Thursday, July 17, 2008

Ten Tips to Trim and Tone Your Tummy


Slash Your Waistline!
Whether you want to hit the beach, have plans for your honeymoon, or you just want to get in better shape, there is no time like the present to do it. Tightening the stomach muscles is the continual focus of a number of women, but accomplishing such a feat isn't always easy. With dedication and discipline, though, you should be able to achieve noticeable improvements in your midsection. Read on for some helpful tips!

Avoid eating after "X" o'clock.
Set a deadline for all your snacks and stick to it. An occasional miss due to a special event, party or unexpected late dinner is all right, but don't make a habit of it.

Compete!
If you really want to get into good shape, sign up for a road race, a triathlon, an intramural sports team, a club soccer team, or the athletic activities that your work organizes from time to time. You can also challenge a friend or family member who wants to lose weight or trim those abdominals to a friendly competition. Whoever drops five pounds or one size first wins. If you sign up for a road race a couple months out, you will have plenty of time to get your body into race shape, and then you'll ultimately be building your muscles and improving your diet for a cause, which is a lot more compelling than doing it for your own satisfaction.

Curb your cravings.
Don't run over to the cookie jar or candy dish every time your sweet tooth begs for something delightful. Make sweets a special treat and do what you can to avoid eating them all the time.

Drink lots of water.
Sometimes your stomach feels a pang and immediately you decide you want food. Instead, try pouring yourself a glass of ice water and see if you're still hungry after drinking that. To stay healthy and replenish all the fluids your body uses, you should be drinking a good amount of water each day. To determine the amount specific to your body, divide your weight in half and drink that many ounces of water per day. (At least!)

Eat lots of fruits and veggies every day.
When you get hungry, try snacking on something that will really help your body to get into and stay into the shape you want. A bag of carrot sticks, a fresh apple, or a ripe banana can really go a long way in giving your body the energy it needs to make it through the day. Also, if you are eating healthier foods, they should help to fill you up so you don't spend as much time snacking on things that aren't good for you.

Get your heart rate up.
Aerobic exercise contributes greatly to toning muscles and improving body appearance and functioning. Jog, power walk, run, swim, jump rope, do sets of jumping jacks, bike, roller-blade - do something active!

Sit up straight.
During a grueling workday or a long and tedious school day, we often find it more comfortable to sit back and slouch in front of our computers and at our desks. Some studies have shown that this relaxed and slumped position only encourages our ab muscles to be loose and flabby. Sit up straight and practice good posture to help your quest for firm stomach muscles.

Suck it in.
When you are deeply involved at work or at school, while you're driving or even as you relax watching television, try this simple exercise. Tighten your stomach muscles and suck in your gut as tightly as you can. Sit up straight and focus on keeping everything tightly sucked in to your spine. This will help you to develop better abdominals and good posture.

Try Pilates and Yoga routines a couple times a week.
By working your muscles with intense stretching exercises, your body becomes accustomed to good posture and form. Do a pilates or a yoga workout three times a week and you should note marked improvement in your abdominal region.

Work out.
Odds are that your abs won't surprise you on their own. You've got to put a little muscle into it, whether that means engaging in a routine of crunches or trying yoga on for size. Experiment with different methods and discover what works for you - even if it is some cheesy Abs of Steel video from a decade or two ago!

Now that you know how to jumpstart a campaign to a trimmer, tighter stomach, what are you waiting for?
There's no time like the present to start working your abs into swimsuit shape. Follow the steps as outlined above and add your own special touches. Try healthier snacks like raw veggies and fresh fruit. Find an exercise buddy and challenge each other to work out to the best of your ability. Stay positive, stay motivated and you'll notice great changes in no time!
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