So...Another pair of pants conquered. These were unbuttonable two days ago. Now they button pretty easily. Though clearly I'm not falling out of them-- but they're still a great reference point- better than tape measures which never tell the whole story.
I bought these last summer when I had dropped a few pounds that were teetering me into the size 18 range. I wore them at my granddaughter's 2nd birthday party with a pinked checked (did we call that gingham?) shirt- all by Liz Claiborne. When I saw the photos later, I put them away, because my belly was so evident. I was about 2 pounds heavier at the time, but part of the problem is postural.
We often look in the mirror with our abs pulled in, our best posture. But in real life, we look like the the 3rd picture --abs relaxed --- and are shocked when we/re caught in a photo that that is the way we really look. As you can see, I'm hyperlordotic (I think I made that word up) My pelvis tips forward, protruding the belly and putting pressure on the low back--perhaps part of the reason I suffered disk injury there, long before I got heavy. I've taught people how to walk tall, through a process called "Dynamic Walking" developed by Suki Munsell, PhD. It takes a lot of concentration and though you can focus and walk tall for extended amounts of time, it wasn't enough to make standing tall second nature. That requires far more abdominal work, plus body balance, stretching out the deep psoas muscle that attaches from spine to hip bones and keeping the hamstrings stretched out. That's something I could clearly put more time into!LOL. Just losing the flab will help - at one time I was so thin that I showed little belly when standing this way. But theoretically, having a stronger core and and being properly stretched out in other areas could make that tilt disappear so that it is natural to stand straighter without having to 'effort it. You know that look when you see it, particularly in very fit guys who have balanced muscle development. ..when they're standing around, their torso's look impossible straight. Some gym rats though, get unbalanced their posture is way out of whack.
Traditional Yogi's, by the way, don't go for the flat belly so much. They like the abdomen soft and supply enough for deep belly breathing.... But those in the US that come from a fitness or dance discipline, like Rodney Ye, are as taunt as a drum.
One exercise that is particular good for working on posture is to go onto all fours, with a flat back (holding the belly firmly) and extending one arm and the opposite leg. This is not easy to do while you are keeping those abs firm! The tendency is to drop the belly down. Try it! That's what I'm going to do right now...
Looking forward to a delectable veggie day-- I've got butternut squash, blueberries, raspberries, avocado, spinach, cucumber, cauliflower and broccoli, zucchini, romaine, peaches and portobellos waiting patiently in the fridge.
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