FIT WITH FIDO: Belly Bulge Be Gone!

Muffin top, spare tire, love handles- there are many terms for excess abdominal fat that can hang over your pants. That extra jiggle above the waist may have a lot of endearing nicknames, but that doesn’t meant we actually love it.

Losing weight at your waist requires a combination of factors. First, you need to commit to cardiovascular workouts to help lose fat all over. Jogging, walking, cycling, swimming- anything that gets your heart rate up and your body moving will help to burn fat. Find something that you (and of course your dog) enjoy doing and try to do it at least 30 minutes 4 to 5 days a week.

Second, eating a healthy diet is very important. Ditch the sodas, add more fruits/ vegetables/ lean proteins, and drink plenty of water. Making small changes to your diet gradually will help you to stick with those changes. Think of it as healthy living- not as a temporary fad diet.

Take steps to reduce stress. Cortisol is known as the stress hormone. When you have a lot of stress in your life, cortisol levels can increase and lead to the additional development of abdominal fat. Extra stress may also stimulate your appetite and lead to over eating. Yoga and meditation are great outlets in helping to alleviate stress.

Get a good night’s rest. Try and sleep between 7 to 9 hours a night. Try and complete your daily workouts at least 3 hours before bedtime and establish a nightly winding down routine. Put those cell phones and laptops away people!

Unfortunately we can’t pick and choose where we lose (or gain) weight, but we can work on toning those troublesome areas. Toning up muscles under those love handles will both strengthen your core and give you a firmer look. There are many exercises that can help to get rid of that pesky muffin top- here is just one of Fit With Fido’s favorites.

SIDE PLANK WITH REACH THROUGH TWIST

1. Lie on your left side with your knees straight. Prop your upper body up on you left elbow and forearm. Brace your core by contracting your abs forcefully. Raise your hips until your body forms a straight line from your ankles to your shoulders. Raise your right arm straight above you so that it's perpendicular to the floor.

2. Reach under and behind your torso with your right hand, and then lift your arm back up to the starting position. That's one rep. Turn around so that you're lying on your right side and repeat.

**Watch Shannon from Fit with Fido demonstrating this exercise here: http://fit-with-fido.com/Video_Tutorials.html

This is just one of the many exercises that we perform in our Fit With Fido classes. We have classes of all types to suit everyone’s needs- yoga, trail runner’s club, hiking, and circuit style training. And the best part is- your dog is your workout partner! You and your pooch are working on staying fit and healthy together! So what are you waiting for? Call or email us to register you and your pup for one of our classes!

Fit With Fido

Group Exercise For You and Your Dog!

843.697.0298

www.Fit-with-Fido.com

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info@fit-with-fido.com