Fitness & Wellness

Unusual But Amazing Workouts

Published by superadmin on March 27, 2018 | Leave a response

Unusual but amazing workouts can renew your interest in working out and help you get into shape while having a blast. Imagine walking your dog, while cross country skiing at the same time. It’s called Skijoring and there’s even races. While the dog does some of the work, having a harness and straps to pull you, it’s still a great workout and can be fun for both you and Rover. Dogs need exercise, too and it’s a great bonding experience. In the summer, you can do doga, which is doing yoga with the dog.

Love karaoke, but also want exercise?

Try this new version of spin class, called Karaoke spin. It’s also known as cycle karaoke. When you’re singing while you spin, it helps breathing techniques and gives your lungs more of a workout. If you can’t easily sing while you’re pedaling, you’re not pedaling hard enough. It reminded me of a client who thoroughly enjoyed giving her kids a zinger. She used to ride bike with them and when she felt it was right, sang at the top of her lungs while pedaling. Needless to say, she had to pedal pretty hard to keep up with her kids who were fleeing her in embarrassment.

Jukari Fit to Fly is made for the adventurous.

If you loved the jungle gym and trapeze as a kid, you’ll love Jukari Fit to Fly. This workout uses a trapeze-like apparatus that helps you tone your body. It lets you swing, fly, spin and jump while you’re feeling like the top performer at a Vegas Cirque du Soleil review, except you’re far closer to the ground. In fact, it was created by collaboration between Cirque du Soleil and Reebok, so it should feel authentic.

If you are a fan of Bollywod movies, Doonya may be for you.

If the dance moves of Slum Dog Millionaire made you smile, imagine how great you feel when you do them on your own. This high energy workout will help you building strength and flexibility, while building your cardio. It offers the unique sounds and movements that sets it apart from other dance exercise classes.

If you’ve ever watched your hamster in an exercise ball, you’ll appreciate what it must be like when you try water walking. Some deem this mode of exercise dangerous, particularly if you have an untrained operator, so do your homework before you decide to try it and only work with the best.
Try Capoeira, an artform from Brazil that uses dance movement, combat moves and special music to improve agility, flexibility, strength and speed.
Try Krav Maga, an Israeli hand-to-hand combat technique that uses instinctive reactions for self-defense.
Take a pole dancing class, but if you’re not that adventurous, try polga. Polga combines yoga with pole dancing to provide benefits in all areas of fitness; strength, flexibility, balance and endurance.

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How To Stay Motivated

Published by superadmin on March 14, 2018 | Leave a response

The biggest cause of fitness program failure is quitting it before success was achieved. You need to identify how to stay motivated, once you’ve created your goals and the plan to achieve them. As a trainer, I find that most people want instant results and after the first few weeks, their enthusiasm and desire seem to wane. For some, it can even happen after the first few sessions. That’s why I also work on motivation. Some people find that knowing that someone is holding them accountable keeps them coming to the gym.

Change your “stinken’ thinken’.”

That line can be attributed to Zig Zigler, one of the original motivational speakers. It’s all about perspective when it comes to staying motivated. If you focus on the negative, it’s bound to turn the experience to a negative one. For instance, if you’re constantly reminding yourself you don’t have time to go to the gym, you’ll experience stress and finally convince yourself you don’t. If you turn that around and look forward to your time at the gym as a break you deserve away from the hustle and bustle, it becomes a treat.

Set specific goals that are achievable.

I want to get into shape, isn’t specific. You’ll never be able to measure your progress or decide when you’ve reached it. I want to be able to fit into a size 6, run two miles without stopping or lose 35 pounds are goals that are specific, achievable and measurable. To make the goal complete you need to give it a time frame, such as three months or six months. It becomes more of a game when you have goals, rather than a drudgery.

Schedule a specific workout time.

If you do anything at a specific time for long enough, it feels wrong when you’re not doing it. Just like brushing your teeth, working out should be part of your daily habits. While you won’t workout hard every day, getting some exercise, such as walking, should part of your daily activities. Trying to fit a workout into your daily schedule when you have time often means never. Creating a specific appointment with the gym helps ensure you’ll make it.

Workout with a friend. Many people that join the group workouts, do so with a friend. It makes both of you more accountable, while adding more enjoyment to the experience.
Do fun workouts, besides working out at the gym. Going rock climbing, bike hiking and even out for a night of dancing provides healthy exercise and a great break from the gym. You can add it to your workout regimen to supplement three days a week at the gym.
Keep supportive people around you. One of the reasons group sessions are so popular is that there’s so much energy and support for each other. You’ll find the same type of atmosphere at our gym.
Track your progress. You can track your gym accomplishments on paper or take pictures of yourself every four to six weeks in the same outfit and using the same stance. You’ll see an amazing difference along the way.

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Are You Sabotaging Your Calorie Counting

Published by superadmin on March 3, 2018 | Leave a response

Are you sabotaging your calorie counting by subtracting the calories burned by exercise? Is calorie counting actually ruining your attempt to lose weight? There’s so many ways to fail to lose weight, you might think you need a big elaborate plan that must be followed to the letter, but in reality, the simpler you make it, the better off you’ll be. That’s why many people find that learning to eat smarter, not counting calories is the best method of weight loss.

If you choose to count calories, watch out for this pitfall.

Too often people become obsessed with calorie counting and not only restrict their caloric intake, also subtract the calories they’ve burned. That becomes a slippery slope as it gets even more detailed when they start associating specific movements, like running up and down the stairs a specific number of times, so they can consume their favorite treat. To make matters worse, there are levels of intensity for various exercises…and anyone that’s hungry for a sweet treat naturally chooses the highest intensity level, regardless of whether or not they’ve achieved it. It can make the difference between weight gain and loss.

Counting calories leaves you feeling deprived.

At the end of the day, everything was about food. What you could eat, what you couldn’t and how many calories you have left for dinner. People who diet often go to bed hungry. Some studies show that it even can cause changes that lower your metabolism, leaves you hungrier by making hormonal changes that tell the brain you’re hungrier and even place a higher mental focus and excitement on eating. It becomes the reward for all situations, the soother of all bad moods.

Eating healthy stops all the pitfalls.

Sure, you can’t down a whole pecan pie when you’re eating healthy and expect to shed a single pound, but that shouldn’t stop you from eating a little on special occasions. You never have to feel hungry, because there’s so many filling foods that are also delicious. You even plan to eat snacks when you eat healthy. Eating healthy means making smarter choices that are minor. It might mean eating brown rice instead of white or substituting Greek yogurt for sour cream.

Don’t make too many drastic changes at once. You’ll never stick with a weight loss program if you start out exercising for hours and restricting your food intake drastically. Start making changes, but don’t go overdo it to a point that it’s not sustainable.
Stick with smart eating. Don’t try to lose weight with the latest, “greatest” diet. Choose healthier foods and make lifestyle changes that last forever.
Weight loss and a healthy lifestyle isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. Too many people sabotage themselves by cutting their calorie intake too low. It’s not sustainable over the long haul.
When combining healthy eating with exercise, get the help of a professional to find the best foods to eat. For instance, if you’re training for a marathon, a low carbohydrate diet simply won’t do.

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Nutrition For Life

Published by superadmin on February 24, 2018 | Leave a response

If you want adequate nutrition for life, you need to learn how to make healthier choices when it comes to food. While there are all sorts of programs, including one called Nutrition for Life the key to all of them is eating healthier. You need all the important nutrients to have your body perform properly and keep your caloric intake lower. Choosing foods that are not processed or minimally processed is one key to a healthier lifestyle. Processing not only reduces the nutrients, it also may mean the addition of harmful chemicals that cause damage.

Know your body.

The first key is paying attention to your body. While milk is a great addition to a healthy eating menu, if you’re lactose intolerant you’ll suffer from digestive upsets that vary from gas to vomiting and diarrhea. Note how you feel after you eat certain foods. Everyone is different, so getting nutrients may be different too. Rather than get your calcium from milk products, consider broccoli, sardines or kale. Be aware that some foods will produce gas until your body adjusts to them, such as high fiber foods like beans and fruit. Go slowly with these until your body is ready for more.

Watch out for snack foods.

Unfortunately, there seems to be more snack foods available than healthy foods….or maybe it just seems that way when you go to the grocery hungry. Chips, cookies, candy and even carbonated drinks can add pounds without adding nutrition. The best route to go is to plan ahead. Start by eating before you go grocery shopping to avoid hunger impulse buying of snacks. Prepare healthy snacks ahead of time and have them ready to eat for those times you need a quick pick-me-up, like mid morning or mid afternoon. These can be veggies and dip, fruit or even yogurt or hard-boiled eggs.

Eat lots of veggies and some fruit.

Unless you’ve lived in an isolated location, you probably already know vegetables are good for you. Fruit is also, but the higher sugar content means you eat a little less of it than fresh vegetables. The closer to their natural state, the better. Six to thirteen servings is the baseline, with the colors of the servings varying. You should have a rainbow of color, with some fresh green leafy veggies, bright orange, purple, red and yellow ones. Each color comes from a phytonutrient that adds health benefits.

Make sure you have adequate protein. Protein comes from a number of sources. If you use animal based protein, vary it and keep it lean. You can eat eggs, fish, chicken, lean beef and other animal sources or opt for vegetarian options like legumes.
Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Not only does adequate water ensure you’ll fight dehydration and help keep your kidneys healthier, it also makes you feel fuller. Sometimes, especially after a workout, you’ll feel hungry. It might really mean you’re thirsty. Try a bottle of water first.
When you eat healthy, you never have to diet. Healthy eating not only helps take off weight, it helps prevent it from returning.
Learn the difference between eating out of boredom, habit or exhaustion and real hunger. Don’t worry if you leave food on your plate if you’re full. Eat only until you’re full.

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Is Low Carb Actually Good For You

Published by superadmin on February 15, 2018 | Leave a response

Lately, a lot of attention has been given to low carb diets. They aren’t anything new. The Atkins diet was a low carb diet and that came out over 45 years ago. While the Atkins diet was quite aggressive and extreme, since then a variety of modifications and new diets have been introduced. The Atkins diet promoted eating high fat foods and often left you feeling horrible. The extremely low carbohydrate content forces your body to burn fat with a by product of ketones. Those make you feel bad with nausea and headache, leave your breath less than desirable and leave you lightheaded. Unfortunately, once you quit the diet the weight returns quickly.

Health risks can occur with a radical low carb diet.

When you’re not burning carbohydrates, you’re burning something else. It could be lean muscle mass. That slows your metabolism and is one of the reasons you gain weight more rapidly when the diet ends. Eating more meat than veggies can also increase bad cholesterol and leave you more prone to coronary disease. Eliminating the ketones created from burning fat can also put your kidneys into overtime and increase the risk of kidney stones.

Newer versions are “lower” carbohydrate diets with healthy foods supplying the carbohydrates.

One study showed the effect of a “lower” carbohydrate diet that had higher amounts of protein. The diet started with 50% of the calories from carbs, 15% from protein and 35% from fat with the dieters eating as much as they wanted. That tends to be more like the average diet. When they changed the allocation of protein and fat to 20% fat and 30% protein, people lost weight. That’s because the protein filled them more so they ate less. After 14 weeks the average participant lost 11 pounds with eight of those from body fat.

There are good carbs and bad carbs, just as there is good fat and bad fat.

You may already know that omega-3 fatty acids are healthy and also that carbs from cookies aren’t nearly as healthy as those from broccoli. The average American diet does contain far too many carbohydrates, but you don’t cut out an entire food group because of it. Cutting down on foods made with processed flour and keeping the pasta to a minimum won’t hurt you and is actually quite healthy. Just keep your low carb diet modified, keeping the good carbs like veggies and eliminating the bad ones, like candy and sugary products. Using this modification of a strict low carb diet provides healthy benefits and weight loss.

A healthy low carb diet can actually lower the bad cholesterol levels. The saturated fat in the diet raises the good cholesterol and lowers the bad.
Keeping your low carb diet high in vegetables, healthy fat and lean meat is the definition of healthy eating.
Modified low carb diets are easier to follow and maintain. Knowing the right type of food to eat eliminates the need for calorie counting.
No matter what type of diet you start, it will be healthier if you don’t go to extremes. Just as extremely low carb diets are bad for you, but modified ones are healthy, the same holds true for traditional calorie counting diets.

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Do You Need Supplements

Published by superadmin on February 3, 2018 | Leave a response

Before identifying whether you need supplements, let me first be clear about what that means. The very name, supplement, implies that you’re only supplementing healthy eating, not replacing it. That’s all that supplements should do. The next factors necessary to answer the question is the type of supplement, your health, age and lifestyle. While vitamin C is important to a healthy life, if you’re eating healthy, you should get an adequate amount. That’s not considering someone who’s under a lot of stress, which requires extra vitamin C or someone who smokes. There are also supplements that are supposed to help you build muscles or lose weight.

San Antonio is a sunny town, but you still may need extra vitamin D.

One of the best ways to get the vitamin D you need is to spend some time in the sun. However, today with all the push toward sunscreen, those ultraviolet rays have little chance to enter or turn into vitamin D created by the body. Sitting in an office all day with florescent light won’t build your vitamin D reserves either. For those that can’t drink vitamin D fortified milk or have a strict vegan diet, vitamin D may also be at a shortage. Vitamin D does so much for your body. It helps build stronger teeth and bones, make you mentally sharper, improve your immune system, reduce abdominal fat, provide healthier hair and heart health. The older you get, the less you create and absorb vitamin D. You might consider supplementing and a glass of fortified orange juice could be the answer.

Your age and sex makes a difference in the type of supplementation you should have.

Younger women who are menstruating, pregnant or lactating may need to supplement their iron. If they’re of birthing age, supplementation of folate is important. B12 is also important to boost energy levels. Older women tend to be at risk of magnesium deficiencies, which can cause muscle cramping, high blood pressure, low energy and hormone problems to name a few. Older people, whether women or men, tend to absorb fewer vitamins, even if they eat healthier, which makes supplementation more important.

Don’t expect supplementation to perform miracles.

You can’t eat junk, live a sedentary lifestyle, burn the candle at both ends and expect a pill or supplement to make a difference. NOTHING will ever replace a healthy diet, regular exercise, staying hydrated and sleeping for good health. Since not everyone is the same and circumstances change, sometimes supplements help. You’re better off drinking a smoothie made of whole foods like veggies and fruits, than using some of the supplement powders. Nobody regulates many of the “miracle” supplements for body building or weight loss, so you’re often paying high dollars for something that does no good.

If you eat healthy, most of your nutritional needs should be met. Always check with your doctor before reverting to any form of supplementation. Some interact with other medications and make them less effective.
While some nutrients are water soluble and won’t accumulate in your body, but just make you have expensive healthy urine, others are fat soluble and accumulate. Too much of those can cause health issues.
Fish oil, a supplement for Omega-3 fatty acids, has a large stock of studies showing its benefit for heart health.
If you’ve been ill, are over 50 or are pregnant, supplementing your diet with vitamins and minerals could be just what you need. Your doctor should always be consulted.

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The Best Low Carb Foods

Published by superadmin on January 24, 2018 | Leave a response

There’s nothing that beats eating healthy and making smart choices when it comes to food for losing weight and keeping it from returning. However, once in a while you want to get a head start on weight loss and lowering the carbohydrate intake is one way to do that. The best low carb foods are those that contain a lot of nutrients and taste good. They can become part of your normal eating pattern even after you shed those extra pounds and will help you prevent those pounds from returning.

Low carbohydrate foods are both good for your health and the dieter.

There’s a lot of good reasons to limit your intake of carbohydrates. One is that you’ll feel fuller because low carbohydrate foods don’t spike your blood sugar, only to drop it later. Instead, it helps it stay on an even keel. That balanced blood sugar level helps diabetics, while also helping prevent heart disease. Low carbohydrate diets have also been proven to be more beneficial in weight loss efforts than other types of diets. Low carbohydrate diets contain lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, which is good for everyone.

Say no to pasta and yes to healthy vegetarian alternatives.

You’ll love the yummy taste of spaghetti squash and won’t want to go back to regular noodles. Not only is it lower in carbohydrates, it offers dietary fiber, vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium and potassium. Zucchini noodles as an alternative also offer those same benefits. They’re both lower in carbs and calories, too. I love spaghetti squash baked and then mixed with a tablespoon of butter and roasted garlic, but using a spaghetti sauce on top is also a great way to enjoy your pasta without any pasta or guilt. Add a turkey meatball or two and a salad and you have a great meal.

Try something new with an old food you’re sure to love.

Have you ever heard of lamb’s lettuce? Maybe you’ve heard the term mâche. While it once was considered a weed, it’s now a hot culinary delight. This small plant grew in fields with cereal crops, so it’s also known as corn salad. It has a juicy tender leaf that has a slightly nutty flavor. The French serve it with vinaigrette and add roasted beets or hard boiled eggs. You can serve it with thinly sliced broccoli, sunflower seeds, onions, extra virgin olive oil and spices. Add a side of lean marinated steak and you have a delicious low carb meal.

Honey-soy glazed salmon with mushrooms and peppers create the perfect low carb meal that’s fit for a king. It’s nutritious and delicious.
Pizza crust from cauliflower is a low carb option that tastes even better than regular pizza and has more nutrition.
Hungry for a snack. Consider a low carb option like zucchini Parmesan chips. Everyone will love this option.
Grilled shrimp and mango on a bed of baby lettuce and couscous is a yummy meal whether it’s on the barbecue grill or stove. It’s also a delicious low carb option and extremely healthy too.

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Nutrition For Constipation

Published by superadmin on January 13, 2018 | Leave a response

If you’re finding that your bathroom trips are more and more disappointing, it can occur for a number of reasons. It might be lack of exercise. If that’s a problem, riding a bike for a half hour or so can really get your system moving and make your trip to the bathroom a success! It’s not always lack of movement that makes your movements slow and sluggish, sometimes you need better nutrition for constipation to get your elimination system eliminating and have the success you want behind the closed door.

Are you hydrated?

Water is extremely important when you want to conquer constipation. In fact, it’s important for all the organs of the body and all body processes. When you don’t have enough fluid in your system and even slightly dehydrated, the body borrows from less important organs to replenish the fluid throughout the rest of the body. That means you’ll have dry hard stool that doesn’t easily glide through the colon, which brings on constipation. Drink eight glasses of water a day. Carry a bottle with you and sip on it throughout the day.

You need fiber! Fiber! Fiber!

Is the message loud and clear. Foods that contain loads of fiber can get you going with great regularity. There are two different types of fiber, insoluble and soluble. The insoluble fiber gives your pooh bulk and sweeps the colon clean. The soluble fiber helps you stay healthier by creating a bond with toxins and excess cholesterol so you can eliminate it. That’s one reason eating rolled oats—oatmeal—can lower your cholesterol level.

Eat a natural made for human consumption Liquid Wrench, Master Blaster or WD-40 for the colon.

I’m really not suggesting you eat any of those products, since they aren’t meant for human consumption. What I am suggesting is that you eat foods high in Omega-3 fatty acid that can help lubricate the colon like WD-40 lubricates screws and bolts when they won’t come out. There’s loads of foods that contain this healthy fat. You’ll find it in flax seed, salmon, krill oil and other fish oil.

If you don’t have a fiber rich diet right now, increase your fiber intake slowly. Eating too much all at once can lead to the discomfort of bloating. Make sure you get adequate water, too.
Eat your fiber with a smile. You can increase it, while also enjoying the increase with berries. Blackberries and raspberries are high in fiber and a great snack for between meals.
Grab a prune for a snack. Not only is it high in fiber, it contains sorbitol, which is a natural laxative.
Eat more broccoli. Broccoli shines when it comes to fiber. It may be one of the reasons that eating more crucifers, like broccoli, can help reduce the risk of colon cancer.

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Is Paleo Right For You

Published by superadmin on January 3, 2018 | Leave a response

Unless you live under a rock, you’ve probably heard of the Paleo diet. The concept of the diet is intriguing. Simply put, it’s eating the foods your ancestors would have eaten. That doesn’t mean your grandpa who loved his fried bologna or your great grandparents. It goes back centuries to the very beginning. If we go back far enough, humans were eating like other primates, fruit, bugs and leaves. Then they evolved to hunter-gatherers and finally moved onto the concept of agriculture. Is Paleo right for you? Let’s take a look at what they ate and how it fares against today’s diet.

The paleolithic diet was better than today’s American diet in a number of ways.

Early man ate plenty of fiber, lots of protein and unsaturated fat. They didn’t eat chemicals in their food, either. They had more fresh greens and other produce that we eat today. In fact, they ate three times more. The paleolithic diet contained more vitamins and minerals, too. While we tout omega-3 fatty acid as something new and amazing, the paleolithic diet contained far more than ours does. They also didn’t have a salt shaker to season their food or any problem with trans fat.

You probably won’t eat exactly like your ancestors on a paleo diet.

There’s no doubt you won’t be living off the land and eating wild greens on your walk to work, but you can increase your intake of meat. Paleo diets include eating the whole animal approach, which includes organs, cartilage and bone marrow. Bone broth soup has become quite popular even among those not on a paleo diet. That’s because it contains a number of nutrients. Paleo diets also contain other animal products like honey or eggs. It contains fruits and vegetables, raw seeds and nuts and some added fat such as coconut oil, avocado and butter—from grass fed cows. Paleo diets don’t contain legumes or grains.

Some of the logic of the paleo diet is true.

If you like grain and beans, you’ll miss them in the paleo diet. The same is true for many dairy products. While a paleo diet contains many healthy foods and is far superior to the way the average American eats today, it’s simply not for everyone, nor is every justification in the diet true. Beans contain phytates or lectins that supposedly wipe out the nutritional benefits of legumes. That’s not true. It does wipe out some of the benefits, just as oxylic acid interferes with the absorption of the calcium in spinach. Unlike the spinach, much of the nutritional benefits of legumes benefit the body.

You may not be able to stick to the Paleo diet if you can’t handle a strict dietary plan or have a schedule that doesn’t allow you to prepare all your own meals.
While a paleo diet may not be for you, adopting some of the diet can still help. Improving your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables is a start.
Animal organs are extremely good for you, but don’t fit the taste of everyone. If you can’t “do” the livers, heart or other organs, consider at least bone broth. It’s good and healthy for all parts of your body, even your teeth.
No matter whether you opt for a paleo diet or not, eliminating processed foods from your diet can go a long way in improving your health.

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Tone Those Abs

Published by superadmin on December 29, 2017 | Leave a response

Losing belly fat requires you to lose weight all over your body, but you can tone those abs to give a flatter appearance, even when you have a little more weight than you wish to carry. Strengthening your core and abdominal muscles can also provide some great benefits, such as relief from back pain, better posture and a boost to the metabolism. Here are some traditional methods, some not so traditional ones and a few you may never have considered, which will help you look flatter and fitter quicker.

Don’t hold your breath for results.

Seriously, if you’re doing a crunch or situp, inhale on the way down and exhale on the way up for the best results. Learning to breathe properly when doing abdominal exercises makes a huge difference in your results. Also keep your rib cage closed on the way down in the crunch for the most results. Focusing on the workout will also help boost the effects of these old favorites.

Do the old favorites but with more zest.

Your muscles were made to move in lots of ways, so to get the most out of a workout, you need to work them in various positions. Do more than mere crunches or situps to make your abs flat and firm. Use ones that engage all the muscles of the abdomen and cause you to turn and twist getting all the muscles involved. Side twists, windmills and other exercises engage several groups of muscle that also need toning.

Get active!

It’s not all about a specific exercise. Sometimes daily tasks, such as raking leaves, vacuuming and mopping floors can give you a good workout. Riding a bike uses the muscles to stabilize your body, which improves muscle strength. In fact, anything that involves balance works the core muscles. Get a load of abdominal exercise and have a great looking house at the same time, paint a room or even the outside of the house and you’ll see not only your stomach flatten but your arms and legs toning, too.

Suck it up. Use isometrics to tone your muscles. Slowly pull in your abdominal muscles as you exhale. Hold and release.
Improve your posture. Walk as tall as you can. You’ll find your stomach automatically starts to disappear.
Stretch your way thinner. There was an old nursery song called “Bend and Stretch.” The first line was “Bend and stretch, reach for the stars.” Do as the song says, bend with arms outstretched to touch your toes (or as close as you can get) and then stand up and reach as high as you can.
Hold weights while doing ab toning for even quicker results.

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