Summer is right around the corner, and we’re already feeling those summer vibes ☀️ A new season means a new opportunity to refresh your wellness routine!

Today we’re sharing 3 simple tips to turn up the heat on your fitness routine and feel even stronger, healthier, more confident, and more radiant for summer! 

Wake up with the sun 

The sun rises earlier in the summer, so it’s the perfect time to set your alarm and get into a new morning routine. We LOVE exercising first thing before the day gets too hectic — honestly if we don’t get our workout done in the morning, it just doesn’t happen. 

More reasons to wake up and work out: Exercise floods your body with feel-good endorphins and sends oxygen and nutrients to your lungs. This boosts your energy, mood, and brain power for the rest of the day. Studies also show that when you exercise early, you’re likely to get more movement in throughout the day. 

Looking for some extra motivation to rise, shine, and sweat? Join us in the 6:40 Program in the TIU app. With this program, we’re encouraging you to work out 6 days a week for 40 minutes — and to get your workout done by 6:40 am! Learn more about the program here!

Take your sweat sesh into the sunshine

As the weather warms up, try adding outdoor workouts to your routine. Get some extra cardio in with jogs, hikes, or bike rides. You can also try the TIU5K Program in your app to ease into running and feel more powerful on the pavement. Or simply go for a stroll with your morning coffee or after dinner. It doesn’t need to be your whole workout, but it feels amazing to move your body outdoors. 

Plus, studies show that being outside in nature can significantly lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and even help relieve inflammation and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). 

Drink up...even more!

You already know that hydration is key to boosting your energy, metabolism, and mood. Research shows that dehydration can slow your metabolism by as much as 3 percent and that upping your water intake leads to an increased rate of burning energy instead of storing it as fat. 

When you’re dehydrated, it decreases oxygen flow to the brain and makes your heart work harder to pump out oxygen. This leads to fogginess, exhaustion, and sluggishness — especially during workouts. Being properly hydrated will help you feel more invigorated, motivated, and perform at your best during your sweat sessions. 

We always recommend drinking half your body weight (pounds) in ounces of water each day. For example, a 150 lb-woman should aim for 75 oz of water per day. During the summer months when the weather is warm, you should up this even more — especially if you’re exercising outdoors. Sweating naturally helps cool the body down, but it also means you’re losing water and electrolytes. 

Replenish your stores by drinking plenty of water! You can add a pinch of Himalyan sea salt to help restore electrolytes, and give your H20 summery tropical vibes with citrus, mint, or muddled berries.