What would you do if you happen to run into some old high school classmates, and then, after some quick exchange of pleasantries, one of them asks, “How far along are you?” And you’re not even pregnant!
If this has actually happened to you, there’s no need to fret since many others have experienced the same thing. But, if you encounter a similar situation at a high school reunion, a big wedding, or any other event that you had enough time to prepare for, there’s no excuse for it. An outfit to camouflage thunder thighs or layers of love handles could be a quick solution, but the truth is bound to come out. So, if you have at least a month until the big affair, why not try to work on your body – instead of an outfit – to look better? Whether it’s mere toning or major slimming down your body needs, it can be achieved in a month’s time.
Cut down on salt
Salt helps you retain water, so, the bloated feeling will be aggravated if your diet is salty. You don’t have to totally eliminate salt from your diet, but do cut down on it. Avoid the extras, too like soy sauce.
Cut down on fat and sugar
Sauces and gravies are rich in these, so you may want to do away with them while you’re trying to shape up. Desserts are okay as long as you choose the ones with low calorie content.
Eat lots of fiber
Fruits and vegetables are great sources of fiber. Rice, too, would be good, but not so much of it especially if you don’t burn it off (rice is good if you exercise a lot; otherwise, you store them as fat). Go for corn, strawberries, and cereal. Another reason to load up on fiber: it cleanses the body, so the excess is excreted.
Your Goal
Let’s say your goal is to lose 10 pounds in a month’s time. Is it realistic? More importantly, is it safe? The maximum that is still safe according to the recommendation of the American College of Sports Medicine is to lose two pounds per week. If you’re really obese, you can push it to three pounds because you have much to lose.
For a person who doesn’t have that much fat and she wants to lose 10 pounds in a month, it might put too much stress on the body. Your body has a certain system that it is used to, so… you have to gradually progress from one state to another. That’s why two pounds per week is the most that is recommended without adverse side effects, three pounds if you’re obese.
If you’re physically active, you have the right to eat more than a person who doesn’t exercise, but what’s important is the balance between calories taken in and calories burned throughout the day.
Put those muscles in motion
Before you begin working up a sweat, make sure you keep these in mind.
- Keep it slow. Fast and bouncing movements don’t necessarily burn more calories, and are in fact more dangerous. In the same way that a rubber band experiences wear-and-tear over time, connective tissues may be damaged by bouncing. Slow, controlled moves are much better.
- Stay within your limit. Particularly in stretching exercises, don’t force yourself to go beyond the farthest that you can go without feeling pain.
