It’s a little less than 2 weeks until the sounding alarm of bathing suit season — the 4th of July — and if you’ve already written yourself off as not being bikini ready, a new book says there’s still hope. “2-Week Total Body Turnaround” fitness expert and Prevention magazine contributing editor Chris Freytag joins TODAY to show us just a few of the key moves that can get you in shape, in just two weeks.
We've all had times when we need a little push in the right direction. Maybe you're someone who has always been active, but got sick or injured and had to take a break. Perhaps you took a vacation and couldn't get motivated to start moving again, or became so swamped at work or busy with family obligations that even the idea of lacing up your shoes and squeezing in a workout seemed impossible. Or maybe you've just succumbed to one of any other dozens of distractions that have kept you from exercising regularly or eating right, and fell naturally into a pattern of inertia.
What if you've never been someone who's been very active? Former exercisers aren't the only ones who will benefit from this program. If you've been planted on the couch for so long that just getting off it seems like way too big of a barrier to get past, you've come to the right place. You won't stay sedentary for long after reading through this book, which is loaded with dozens of stay-motivated tips designed to get you moving and keep you moving.
And even frequent exercise enthusiasts need help: If you're stuck in a rut that you can't climb out of or are just plain bored with your current program, consider this your prescription for a mind/body makeover. Over the course of the next two weeks, you'll revitalize your routine, break through a plateau and jump-start your way to real, measurable results.
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Get bikini-ready with the help of “2-Week Total Body Turnaround” by fitness expert Chris Freytag.
Image: “2-Week Total Body Turnaround”
1Pfalsefalseremove-borderTwo weeks for lasting change
No matter what your situation, the “Two-Week Total Body Turnaround” is designed to help you feel revitalized, confident and stronger than ever. We all know the myriad benefits of working out, from combating diabetes, heart disease and cancer to building strong healthy bones, fighting stress and boosting your mood. I'm here to help you get started in achieving all of these benefits and more.
Of course, it also helps when the changes you see are a lot more immediate. And there's nothing more gratifying than having your pants feel a little looser, or the needle on the scale slip down a few numbers. When I first came up with this program, I knew it was going to be successful, because it puts together everything I've known to be true about losing weight and making a change for a healthy lifestyle — targeted strength moves, fat-blasting cardio exercise, smart eating tips. But I was eager to put it into action to see how it worked on "real people," just like you. So I recruited a test panel of 30 women who were at a stage of their lives where, for various reasons, they felt they really needed to make a change. Some stories may sound familiar: A few never lost the baby weight from nearly a decade ago, others started new, stressful jobs and haven't had time to fit in exercise or are simply balancing the demands of family and themselves. Others say they've just been slowly accumulating pounds each year, and hadn't realized how heavy or out of shape they had become.
Some had inspiring stories from the start — widows who have gained weight since losing their spouses, breast-cancer survivors who put on extra pounds with each chemotherapy treatment, a mother who used food for comfort when coping with a sick child, a patient who went into early menopause following a hysterectomy. Some were motivated by upcoming vacations, others by the thought that they just wanted to be in shape for themselves and their families.
Their results were more than just awesome — they were awe-inspiring. In just two weeks, they lost an average of 6 pounds and more than 10 inches, with some losing as much as 13 pounds and more than 22 inches! They unanimously reported that their energy levels soared, they slept better and simply felt stronger and healthier. But perhaps even more importantly, they found newfound confidence in themselves and in what they could achieve when they set out to make a difference in their lives and their health.
What our testers told us
This plan not only got me started, it kept me focused. Whenever I would think, "Oh, I just don't feel like exercising," I would remind myself that it was only for two weeks. And I can do anything for two weeks!"
"I've gotten to a state of mind where I'm not dieting — I'm living. I can eat what I want, but in moderation. I view it as a life change, not a diet. I'm not depriving myself of anything. Life is full of choices. Make the choice to be healthier, not thinner, makes all of the difference for me."
Excerpted from "2-Week Total Body Turnaround" by Chris Freytag with permission from Rodale Press. (c) 2009 Rodale Press. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.