Throughout history, and still in many of today’s cultures, a woman is considered attractive if she has a waistline predominantly smaller than her bust and hips. Although a study conducted by the North Carolina State University states that only 8% of women have an hourglass figure, many still regard it as the ideal feminine shape. Women with small waists are not only effortlessly sexy, but they represent fertility and good health as well. The reason behind is that fat is equally distributed between the upper and lower parts of the body.
If you are not among the very small percentage of women who are blessed with a naturally curvaceous body, you can still be as shapely as you can be by trimming excess fat from your waist.
Here are 5 tips to help you get a smaller waist:
1. Watch your daily diet.
Aside from keeping junk and fat-ridden foods at bay, make sure to eat ones that contain lots of soluble fiber as it has been proven to speed up the burning of visceral belly fat. Fruits and vegetables are your best friends when it comes to a fiber-rich diet. Substitute coffee with green tea and stay away from carbonated drinks.
2. Drink at least 8 glasses of water.
You probably hear this weight-loss tip all the time, but it’s worth repeating as drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day is an often overlooked advice. Water does not only contain zero calories, but it also helps wash away toxins and fat from your body, including your belly.
3. Perform cardio exercises.
Cardio exercises are a must if you want to trim fat off your waistline. If you don’t have access to a treadmill, you can go running outside, bicycling, kickboxing, swimming, or just plain walking. Cardio exercises increase your body’s metabolism and puts it into fat-burning mode all throughout the day, so get the most out of them by working out in the morning.
4. Perform ab workouts.
Include sit ups, crunches, and Yoga or Pilates moves in your exercise routine. Pilates, especially, is known for its core strengthening exercises that can not only get you a slimmer waist but six pack abs as well. A Pilates move known as The Hundred targets your transverse abdominals, which act as your body’s natural corset. If you tone these abdominals, you will have the smaller waist you want.
5. Get yourself a hula hoop.
Hula hoops are not just for kids. They’re also great for grown ups who want to lose a few inches off their waist the fun way instead of the usual sit ups and crunches.
Although your genetics will still have the final say as to how small your waist can get, don’t make it as an excuse for not having the small waist that will serve as key to a curvaceous new you.
