PT tips: Start your mission to get your summer body now

But British Summer Time officially begins on Sunday, and there’s actually only now 10 weeks until we hit flaming June.

Personal trainer Mikey Moon, co-owner of Fortitude Fitness, Poulton, says now is the time to start thinking about getting beach-body ready.

Mikey says: “By using these easy to follow tips you can get yourself well on the path to achieving the goals you desire.

“If you’re fed up of saying the same thing every year about getting in shape and never acting on it, these tips are for you.”

Exercise more

The cold months can do little to help you find motivation to exercise.

However with lighter mornings and evenings you will probably find it easier to leave the house and go to the gym.

Not a gym-goer? Make the most of going outside for walks or runs.

Action point: Get at least 10,000 steps per day.

Find a buddy

Increase your motivation and enjoyment while exercising by getting a training partner.

Even if it is someone to just go for a walk with you, you’ll find it a lot easier to motivate yourself if someone else is with you.

Having someone to go to the gym with will also make it easier to continue going.

There’ll be a time where they have to motivate you to go, and a time where you do the same for them.

Action point: Ask a friend to sign up to the gym with you and attend classes together.

Have variety

In both a food and exercise sense, variety is key to getting results. Mix up your workouts by incorporating new classes or new training methods. Get outside in the nice weather and do an outdoor workout. Keep things interesting with your training and you’ll stick to it for longer. Base your nutrition around a variety of meats and vegetables, using a variety of cooking methods to keep things fresh and new. Get creative in the kitchen and the gym.

Action point: Try a new class or research a new training method.

Set some goals

To achieve the best results you need to know what you want. You wouldn’t get into your car without knowing where you’re going, so don’t do it with the gym. Not having a goal is the fastest way to lose motivation when starting a fitness plan. Having a goal to focus on will make it easier to get yourself to the gym after a hard day at work.

Action point: Set goals for four time periods – four weeks, 12 weeks, six months, 12 months from today.

Commit to 90 days

You can dramatically change anything in 90 days. You can change your body composition, nutritional habits, even your whole lifestyle in as little as 12 weeks. This however requires commitment. Before you start on a journey of health and fitness, you need to first commit to doing it. As the old saying goes, nobody can do it for you.

Action point: Commit to following a plan for 12 weeks.

Mikey adds: “Utilising these tips will help you to not only get on track with your fitness goals but stay on track as well. Use these to get started and in just 12 weeks, you can have the results you have always wanted.”