BY MONIQUE BARTLETT
What’s your workout motivation? Do you have an event coming up that you want to look great for? Is your back fat hanging out? Is your belly hanging over the top of your jeans? Are you looking for a new romantic partner? Do you need more energy? Are you tired of putting everyone else first before yourself? Why don’t you start by undressing yourself and staring at yourself in front of your mirror. If you don’t like what you see, then you have all the more reason to work out. Turn to your side and get a very good view of your side profile. This is an excellent way of checking whether you have a tummy that is starting to bulge or has bulged already.
If you start now, you can take control before things get out of hand. If you’ve really set your mind to it, you can lose a couple of inches in a just a few weeks. Weighing yourself on your bathroom scales is a good idea but personally I would recommend taking your body measurements. There may be some weeks when you weigh yourself on the scale and the scale isn’t moving in the right direction or just isn’t moving at all. You have to remember that as you are losing fat you should also be building muscle. So the scale may not move but you are still moving in the right direction. By taking your body measurements you will actually begin to see the inches you are losing and the real progress that you are making. This will help keep you motivated and on track.
Most of us tend to put on weight particularly in the mid section. You may think you need to do hundreds of sit ups but the reality is if you have a strong core you will strengthen your stomach muscles. That means you don’t have to lie on your back to get the results that you desire. You can reduce the size of your midsection by increasing your cardio as well as doing twisting movements and stationary exercises such as the plank. It’s also important to have good posture. Tighten your stomach muscles as you sit with your shoulders back. By sitting straighter, you will look and feel slimmer.
Whatever your motivation, know that by doing this for you it will only benefit those around you as well. You’ll look better, feel better, have more energy and those around you will be inspired by you. Know that you can succeed when you set your mind to it. There may be times when you struggle but know that every little bit of energy that you expend in your effort to lose weight is worth it.
