It's that time of year again when everyone has a resolution to burn the tire around the waist,lose the grip on the handles and wave good-bye only once (arm fat)...but do you need to wait until the new year to make a change just to see the motivation loose it's steam by mid March? No, you can take advantage of these secrets and stay fabulous all year round!
As you know, I love my curves and enjoy being plus size, but as with any extra weight it can be a health risk. So I decided to alter my way of thinking and choose activities that best suits my needs.
If you're a curvaceous woman and would like to slim down and/or tone up, then joining your local gym and taking a body toning class is a good idea. Getting a personal trainer who has experience with helping women, specifically, is also a smart move. After all, no matter how equal men and women are in some areas, they are quite different when it comes to biology. For example, women tend to accumulate fat deposits in different areas of the body, and would want to target those parts more than a man would.
"But what if I stop working out and all of my muscle turns to fat?" Believe it or not, this is a common concern amongst people who are not sure about working out. But you can put your mind at ease as it's physically impossible for muscle to turn into fat, or vice-versa. It would be kind of like believing a piece of chicken could turn into ice cream if you let it sit long enough. When you're working out, you tend to need more calories to fuel your body. But if you keep eating the same amount of calories, and stop exercising, then your body isn't burning off those extra calories and you'll gain weight.
That being said, it is important to maintain a regular workout schedule. Once you reach a certain level, you may find it hard to lose more weight or get fitter. This is commonly referred to as reaching a plateau. When this happens you can either push harder (be sure to consult with your trainer) to get past it, or you can go into maintenance mode where you exercise just enough to stay at your current level.
Even though you will be focused on body toning, you still should do cardiovascular workouts as part of your routine. Generally speaking, yoga, dancing, and swimming will add tone and some muscle mass, while cardiovascular exercises will help you to lose weight and improve your overall health. If anybody tells you that you have to give up one form of exercise for the other, don't believe them; you can do them all. I personally like exercising with my Wii; Zumba Fitness, sports and the dance games. Awesome fun way to burn calories!
Keep a "goal" journal of your progress and failures. Don't over exert yourself, drink plenty of fluids and do what's best for you. Never be too hard on yourself. It takes time and discipline. Have a focus; a vision as to "why" rather than so much a need. We all "need" to shed a few pounds, but giving it a valid reason seems to jump start your engines.
Video blogging is an excellent way to chart your success. You share your journery with others and even make some new friends along the way. Capture the good and the bad, be real,be genuine and feel great about looking your best.
****photo by griffs0000****
