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Sheila Shares

Simple, Effective Shape Changers

Founder of The Oaks at Ojai

What do you do when you pass a mirror? If you’re a normal, healthy adult, you’ll stop for a second. You’ll check your posture, fluff your hair perhaps and definitely see what’s going on with your waist, hips and thighs. If you’re not nuts for that reflection, I’ve got great news. With some of these simple, effect shape-changing tricks to add to your fitness “tool box,” in just six weeks you will be slimmer, healthier and sexier. There are no gimmicks, no “miracle” drinks, and definitely nothing to buy. However, you must pledge to stay active every single day. To turn your shape-changing work out into bite size pieces, I’ve broken it into three chunks, plus ideas to supercharge on the weekend.

Now back to our reflection. Medical studies validate that those people who eat a lower-fat diet, exercise, don’t smoke and drink in moderation, live longer, regardless of their genetic “luck.”

Shape Changers for the Morning: Shake it out, shake it up.

After you get out of bed (and you may have to set the alarm for five minutes earlier if necessary) stretch. Stand tall and slowly reach for the ceiling as if you can really touch it. Hold that for a count of five, release and allow your shoulders to relax. Wiggle your shoulders, your arms, middle and legs. Pretend you’re a wet dog and shake all over. Repeat five times. This activity is to get you thinking about becoming more physical throughout the day. And it feels grand. Then if you have time or flexibility because you work from your home, get out for some activity. Hike the woods, clean the windows, and take a brisk walk. Do something different every day. Boredom promotes lack of determination, which goes against your decision to be healthier.

Shape Changer for Noontime: Walk straight into a small size.

Whether you work inside the home or in an office, spend one half of your lunchtime walking. If you get just a half hour, you’ll need to be a good time manager, but get out and move. You can walk around the building, up and down flights of stairs, or do a few laps around the parking lot. Or if your home is your workplace, give yourself a walking break. At the office, you’ll want to wear shoes appropriate for walking, but if you cannot, choose shoes that are flat and support your foot.

Shape Changer for the Evening: Really Activate

Now that the days are getting longer, there’s less desire to come home, turn on the TV, zap dinner in the microwave and cuddle in for the next five hours. Between Halloween and Super Bowl Sunday you may have gained some unwanted weight. With springtime here, change that around. As you pull into the drive way, organize your mind and strengthen your determination. Quickly change clothes, bring out the bikes, slip in a workout DVD or get the kids to motivate you with a game of basketball. Better yet, and if you’re competitive at all, join a softball team or get out for some golf. Whatever you do after work, spend a minimum of ten minutes doing it. No, this will not burn oodles of calories, but it will give you more energy to get through dinner, helping the kids with homework and putting time in to complete your own evening chores.

Shape Changer for the Weekend: Become a Super-Duper-Energizer

Devote at least two hours each day of the weekend to an activity that increases your heartbeat, makes you perspire and lets your body warm up. Energize and share your ideas. Make sure they’re fun because you want to get the family involved, especially if others are concerned about good health, teenage obesity or too much computers or TV time. Hey, how about learning how to become a line judge for football or soccer or coach a kid’s team. Remember, you don’t have to have kids to be a coach or a referee. Boys and Girls Clubs around the country are begging for adults to help with sports. Your payoff? A shape changed forever and a role model for kids.

If you’re in the mood to motivate yourself and like lots of pampering possibilities, book a weekend spa vacation, such as at the Oaks at Ojai where you can get information on getting and staying in better health and participate in exercise classes.

Even in the next six weeks, you could have some stumbling blocks to keep your shape-changing program going. It’s called life and knocks all of us around. Should you fall off the fitness bandwagon, climb back on the next day or as soon as you can. Create small, do-able goals so you will succeed. Remember your shape didn’t slip overnight, and it’ll take a few weeks to see the changes. But I promise you, within six weeks, you’ll have more energy than you remember.

Now just a few words about food: If you do not make wise food choices, you WILL NOT lose weight. Change the way you select food. Reduce the amount of fat, processed snack foods and sugary treats in your diet. Select healthy lunch choices over fast food. Switch to water rather than soda. Eat fruit instead of cookies. Choose lean meat and chicken rather than fried foods.

Change your shape with these bite-sized tips and stay fit for life.

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Sheila Cluff, fitness expert, television celebrity and owner of The Oaks at Ojai, is the author of Take 5: How You Can Benefit from Just Five Minutes of Daily Exercise and The Ultimate Recipe for Fitness by Sheila and Eleanor Brown. Visit Sheila's Spa on the Internet and see all that's happening at the resort: The Oaks at Ojai www.oaksspa.com.