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Say Goodbye to Your Pot-Belly
The holidays are over and so are the pot-luck luncheons, so why are you still hanging on to your “pot-belly”. When did you decide to let it take space, hibernate, and keep you “warm” without offering rent each month? Now is the time to release that pot-belly since it will only keep you from reaching your full potential. The annoying pot-belly can cause back pain, restless sleep, heart disease, depression, and major lack of self-esteem.
It’s the New Year and time to find fitness and eating programs that work! This year focus on consistency and commitment instead of just the resolution itself. The resolution is the first step and from there you have earned the right to follow through and put your words into action. You can literally buy all the fitness magazines, infomercial gadgets, diet books, fitness equipment and gym memberships, but if you don’t apply them to your life - they are useless. The second step is to pay really close attention to your nutrition or lack there of. Shrinking your waist is 80% diet and 20% exercise. The food you eat is a vital part in achieving the abs you’ve been longing to see again or to sculpt for the first time. Consume lean proteins (such as fish and chicken), fresh and organic fruits and vegetables, and nuts and whole-grains. Stay away from refined sugars and any processed foods. Think of grazing throughout the day, eating 5-6 mini meals. Staying hydrated with water is also the key to your success. When you stay hydrated with good ole H2O, you will have more energy, less bloating, and you will snack less.
Cardio exercise is important to release your pot-belly, but resistance exercises are even more important. The more muscle your build, the more calories your burn. Try this for maximizing your abs… Lie back on your elbows and lift your pelvis with both feet on the ground (knees bent). Now, lift one leg slowly trying to bring your knee to your nose. You should feel this in your abs and in your hamstring (back of leg) on your supporting leg. Repeat 8-10 times on each side working all reps on one leg before alternating. Deep breathing is another favorite of mine and you can do this exercise anywhere. Inhale deeply through the nose and exhale though the mouth releasing all the air you just inhaled. As you exhale, take your abs down and back towards the spine. Think of a vacuum cleaner suctioned to your back drawing your abs toward it. You will be amazed at the effectiveness of deep breathing. Keep regular with your workouts and adjust to “clean” eating and you will succeed. Evicting your pot-belly for living in a place that was never for rent is more than satisfying!
WENDIE PETT is a nationally renowned fitness expert and coach, mother, speaker, author and creator of the Visibly Fit™ exercise program. Her many Visibly Fit™ instructional DVDs teach wellness maximization through the balance of mind, body, and spirit as well how to use your body as your gym. To learn more about Wendie and her program visit - www.wendiepett.com and www.wakeupwithwendiepett.com.
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