My fitness story starts with a pair of jeans
26 Sep 2019 | By admin
When I started uni, everybody was wearing low-rise jeans. I wanted to wear them too, and I wanted to look good wearing them. I was never overweight but when I looked in the mirror, all I could see were my love handles squishing out the sides. I didn’t mind the rest of my body but those love handles… I wanted to make them disappear! I thought about how to lose belly fat. But my entire family had them – so it must be genetics, right? I was sure this was my destiny, that there was nothing I could do to get into those jeans.
Then in November 2003, my dad woke up in the morning and went to brush his teeth. He had a heart attack, fell over in the bathroom and one hour later, he was gone. The day before that, he was a happy husband and father, seemingly normal and well. He died at 49 years old.
Fast forward to 2006, I told myself I was pretty healthy. I was paying for a gym membership, and I actually went… twice a year. I had a sedentary lifestyle. I was eating a lot of non-nutritional, high-calorie foods, thinking I was making the right choices. Yet I’d get tired when I took the stairs to my first floor flat.
Two completely unrelated facts. At least, that is what I thought…
Then, I learned that if most of your fat is around your waist rather than at your hips, you’re at a higher risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. This risk goes up with a waist size that is greater than 35 inches for women or greater than 40 inches for men. This fact gave me the kick in the pants I needed. I was not quite at these measurements but the fear of ending up with a heart issue spurred me to do some exercise.
I started going to the gym, but seriously I hated every second of it!
I soon realized that my muffin top was not due to genetics but misinformation and laziness. I found out how to lose belly fat – the right way. I was getting to know my body and measuring my progress closely. As the days passed, I saw those stubborn love handles melting away. My dream was getting closer. Each week, I loved seeing my progress and I pushed even harder. In 2012 I didn’t have just a flat belly, I had a complete six pack. I could never have imagined this. It was time…
I pulled on those low-rise jeans and they fit me perfectly. No straining to do up the button, no holding in my stomach. Best feeling ever!
It didn’t happen overnight. It took years and years to get to know my body and get educated in fitness and nutrition. I had to allow time for my body and mind to change. Exercise taught me not only to have a healthier lifestyle. It also allowed me to be more confident and happy in my own skin.
I learned that consistency and monitoring progress is key. A little bit every day will get you the results you want. And I learned that I can set goals and achieve them. If I can change my life, anyone can.
Make a plan > Measure > Take action > Analise the results > Repeat
And if you really want to find out how to lose belly fat, get the app to monitor your fitness journey and reach those goals.