Have Gym Will Travel

You spend the winter months sweating in the gym getting your body ready to strut surfside with confidence. But with vacations, barbeque feasts, margaritas, and friends who think every hour is happy hour keeping staying swimsuit lean can be a real challenge. 

Being well equipped to workout on the road can be quick and easy with the gym in a bag and your total body toning routine. Regardless of your very unique fitness profile, you can improve with the ultimate weight training convenience – a resistance band. 

A Resistance Band Rocks Because...
* It is so small you can fit it in the tiniest of bags, making it ideal for travel.
* It can be used for an endless variety of exercises.
* It comes in different resistance levels so you can’t outgrow it.
* It is extremely inexpensive. (Money should be spent on important stuff, like new duds to show off your buff self.)
* It works wonders at shaping and toning the entire body.

Do the following exercises in order (with no rest in between) as one giant set. This way you can get a cardio boost and full-body strengthening workout in one shot. For maximum intensity increase the band resistance when you can do10 repetitions.

Squat Press
Works: Quadricep, Hamstring, Deltoid, & Tricep Muscles

Start by standing on band with feet hip-width apart and arms by your sides, palms up, holding the ends of the band. With shoulders back and chest forward, inhale and squat back, as if sitting in a chair, while curling your arms up to your shoulders. (Make sure your knees are over your feet and not extended over your toes during the squat.) Next, exhale and rise on a count of one, extending your arms overhead while turning your palms until they face forward. Then slowly lower your arms while turning your palms till they face behind you, working the triceps, as you squat again. Repeat for desired reps then go to Row/X-Cross.

Row/X-Cross
Works: Back & Rear Deltoid Muscles

Start with feet on band, back straight, and bend slightly forward from the waist. Keep abs tight and shoulders back. With band crossed in front, pull up and back, leading with your elbows. Row arms back as far as you can without moving shoulders and contract back muscles (Hint: To contract your back muscles try to touch your shoulder blades behind you.) for a count of one then slowly return to starting position. Then stand up straight and extend arms up and out. The band should be in the shape of a giant X. Return to starting position. Repeat entire move for desired reps then go to Single Arm Chest Lift.

Single Arm Chest Lift
Works: Pectoral & Anterior Deltoid Muscles

Start by standing with feet on band, hip-width apart. With a straight back, abs tight, shoulders back, one hand on hip, and the other holding the band down by your side. (Hint: Keep a slight bend in the straight arm throughout the move to keep tension in the muscle.) Exhale and extend the straight arm up and across your body. Contract chest muscle at top position. Lower slowly and repeat for desired reps. Switch arms and repeat reps on that side. Go to Upright Row/Lateral Raise.

Upright Row/Lateral Raise
Works: Anterior & Medial Deltoid Muscles

Keep feet in band, hip-width apart. With a straight back, shoulders back, chest forward, and hands in front raise band in up to shoulders, so that your elbows are out to the side for a count of one. At the top position try and touch your shoulder blades together so muscles will contract. Lower slowly to starting position. Then raise bands sideways up to shoulder height on a count of one. (At the top position your shoulder, elbow, and wrist should all be in line. Your upper arm should be in line with your shoulder.) Lower slowly to starting position and repeat entire move for desired reps then go to Overhead Press/Kick Back.

Overhead Press/Kick Back
Works: Tricep Muscles

Stand with back straight, one foot behind you on band, and both arms raised overhead holding band ends. With your elbows almost touching your head inhale and lower band behind you slowly till you feel a stretch in your triceps. Now exhale and raise band back up to starting position. Repeat for desired reps. Then with both feet on band hip-width apart, arms bent at a 45 degree angle by your sides, and a flat back bend upper body forward slightly forward from the waist. Exhale and extend arms back behind you while turning palms so they face up at the top position. Lower slowly to starting position. Repeat Kick Back for desired reps then go to Forward/Side Curl.

Forward/Side Curl
Works: Bicep Muscles

Stand with both feet on band hip-width apart. With back straight, shoulders back, arms by your sides, and palms up, exhale and curl arms up to shoulders contracting biceps at top position. Lower slowly to starting position and repeat for desired reps. Next move arms to the sides of your body. With your upper arms glued to your sides repeat curls for desired reps.

Summer Survival Tips
* Sexy Skin – Add a little almond oil to your suntan oil. Not only will it leave your skin extra soft, but almond oil also has a skin-tightening effect. This will help your skin look extra toned over your muscles.
* Beach Breakfast – Try watermelon for breakfast. It tastes great and it’s refreshing, light and packed with nutrients. Best of all, watermelon acts as a natural diuretic, so you’ll look your leanest when you hit the beach.
* Protect Thyself – Nothing ages the skin, especially the face and hands, faster than the sun so make sure your lotion has at least 35 SPF. According to Patricia Wexler, one of New York City’s top dermatologists, "Wearing 15 SPF in the summer is like using a condom with a hole in it."
* Party Smart – Summer time may mean parties galore, but alcohol robs your skin of moisture (unattractive), stresses your heart, liver and kidneys (unhealthy), and loosens your inhibitions (unflattering and sometimes unwise). Just say, "Club soda with lime," and have a spectacular time sober. You’ll feel great the next day and be able to remember if that "hottie" you met last night was really hot

.