As many health professionals have pointed out, your efforts in exercising and eating right don't always lead to the weight loss you may be aiming for. There are multiple factors that can cause this. Sometimes in our health regime we hit a plateau, which can stymie the body into a losing standstill; other times, we begin to gain muscle while losing fat, so the density of muscle keeps that number on the scale from going down.
These are just a couple possibilities. So how do you know your efforts are actually yielding some results? Let me give you a few points to consider to help you during a time in which you may be feeling frustrated.
One of the most important of your stats you should be aware of is your waist size. It is nearly as important as knowing your blood pressure or your cholesterol levels. According to medical experts, your waist size should be about half your height in inches. If you're following an adequate fitness and nutrition regimen, then the poundage might not be shrinking, but your waist size should.
However, if you have a layer of fat on your stomach but you're applying yourself to sit-ups or crunches during your workouts, then your waistline may, in fact, expand, so focus on your cardiovascular routine in order to burn through the fat. Fighting belly fat isn't easy, but that is one of the primary keys: an intense cardio workout lasting half an hour at least five times a week.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't be working to tone and define musculature. While weight training on your own is beneficial, it can be even more advantageous to have guided, targeted exercises. Work with a personal trainer and attend classes that are meant to hone all your muscle groups. Pilates is a prime example of a type of exercise that will do this. As a favorite system of celebrities and sports stars, you know it's bound to work for you, too.
Do pay attention to your diet. Many people try to cut calories and eat right on their own, which is fine, but there is plenty of room for error. It's very important to not only reduce your fat intake but also do your best to nearly eliminate simple sugars--specifically, sucrose, or table sugar. It is easy to replace some of the sugar additives with a sugar substitute like sucralose.
Remember that it is more important to reach a healthy target zone for your weight and to be adequately nourished and fit than to try to look like a model. Make sure to keep in touch with your doctor to deal with your specific concerns.
Author Resource:-
ABC Pilates (http://www.abcpilates.com/) is a full service Orange County Pilates studio where we offer the highest quality of training. We cater to the needs of our clientele including specialized techniques in Pre/Post Natal.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.massagebyben.com/articles/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites 