ST. PETERSBURG — This time of year is the greatest time to get the summer body you’ve always wanted. Living in Florida, we have the luxury of warm weather year round, which gives us the opportunity to strut our hard work all the time.
Working out has to become a habit!
According to Fitwatch.com, not only does working out burn fat, build muscle strength, increase metabolism and keep our hearts healthy, it also helps us to fight off many diseases and illnesses.
There are many studies that have been done indicating that exercise helps us to increase our immune systems, which is so important during the winter months. In fact, just maintaining regular, moderate exercise can offer us protection against colds and flu.
Not only is it not too late for you to train for your summer body, but you will also be preparing your body for the incoming flu season.
The best time to hit the gym is after the summer time rush and before the holiday season. The gym is not as full as it would be at the beginning of the year, so getting your whole workout in will not be difficult.
The ideal summer time body is a flat stomach, muscle with divination and the stamina. When you work out and train correctly, you will gain those benefits. Your skin will look and feels a lot younger, your clothes will fit you better and your joints and bones will hurt a lot less.
Exercise is the true fountain of youth and when combined with a proper diet, the sky is the limit.
When you’re on your fitness journey, you have to really figure out who you are and what works best for you. Now when you eat for your summer body, you have to first find out what your body type is.
• Ectomorphs are the body type that is the most resistant to weight gain because of a fast metabolism. You tend to be long limbed and not particularly muscular. You can be “skinny fat,” meaning you’re a relatively low weight and/or small size yet still has high body fat.
• Mesomorphs can lose and gain weight easily, is able to build muscle quickly and usual- ally boasts an upright posture. This body type tends to have a long torso and short limbs.
• Endomorphs are the body types that are most likely to feel like they drew the short straw. Endomorphs naturally tend to have curvy, fuller figures and struggle to keep their body-fat percentage in check.
Now that you have your body type, you can form your diet around how you live. Now don’t get fearful when I say the word “diet.” You can make anything into a diet, so instead of that dirty four-letter word, we’ll call it meal planning, which is simply making meals or eating the right foods at the right times.
When it comes to the working out, your body safety is key. To avoid injury, you must have the correct form and don’t forget stretching before each workout.
Everything that pertains to working out, or anything you want in life, takes planning. Do not go to the gym without a good idea of what you want to do. Your workout should have a balance of body weight exercise, resistance and flexibility training. That way you balance out your bodies proportionally. You want to be strong and flexible at the same time.
Good thing you have your own community gym that will provide you all of your fitness needs. The All Peoples TyRon Lewis Community Gym is the gym of the people where we also provide free HIV and Hepatitis C testing.
You shouldn’t have to leave your own community to get healthy. There is also a massage therapist available at the wellness center operated Lola Banae of LBL Holistic Health and Wellness. Along with massages, she also provides nutrition and chakra alignment.
There is no other place where you can get one on one attention and advice for no extra cost. This gym is a staple in the community and has been for the last 16 years.
The All Peoples TyRon Lewis Community Gym is located at 1327 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. S in St. Petersburg. Operating hours are Monday – Friday 5 a.m. to noon, and then from 4-8 p.m.
