Simple Summer Exercises!
Summertime, when the living is easy! Time to enjoy the heat, layout and enjoy some ice cold lemonade—or whatever else you might drink when spending time by the pool ;)! But as they say, “suns out, buns out”, right? There’s far too much pressure on women these days to have their perfect “summer bods” ready when the sun starts gifting us with its rays. Being healthy shouldn’t be about looks, but about you feeling good and loving the body that you have! This post is about providing you with the best workout programs for women, so here are just a few fun and easy exercises for you to do and have you feeling great this summer!
Squat Jumps
Of course, squats help you strengthen your leg muscles (quads, glutes, hamstrings, calves), but they have so many other benefits that many people don’t even know about! When you do squats, you’re helping promote an anabolic environment that builds other muscle groups in your body. Not only that, but squats help maintain your mobility and balance, burns unwanted fat, helps you to run faster and jump higher, and helps to prevent injuries! You can also do them anywhere!
So let’s take squats to the next level, shall we? Jump squats! Begin just like you would when performing a normal squat. Stand with your feet just a tad bit wider than shoulder-width apart. Perform a regular squat, and once your knees are just about 90 degrees, EXPLODE! Jump as high as you can with your hands straight up in the air! As you land, go right back into the next squat. The number of reps that you perform is up to you, we recommend three sets of 10, but just make sure that your pushing yourself and not giving up when you know you can do more!
Side Plank
Side planks are great for your core strength. When performed correctly you really use those belly muscles, so it’s a great exercise to get those abs of steel that you’re after! Beyond that, side planks also strengthen your legs and improve your balance!
So to perform it correctly, start by laying on your side with your legs as straight as you can have them. Then, prop yourself up on your forearm to have your body form a diagonal line. Raise up your hand so that it is perpendicular to your torso. Ensure that your body is forming a beautiful “T”. Flex your abs and raise your hips. Hold for 60 seconds (or however long you’re able to), and make sure to breathe and keep your hips and knees off the floor! You’re certain to feel the burn, don’t worry, that’s a great sign!
Leg Raises
Another great way to work on that stubborn belly fat are leg raises. Completely focusing on the rectus abdominis (abs!), this exercise is extremely popular for a reason— it works! This is another exercise that can be done just about anywhere. You might get some weird looks, but who cares, you’re working on your health and fitness!
Lay flat on your back with your legs straight and held together. Make sure to keep them straight and not to lift your back off of the ground. With your arms to your side and palms down, lift your legs all the way up until your booty is off of the floor. Then lower your legs until your heels are just above the ground and hold for a moment before repeating the action. Keep going! Remember not to give up too early, your body is much stronger than you give it credit for!
Push Ups! (Of Course)
An oldie but a goodie! Assuming that you know how to do a push-up, let’s talk about the benefits aside from building those biceps of yours! Push-ups don’t only work out your arms, but as you do it, you are strengthening literally every major muscle in your body! Adding to that, push-ups are incredible for stretching your biceps and back muscles. This will help you with your flexibility, and even more importantly, help prevent injuries. Another benefit is that you’re able to show off your guns when you flex! Don’t be ashamed to use your knees if standard push-ups are a little too much, as long as your working on your overall health and wellness then who cares?!
Cardio
Never forget about your cardio. It’s a great way to shed calories, and is also good for your heart! Whether you’re a runner, hiker, biker, walker, swimmer, stairmaster— we could go on. But always remember to add cardio to your workout routines!
Proper Nutrition
A lot of women forget about the importance of proper nutrition. They perform their exercises, but then have some nachos for dinner and wonder why they aren’t seeing any results! It’s extremely hard these days to maintain a proper diet with all of the conveniently located fast-food restaurants and abundance of fatty foods everywhere you turn. It is also hard to pinpoint exactly what your body needs. Guess what? You can now sign up for Meals by JNL, where you’ll get personalized meal plans that are not only great for you but also delicious!
JNL Gym
So put that bathing suit on and go enjoy the sun! Remember these simple exercises, and combining them with proper nutrition, you’ll feel great and your body will thank you! Use JNL as your health and fitness coach, and if you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for JNL Gym where you’ll have access to thousands of online fitness videos to keep you in shape!
