"bikini season"

Well first of all, it's my first post. Hi guys!! I stumbled across this while I was looking for a link to eating healthier, which I've been trying to do for a long time now.

I'm already totally awed by the positive aura of this place. But onto what this topic is about, which is...

is anyone else REALLY worried about upcoming "bikini season"? I don't think I'm fat per se but a little on the chub side.. basically I want to just work on my shape for the next two months. i was hoping this could be the first summer I would actually feel good enough to wear a bikini :)

Any tips? I'm particularly concerned about my stomach..

Cardio...cardio...and more cardio :)


I would through in some ab strengthening routines a couple times a week too.

welcome :)

tips for what?  exercise or weight loss?

if weight loss, mind sharing how you are eating, what you prefer? height/weight? 

if exercise? what are you doing, what you prefer?

heck yes i am concerned! I think that's my main motivation right now. I onyl have like 10 lbs or so to lose, but man...i need to TONE! The backs of my legs are a mess, and i've got a mini-spare-tire going on as well. But We can do this!

Cardio is what's gonna get the chub off, and weights to tone. I am running 3 miles (in 30 min) on the treadmil 4-5 times a week, plus weight training on all those days as well. And of course eating well. Hopefully, that should do it! What's your plan?

Cardio and ab--got em covered! :) I'm on the elliptical machines at my college's gym for half an hour a day at least, and doing all the ab workouts/weight training stuff as well. so far the only setbacks have been when I had too much work to make it there :(

I really want to lose weight visibly, not so much the numbers. I'm 5'3" and 125ish, I think (really need to get a scale). I'm trying to eat healthy but as a college kid it gets kinda tough. I go with.... yogurt or oatmeal and some fruit in the morning, a few snacks like fruit/veggies and granola bars and such during the day, and then dinner.

Dinner consists of "what's in the fridge" which mostly consists of "what was most recently on sale at the grocery store", lol. Sometimes pizza bagels, sometimes chicken and rice, sometimes.... ramen, unfortunately, when all else fails.

And when the work nights get heavy I tend to have a small bowl of jello or some green tea to alleviate it a little... I'm a stress eater :(

Good luck kujayhawk!

I know i've got too much to lose to worry about this year's bikini season - I'm hoping to have to get a smaller tankini for this summer, but I'm focusing on next years bikini season.  :)

I do crunches and stretches to help strengthen/tone my mid section and the stretches for flex training.

Although I do agree with the cardio, its not going to do the trick on its own.  I would suggest getting in the weight room three times a week and doing a full body routine (arms, legs, abs) with heavy weights.  Start out with 12 reps for the first set, then 10, then 8 to failure.  Start slow though, or you won't be able to move for two days - or worse - sit on a toilet (hamstrings)!  This should take you 45-60 mins.  Then on the alternating 3 days, do high intensity cardio for 20-30 mins.  High intensity meaning you can barely walk after.  You do it in intervals - jump on the treadmill, warm up for 5 mins, then do 30seconds hard, and then recover.  Keep alternating like that.  Work up to 25-30 mins.  You can do this on a bike or elliptical as well.  Cool down and stretch! after.  After about 4 weeks or so, you will definately see a difference. 

Also, watch your diet.  Eat a bit more protein, stay away from simple carbs including bread and crackers, especially at night.  Get your carbs from vegetables, fruit and oatmeal in the morning.  Figure out how many cals you burn per day, and eat slightly less (about 250).  This will start burning the fat.

Respond back here, or IM me if you need some more info!  2 hours of cardio a day will only make you soft, you need to build muscle to look good in a bikini.

katethegreat - AWESOME post!  Thanks!

Amen for bikini season.

chamomile, if you're already hitting your gym and doing some abs and cardio, a great resistance exercise to throw in is the clean and press.  That exercise is just as much a cardio workout as it is a resistance movement.  Just starting out, you don't need to use much weight.  After a few sets, I assure you you'll feel like you just ran up a hill.  =P  Anyway, it hits about every major muscle group, and is great for toning and burning some extra calories.

Cheers, and to all of you ladies working hard to look good in bathing suits; I would like to thank you on behalf of men everywhere.  :)

everyone else pretty much got the basics covered, but i've found that my biggest setback/downfall is late-night eating...not because i just can't help myself, but because i have a night class every weekday until 930, i get home to my mom's house around 945, and i'm ravenous! i feel compelled to eat, and what would normally be a snack to satisfy me becomes a small dinner because my mother cooks dinner for herself and leaves it out for me. that's what i'm REALLY going to get serious about, not eating after i get home. or, if i absolutely cannot fight the urge, a piece of fruit, or a yogurt. otherwise, i wake up bloated and uncomfortable..not a great start to the day, and not very encouraging!

and as far as "what was most recently on sale at the grocery store"... I KNOW THE FEELING. heh. i live with my boyfriend the other half of the week, and what a pain it is that PASTA is what's ALWAYS cheap, and ALWAYS on sale!

"2 hours of cardio a day will only make you soft" = total BS.

Hey I'm looking forward to bikini season... my wife looks great in hers :x

Oh anyway for your stomach... cardio is great... so is strength training... but remember to work your back muscles & hit the torso rotation machine as it will help tighting your stomach up.

Counting your calories is easy as well.. you should do this in conjunction with the exercise if you have a few pounds to lose... but just be sure you never eat less than 1200 calorie + what you burn working out.

That means if you burn 300 working out.. you eat 1200+300=1500 for that day AT MINIMUM.   Any less and you could end up going into starvation mode which would only hurt your body as your muscles and organs (including your heart) start to help your body get enough of what you arent' feeding it.

I think bikini season is on the list for next year, this is just to get the cottage cheese back in the fridge & not my legs!

thanks for the advice everybody!! kate, I really liked your post a lot. and good luck to everyone striving for it as well :)

When I work out, I do the weights and stuff too, but I don't feel I put as much emphasis on that as the abs and cardio. I'm gonna try to even it out more. It totally makes sense that you can't look bikini-par without some muscle as well :D

thanks for sharing that, jamielauren, actually brings up a question now that I think of it.

I usually DO eat my dinner kinda late at night, and sometimes even throw another snack in on top of it later. But this is because I'm often up til 2,3 A.M. with all the schoolwork and I have trouble sleeping if my stomach is positively growling :\ I usually put at least 3-4 hours between sleep and the last thing I ate. How bad is this? I just have so much trouble keeping my schedule right-side-up, especially when it gets to this late in the semester..

Chamomile I'm going thru the exact same thing as u!!

Im going on holiday in 5 weeks so i have that long to tone everything up!im also hoping to lose the 4-6lb ive put on in the past 2 months!!

One question i have is about the weight training. My brother has some weights at home but im just not sure how to use them and i dont have access 2 a gym atm. Would appreciate some advice!!
I also have a treadmill at home and ive started doing this so this contributes to my cardio!

what type of weights do you have at home?

http://exercise.about.com/od/exerciseworkouts /Strength_Training_and_Specialty_Workouts.htm

I found this website to help you determine what kind of weights & work outs

Thanx!! i have dumbells barbells and 0.5kg to 5kg discs. Im really weak though!i want to tone my bum and thighs and stomach area!!

Hi everyone this is my first post also, I came across this website while looking for feedback on boob jobs. I am looking forward to bikini season I was pregnant last summer and wasn't able to wear one, well you know what i mean. I am in better shape this coming summer My legs are tones and I have stick arms, but the kind of shape where you are skinny but have luv handles and a less than flat stomach that one would not necessarily be proud of. N E adivice on how I can really lose the pudge, its so hard cuz its not the upper half that needs the work its the lower abdomen that I can never seem work off. Its really frusterating to feel like your one weakness cannot be overcame.
    Is there anything I can do that would flatten my stomach? Its flabby so I would have a six pack if all I ever did was crunches? N E foods I can eat......N E thing that won't cost me exercise equipment?

Ria keep in mind the lower amount of weight & higher number of repitions per exercise will help tone and a higher weight & lower reps will help you bulk up.

I have found about.com to be very help full I sure the site can answer most of your questions

yeah do weights because if you are looking to change your body shape thats the best way to do it. Not only does it make you appear leaner and stand taller it also means your body is burning more fat - as long as you eat alot of protein - much more efficiently . Cardio is also important!

Do abs, biceps, triceps, legs, shoulders, and chest!! 3 times a week and have protein before and after