Sofia Vergara recently posted a throwback picture of herself from 1992 when she was only 20. The Modern Family star is seen sporting her naturally blonde hair and wearing a bright floral-printed, one piece swimsuit. I have to admit, I was shocked! Not by how amazing she looked back then, more by how amazing she STILL looks now! If you ask me, Sofia looks better at 41 then she looked when she was 20!
Read more ¿Qué más?: 5 Ways to get your best butt by summer (VIDEOS)
Most of us would kill to go back to our teenage or early 20s bodies, but some women actually look better with age–like Sofia and even Jennifer Lopez. These women are in the best shape of their lives and probably look better in a bikini now than they did then. What's their youthful secret? I'm not too sure, that's why it's a secret, right? But I'm pretty positive that healthy eating, regular workouts and a few beauty tricks here and there are their weapons to looking their absolute best even at 40-something. Here's how you can slim down, get bikini ready by summer and look better than you did 10 years ago!
Drink PLENTY of water: A lot of women really underestimate the importance of water. Think about it: drinking water doesn't just hydrate and nourish your system, but it also helps prevent tummy bloat because it flushes everything out. Try making sure you're drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Adding lemons also helps reduce the amount of salt your body retains, therefore relieving bloat.
Do cardio: You're probably thinking to yourself: "I know, I know, ugh!" Working out isn't all fun and games, but getting enough cardio in is essential to staying in shape especially as we get older. Remember, in order to gain muscle you have to burn fat first. Try doing at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise at least three times a week. Doesn't matter if you're running on the treadmill, doing the eliptical, jogging or trying something more extreme like CrossFit, cardio is key!
Tone up: Make sure you're also including weight training and strengthening into your workout routine to help tighten and tone your thighs, legs, butt, arms and tummy. The trick to getting a flatter stomach is to always engage your abdominal muscles during every SINGLE exercise!
Drink less: I know the first thing I want to do when it gets warmer out is to enjoy a nice cold cocktail. The problem is when you drink too much alcohol your body gets dehydrated which causes your body to hold on to fluids, making your belly bloat. But that's not all. Alcoholic drinks tend to be high in calories and also stimulate your appetite making you want to eat much more. I'm not saying to cut out alcohol completely, but just be conscious of how much and how often you are drinking.
Cut the crappy carbs: You don't have to get rid of carbohydrates all together but there are good carbs and bad carbs. Bad carbs like white flour, sugar and white rice don't just have a lot of calories but they elevate your blood sugar levels and reduce your energy making you want to work out less. Choose healthy, whole grain carbs like oats, quinoa and brown rice instead.
Self-tan: A tanner body tends to look mor e toned and more radiant. But since we know too much sun exposesure is absolutely bad for you, try using a gradual self-tanner like Jergens Natural Glow 3 Days to Glow Moisturizer ($10).
Image via Sofia Vergara/Instagram
