Shirts vs. Skins: Which Muscles to Workout to Look Good on the Beach

Why is it that so many beach body workouts are just for women? We know you want to look good on the beach too, especially on LA beaches! No one wants to be that guy wearing a shirt to cover up when everyone else is showing off their taut skin and sexy body.

Now’s the time to start revving up your body for all that hot fun in the sun!

Muscles That Make You Look Good on the Beach

Whatever bathing suit is best for your body type, when you flaunt your body on an LA beach, certain muscles will stand out most. The muscles you need to focus on for beach preparedness are:

• Your shoulders
• Your chest
• Your waist (front and back)
• Your calves

Why? For your top half, you want a “V-taper” look. That means broadening your chest and shoulders while cinching your waistline. Remember not to focus on your abs alone- back back fat is also the enemy!

On your bottom half, built calves stand out on the shore- especially when you’re spiking that volleyball or running to catch a pass.

Best Beach Body Exercises for Men

You can use exercises like these to target certain muscles in the weeks leading up to beach season.

Shoulders

• Barbell Z Press
• Barbell Squats

Chest

• Barbell Bench Press
• Decline Bench Fly

Waist

• Bicycle Crunches
• Barbell Dead Lifts

Calves

• Barbell Standing Calf Raises
• Seal Jumps

When to Start Your Beach Body Workout Plan

If you’re trying to get in shape after a fitness break, it might take a couple of months to get your body as sexy shirtless as you want it to be. If you’ve been keeping up with your workouts, you only need 4-6 weeks to sculpt and boost for the beach.

Eating for a Sexy Beach Body

During your 4-6 week beach build-up period, it is important to eat for a shredded look. You’ll want to avoid foods that make you bloat- like beans or lentils. Sweeteners are also a bad choice.

If you’re doing a lot of lifting, get your carbs through whole grains like oats or Ezekiel bread. Balance your macronutrient intake to limit carbs if you’ve got fat to burn. Besides that, just get a lot of greens and lean protein in.

Beach Day Boosts

When beach day arrives, use these day-of tips to prep for the skins-side of beach body bragging:

• Eat an hour and a half before you hit the beach
• Opt for lean protein, slow-burning carbs, and healthy fat
• Do push-ups, bicep curls, and lateral raises to pump up your muscles
• Don’t forget your sunscreen, water, and beach gear

You’re ready to go!

Gold’s Gym SoCal is an association of separate clubs—click here for info.

Gain more muscle for your beach body with this FREE Muscle Mass Guide.