The key is imprinting these positive patterns on your mind instead of the negative ones.
