Everyone wants to look their best in the summer months. While exercise and diet are important year round, you can get into great shape for summer in just a few months with the right work out plan and diet. It is important, however, that you keep a balanced routine, and not focus on diet alone.

Cardio Work Outs

Cardio or aerobic work outs are important for burning fat and toning muscle mass. Any exercise that raises your heart rate and oxygen intake is considered aerobic exercise. This includes jogging, swimming, treadmills, ellipticals, stair masters, and bicycling. The average person should aim for at least one hundred and fifty minutes of aerobic exercise per week. However, if you are trying to get into great shape for summer in just a few months, it can be very beneficial to double that amount to three hundred minutes of aerobic exercise per week. This averages out to around an hour per aerobic workout.

Strength Training

Strength training is also an important part of getting into great shape for summer. You don't want to just be thin, you want to be toned and have some muscle definition. The average person should do strength training at least twice per week. Again, if you want to get into great shape for summer in just a few months you should double this amount.

The best way to start out in strength training is by doing exercises that use your own body weight to build muscle. This includes exercises such as sit ups, pushups, chin ups and squats. As you build muscle mass and tone muscle, you can increase your weight lifting work out to include free weights such as dumbbells and resistance machines.

Diet and Nutrition

All the work outs in the world will not get you into great shape for summer if you don't watch what you eat. You need to take in as little fat as possible, no more than thirty to forty grams per day. This way when you work out you are burning off the fat already in and on your body, not just the fat you are taking in. You also have to be careful about what types of carbs you take in. Complex carbohydrates are the best for providing energy for your work outs and your daily activities. These types of carbs will burn much easier and not turn into fat. Complex carbohydrates include foods such as breads, pastas, fruits and other whole grains.

Finally, you need to increase your protein intake . Protein is used to build muscle, and is an important part of your diet. Try healthy grilling for lean protein and veggies. You also need to focus on when you eat the most. Carbs should be eaten before your work out to provide energy for burning fat. Proteins should be eaten within three hours after your work out, when the muscle will be able to make the most use of the protein and calories you are putting into your body.