Many people shy away from wearing shorts and cute summer dresses because they feel that their bodies are not in top shape. We’re half way through the summer and it’s the perfect time to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Lyzabeth Lopez, a fitness guru, holistic nutritionist, and the creator of the Hourglass Workout shares some tips that can help you get into gear this summer.
Everyone envies Latinas like Lopez who have a perfect hourglass figure, but you’re not really born with these curves, you have to mold your body to look this good and have to put in the work. Here is what she recommends to get the hourglass figure of your dreams:
Cardio: To lose fat and maintain muscle mass, go for short cardio bursts every two days.
20-Minute Treadmill HIIT (high-intensity interval training) Sprint: Start with a 3-minute warm up jog. From minutes 4-10, perform moderate intensity sprints for 45 seconds to one minute with 30 seconds of rest in between. Once you hit the 10-minute mark, increase your speed and sprint for 20-30 seconds with one to one and a half minutes of rest in between.
Weights: Plain old squats using only your body weight won’t do much to boost your butt, says Lyzabeth, so you’ve got to lift.
Her top 5 exercises for an amazing butt:
Try doing these twice a week. 10 Deadlifts (110-300 lbs) 10 Kneeling cable kick backs (50-80 lbs per leg) 10 Hip thrusts (110-350 lbs) 10 Walking lunges with glute kick back (50-110 lbs) 10 Glute/ham machine raises (45 lb plate). These are Lyzabeth’s suggested weights, but start out with what you’re comfortable with.
TIP: Add a 1-2 level incline for glute engagement throughout your sprints.
The Diet
Cut out sugar: “It’s the major food to eliminate if you want to see quick and positive results in your weight, energy, skin tone, mood, and more,” says Lyzabeth. “But, full disclosure: no one’s perfect. I still give into my cravings for a chocolate chip cookie, or small dark chocolate bar three to four times a week. It’s the 80/20 rule: eat healthy for 80 percent of the time, then you have 20 percent for a few cookies, or your fave cheat food,” she says to Latina.
Incorporate these “flat-belly foods” into your diet to reduce bloat and help with good gut health:
-Kimchi
-Sauerkraut
-Kefir
-Apple cider vinegar
(diluted with water)
Lyzabeth drinks this Belly-Bloat Buster 3x/Week
“Fire Shot”
1 serving; best if consumed within 20 minutes of blending or juicing
INGREDIENTS
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. local raw honey
½ an orange juiced or squeezed
1 whole lemon juiced or squeezed
3/4 cup water
1-inch fresh turmeric root
1-2 inches fresh ginger root
INSTRUCTIONS
Place all ingredients in a blender and mix on high speed until blended. Try drinking it 20 minutes before a meal to assist with digestion. The ingredients are acidic, so rinse your mouth with water after drinking to protect your tooth enamel.