While it still feels wintery outside, swimsuit season will be here before we know it. With hard work and focus, you can start the season feeling strong, fit and confident. Zenergy trainer, Pilates instructor and bodybuilder Emily Knowles understands what it takes. When preparing for bodybuilding competitions, she ramps up her training and makes key changes to her diet. Below are a few of her tried-and-true tips. (Now running at Pivot: Beach Body Ready in 8 Weeks.)

1. Have a plan.
   Map out your workouts and meals each week, leaving nothing to chance. Do you know what tomorrow’s workout will be? What about Friday? When is your rest day? Do you know when and what your next meal will be? If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
2. Be consistent.
   Building a fitter healthier body takes time if you want lasting change. “You need to do the work day after day, week after week, month after month – making it routine, ingrained and a way of life,” she explains. As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
3. Push yourself.
   Staying in your comfort zone isn’t the key to results. You need to push yourself in each workout to continue improving and get to the next level.
4. Remember: Less can be more.
   Short intense workouts can be more effective than long easy ones. If you work hard, you can get a huge calorie burn with just 20 minutes of cardio on any machine.

 

Though the clinic is now full, stay aware, drop-in wannabes: PIVOT Studio package holders may drop in with a punch if space is available.