I Am Waist Training

I am having a milestone birthday soon, and like every woman out there I want to look my best for my birthday. So I decided to do something drastic to see if I could WOW myself on my birthday – get the coveted hourglass figure. Thankfully I do have SOME curves, but I was thinking that I could really accentuate them and look totally fab. [I'm doing this to please myself, and if people like it that's fine, if not...].

A friend of mine recently transformed herself, lost inches from her waist and now spots this amazing figure 8 curve; so I thought to emulate her. Guess what she did? Not much of a guess coz my title kind of let the cat out of the bag, right? Okay, it’s waist training! So, I got it in my head to give this a try, after all everyone from Jessica Alba to Kim Kardasian and [Queen] Bey do! So I made my big announcement on my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/dropitforlife) earlier this week. I’m starting from a 39” waist and my target is 37” by May, and possibly 34” or less by December 2015! I'm dreaming BIG! What have I got to lose? 

For those new to this fad (truth be told, it is a fad); waist training using a waist cincher or trainer [which I read someone refer to as Spanx on steroids] is meant to ‘train’ your waist to be(come) smaller. To achieve this you have to wear a very snug fitting waist trainer or cincher for about 5 to 10 hours each day. But it’s advised that you start with 2-4hours before you can wear your cincher for longer periods.

But what to these waist cinchers really do? And what has my experience been like using my brand new latex waist trainer? Well, they are said to:

CLAIMS: Compress your core

My Experience: Yep! I can attest to this, it’s a really snug fit)

CLAIMS: Restrict abdomen thus reducing food intake

My Experience: Yep! I can attest to this, coz with the snug fit, if you over eat, you will really feel like you are about to burst)

CLAIMS: Ramp up perspiration

My Experience: Definitely YES! I got a latex cincher and in the sweltering sun of West Africa I had perspiration rolling down my back in buckets. Plus I had to use  some powder on my trunk and back...cos I had heat rashes after the first day.

CLAIMS: Metabolize fat

My Experience: Don’t know how this is possible, but ‘they’ claim this happens)

CLAIMS: Release toxins

My Experience: This could be possible, giving that you perspire a lot especially if you have a latex cincher on. 

I also hear they are really good in helping new moms get rid of their post-pregnancy tummy. 

Then my personal experience (about a week though) leads me to believe the claims that it could help with back pain, coz its doing wonders for my posture. 

Some people also claim that you could lose weight waist training; arguing that since it’s a snug fit which restricts your food consumption on the long run you lose weight. But I’ve read other say that the weight loss is actually simply the loss of water weight (from all the perspiration) and that whatever weight seems lost is the middle is not actually lost, but redistributed. Be that as it may, but I have seen Kim, Bey and of course my friend…and they don’t look half bad. Fad or not I’m going to give it a try and will dish out once in a while on this blog my progress.

I’ll keep up with my workouts and intentional eating though, this is just a little something I want to leverage on to become (hopefully) Fantastico! [smile]. So far, I do feel rather fantastico when I wear my cincher. This is me wielding my waist trainer/cincher at work yesterday... 

What do you think?

So, what’s your verdict? Am I crazy? Do you know anyone who has or is waist training? Has it worked for them?

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Yummy Mommie: Getting Rid of Post Baby Weight!!

So, a few friends sent me emails talking about how one could loose weight after having a baby. They wanted my advice...Seeing that I have NO experience in that arena YET...I went a Google-ing. I found these on Pinterest.

So ladies (you know yourselves) this is for you. A few things you can do to shed baby weight! Using the best gym tool ever...your baby!!! *Please practice the moves before engaging with baby! So don't hurt yourself or your precious bundle! 

Cinnamon Weight Loss

If you follow this blog or sister Facebook page, you would have heard/read me mention the fat burning benefits of the common spice cinnamon. I was so intrigued by the reported benefits (at least to my aim of losing weight) that I went searching for further evidence of benefits. 

So, the big question is what can Cinnamon do for use? Plenty you will see…

Speed Up Metabolism

Researchers have noticed that cinnamon can alter (in the human body) the metabolism of both sugar and carbs, so that your body is better able to use carbs taken in in food so they don’t turn into excess fat. As you must know when your metabolism is boosted, you burn more calories.

Helps Burn Belly Fat

Everywhere I go to these days, whatever I read, I see people hyping about the benefits of cinnamon particularly in blasting belly fat. For me, this is excellent news as I really need to blast the tire in my middle (if you get my drift). Also you all know that abdominal fat is the most life threatening, right?

Suppresses appetite

Some researchers claim that cinnamon can actually slow down the process of moving food to your stomach; which could make you feel fuller for longer. In plain language, it you help you eat less in the long run as you will feel fuller for longer.

Sweet Substitute

Everyone who wants to lose weight is usually off sweets, right? Not only did I hear, but I have found cinnamon a good alternative when you are controlling your sweet consumption. It helps add that extra yummy flavor to food that (for want of a better word) tricks you into thinking you are eating just the thing you sweet tooth craves.

You & Cinnamon

The question now is how to incorporate cinnamon into your daily meal. I normally add half a teaspoon of cinnamon to my bowl of oats (porridge). It darkens the oats, but what you lose in color, you gain in yummy factor; then it smells heavenly. Also, I love tea, so I mix ½ a teaspoon of ground ginger, with ½ a teaspoon of cinnamon in my tea, for all the metabolism speeding, fat burning benefits mentioned above. I like to take this at night because I found it helps me get to sleep easier (no scientific research backing this).

I’ve read that you could also:

• Mix ground cinnamon into your butter or spread to give it a wonderfully appetizing fragrance with the weight loss benefits.
• Real honey (1 table spoon) and cinnamon (½ a teaspoon) mixed in hot water or tea is also an excellent choice.
• A dash of cinnamon in any beverage of your choice is a good way to gain the benefits of this amazing spice.

Do you have any ideas for incorporating cinnamon into my (J) diet? Care to share?

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Don’t forget to check your email and activate your subscription!

Pedometer Winners Box

I won't take too much much of your time today.

I want to dedicate today's post to the three phenomenal ladies who have engaged with us and commented furiously on our blog posts during the promo.

In first...Nana
At 2nd...Aisha
Finally ...Modupe

I thank you...

May we all drop it for life, in life.

ps: I wish Aisha would allow me use her before and after pictures...she is looking totally FAB! Congratulations dear! You inspire me! 

The pedometers are on their way to you...

Finally, keep visiting this blog, and if you need some spur of the moment motivation flip over to our Facebook page (also Drop It 4 Life)...we have fabulous motivating posters, recipes and tips to encourage us all to drop it 4 Life.

Ciao!