posted
04/5/12
The sizzling temps are almost here, which can only mean one thing—you’re going to be hitting a beach soon. And to ensure you look as natural on the sand as Sir David Hasselhoff himself, I’ve created a four-part Made Man Beach Season Workout. Part 1 is all about setting some ground rules and laying the foundation for a killer six-pack. Follow this plan, and you’ll soon start looking as beach-ready as a Santa Monica lifeguard. Note: a tan might not hurt either.
Drink Lots of Water
This month, you should be drinking lots of water. As I mentioned last week, it’s best to consume at least half your body weight in ounces of water per day. Your muscles are roughly 70 percent water. To get them looking full, you have to be hydrated. And go for ice water—it raises your metabolism by up to 24 percent for 90 minutes.
Lay Off the Sauce
If you want to look ripped and lean on the beach this summer, then step up today and say, “I’m not going to consume alcohol for a month.” Make yourself a contract—hell, print out this page—and sign it. Why? Because alcohol will wreck your body. Beer and cocktails have tons of calories, and binge-drinking damages your production of testosterone, which is key for muscle growth. Now, you can still go to the bars with your buddies. Just act as the DD and load up on water. And if anybody gives you crap, just say you only drink two nights a week, and this isn’t one of those nights. Bottom line: if you want the six-pack abs, you’ve gotta give up the six-packs.
Always keep in mind: to get ripped abs, you have to have a great diet. Eighty percent of your body composition is determined by what you eat.
Get Plenty of Sleep
Your body needs six to eight hours of sleep per night. It gives your muscles ample time to recover from the day’s workout and grow. It’ll also keep your stress levels under control, which is key for proper body functioning. If you’re having trouble getting to sleep, here’s a quick tip: buy purple sheets. The color will help you relax and get your Zs. And, ironically enough, make you look less like Grimace.
Keep Your Estrogen in Check
Yep, guys have estrogen. But you can inhibit it with a few powerful foods—things like radishes, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, spinach, cabbage and cauliflower. They’ll help your body metabolize and remove that estrogen. Also, watch out for soy. Soy milk and soy protein can actually raise the body’s levels of estrogen. So say goodbye to Boca burgers, in the rare event you said hello to them in the first place.
Eat Lean, Get Protein
Have eggs in the morning. They’re an inexpensive source of protein, and they’ll also help with fat-burning. Push the vegetables, rather than the tortilla chips. Get plenty of olive oil and flaxseed oil. Go with the occasional lean flank steak, which has a lot of great anabolic (muscle-building) properties. And always keep in mind: to get ripped abs, you have to have a great diet. Eighty percent of your body composition is determined by what you eat.
OK, now for the Week 1 Workout, which is really going to lean you out…
She’s running toward your beach body—and your ability to avoid flotation device jokes.
