There is something to be said about embracing our bodies, regardless of our size. I'm a girl of average build, and have been for as long as I can remember. My sisters were skinny-minny's growing up. And I kind of always stayed the road right in the middle: not terribly thin but not overweight. And I'm okay with that. Because, life experiences will put our bodies through the ringer.
College 15? Check.
Pregnancy weight gain? Check.
Hitting 30 and my metabolism totally changing? Check.
So I think it's important to take the number on the scale with a grain of salt. Because I think what matters most is our lifestyle. That's the key. Leading a life that is focused on doing good things to our body will give us longer, healthier lives.
Eating healthy? Check.
Engaging in physical activity at least 3 times per week? Check.
Getting enough sleep? Check.
Surrounding ourselves with positive influences? Check.
My body is definitely got rounder and curvier when I had my girls. I struggled to lose the weight in the time between getting pregnant with Chica and giving birth to Bug. Making the transition to staying at home with my kids and getting accustomed to having little "Me Time," I found it difficult to get physically active and eat right. I ate what I could when I could as a new mom. I found it more stressful than it was worth taking them to the gym's daycare so I could squeeze in a work out.
And can we all agree? I was just plain tired from lack of sleep.
I've shared about how I took up running. I found this easier to do as my kids got older, although I wish I had embraced doing it sooner. Running makes me feel good, inside and out. And it's my favorite way to work in physical activity. Going on a run for 30 minutes gives me a half hour of "Me Time." It's quiet so I can think. Or I can listen to my music. It's when I write posts in ym head or plan what meals we'll have during the week. One of the nice affects of running is that it has helped me lose the baby weight and gives me overall a little more confidence.
Confidence is a good thing.
Now that I've gotten rid of some of the remaining baby weight, I wanted to take on the challenge of toning my muscles. Sure, vanity-wise, it would look nice. But toned muscles are strong muscles. And I want to be stronger (both physically and mentally).
As a WAHM mom, I don't always have time to go to the gym, so I do what I can, strength training-wise at home. I recently had the chance to check out The Flex Belt, and I think it's a unique way to fit in an ab work out all while in the comfort of your own home (and running around after kids, getting dinner ready, writing blog posts, cleaning the house, etc).
What is the The Flex Belt?
The Flex Belt is a medical grade electronic muscle stimulation (EMS) device that is designed for toning, firming, tightening and strengthening the abdominal and oblique muscles. This means, you wear the band around your middle and it sends electric pulses to your muscles, causing them to contract they way they would if you were doing crunches. The great thing is that The Flex Belt contracts all of the ab muscles at the same time – upper abs, lower abs, and obliques. You don’t have to do 3 different ab exercises to get your ab workout in.
I appreciate that you can control the intensity level to your liking, and that the pulses are concentrated to focused areas for a more efficient "work out." You can give you abs a muscle toning session when you are doing all your normal daily routines: working, doing laundry, playing with your kids. And yep - even when you are sitting down!
Now will The Flex Belt whittle your waste to a size 6? Absolutely not. But, can it help strengthen your core and give some toning attention to your core muscles? I believe it can.
This would be a fun gift to give someone just about anyone who is looking to take their fitness routine to the next level - whether they are a college student who is too intimidated to work their abs at the university gym to the mom who can't wrap her mind around trying to crunches because her two-year old is deftly navigating her way up dining room hutch.
For more information on The Flex Belt, check out their website.
Disclosure: I was provided a Flex Belt in order to conduct a review. I was in no other way compensated.
