Today we have a special guest blogger, Dr. Christopher SaltPaw, who will be giving us pointers on getting that beach body! Dr. SaltPaw is a Naturopathic Doctor, Acupuncturist, and my handsome hubby. He holds a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University, and a Masters in Acupuncture from the NY College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Dr. SaltPaw earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from Rutgers University with a major in Material Science Engineering (Ceramic Engineering).
People always ask me how I stay so fit. The answer is truly Dr. SaltPaw. Since meeting him, I have changed my diet and exercise regime. Although I have been a vegetarian for 20 years, I previously ate a lot of bread and cheese. For exercise, I ran distances, and danced. But now, I combine weight training, sprinting, as well as distance running. I also eat less bread and cheese, and more protein and vegetables. Let's see what the Doc has to say.
What are the best ways to attain a toned beach body?
It really depends on your starting point and your goals. However, I can say that a healthy diet and exercise are the optimal means to achieve this goal.
For serious weight loss, what should one do?
If you want to trim down and lean up, then get rid of simple carbs - white bread and refined sugars. You can then implement a three-fold recipe that really works: weight training, aerobics, and stretching to elongate muscles.
How about if you have a nice shape, but you want to tone up?
Destabilize to engage your core.
Lifting light weights in high repetition works well to tonify. Functional movements that mimic the body's movements are a great way to get that pronounced physique. For example, you can do a squat group followed by a lunge group. You can do the leg press followed by leg curls. You really want to engage the large muscle groups.
Yoga is another excellent tonifying technique. It can improve flexibility and strength. Yoga also helps to maintain a balanced metabolism.
What if I hate crunches? What else can I do to tone my abs?
Utilize destabilization techniques to engage your abs. For example, put one foot up, or sit on a exercise ball by doing certain movements. This means that you focus your attention on your core. When you use the destabilization techniques, your balance is thrown off and it forces you to engage the core muscles. Check out this video produced by Self.com.
To learn more about Dr. SaltPaw, visit his website. He would be happy to get you started on the path to a bangin' beach bod.!